Keeping IT Together: AN IWSG Post
Then there are the brain blanks. The other day someone asked me the difference between a log line and a tag line and I drew a blank. That happens sometimes, when I'm overwhelmed. Once I spent a whole day trying to decide if I was spelling WAS right. Shouldn't it be wus? Or wuz? What's the phonics rule on that? Was. Looks a bit ridiculous, at times.
Of course, I can now google and refresh my brain and look smart. But there is still that fear...where does the stuff that should be locked into my brain disappear to? Is it the multitude of things on my to do list shoving it out to make room?
That's my insecurity this month. The fabulous Cariie Butler introduced me to Google Keep, the free online post-it note/reminder app. It's easy to use- even I mastered it in no time. I attached it to my toolbar for easy access and note taking. Between that, my paper lists, and a reliance on access to the internet for knowledge refills, I should survive for a while.
As for log line vs. tag line? I did have to give that a google. Tag line, short and sweet...the one liner. Log line, the quick pitch. I imagine taglines as the one-liners on movie posters. Loglines as the mini description like on Netflix previews.
And speaking of googling things...
What's the craziest thing I have ever looked up? For Swept Away, I researched how to get away with faking my own death. FYI, it's not illegal to fake your death- as long as you don't assume a stolen identity, work without paying taxes, or collect any insurance money.
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Not illegal to fake your own death? Weird.
ReplyDeleteThanks, that's a great way for me to remember the difference between those two.
In the book, I did have a prosecutor try to prove that she faked her death with the sole purpose of sending a loathed stepfather sent to jail. If you could prove that you knew someone was charged with your death and never came forward, that would be a conspiracy charge. But if you just walked away from a life and hid from the people in your past- there's no crime in that.
Delete*I should add a disclaimer. I'm not an attorney and my prosecutor was a fictional character operating out of my brain, so before anyone fakes their death to cut ties with the past, get legal advice. LOL
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tip on the free google note app. I didn't know that. I too find myself forgetting things and sometimes it is scary. I asked myself how I could forget something so important and immediately wander if I am losing my memory.
Take care and have a lovely month of November.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Sometimes, I worry so much about forgetting that I forget. Worry can be overwhelming.
DeleteI wonder if family members could sue you for personal trauma if you faked your death?
ReplyDeleteAcronyms trip me up. I had someone ask me in a seminar what ISBN stood for and I totally blanked!
Civil court has a much lower standard for evidence, etc. I would assume you could be sued for the mental stress. Problem will be the person probably won't have too many assets if they're living completely off the grip to skip detection.
DeleteIn my story, she does get charged with conspiracy because the person she is trying to escape by faking her death is charged with her murder. I should say disappearing and allowing people to assume you're dead is not illegal.
You'll survive it all and be just fine, don't worry. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Google Keep. Might have to check that out.
It's pretty sweet. I'm loving how it's attached to my toolbar and I can pull down notes whenever I want. I can store links, pictures...whatever I need to remember.
DeleteFaking ones death is legit information to keep in one's back pocket. I mean you never know.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good writing! I'm going to check out google keep.
Just be sure not to break any laws in the process. Living without an identity would be the hardest part unless you're a survivalist who can live in the wild.
DeleteI read somewhere that your brain does a short-term memory dump whenever you go through a door. I think that's why I keep finding myself standing in front of the pantry or refrigerator or even out in the garage with no clue on what it was I needed. Isn't old age a hoot? Grrr...
ReplyDeleteIf opening the fridge is cause for memory dump, it's no wonder I am so clueless! I have done the- what the hell did I come in here for recap time and time and again.
DeleteMy dearest, oldest friend's dad faked his own death to escape the Vietnam draft, and didn't tell anyone about his plans. It's quite a well-known story in that area, and he wrote a book about it some years back.
ReplyDeleteSpellcheck and autocorrect are very helpful for words one frequently misspells, though sometimes autocorrect changes words that were meant to be written that way.
How neat that you know someone who did it! Did he get in trouble for escaping the draft?
DeleteSpellcheck also cleans up my potty mouth for me. lol
When I am overwhelmed and have too much to do, I'm way more forgetful and forget things I would usually would know. The Google Keep app sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteThat's me. My phone has been doing auto dumps when the memory gets too full. I think my brain is doing the same.
DeleteI need to look in to Google Keep. Now where's my real Post-it notes to remind me to do that? :P
ReplyDeleteI can never find my post it notes. LOL
DeleteWait, an online post-it note? I need to look into that! :)
ReplyDeleteThey're pretty awesome David. I'm loving it. I can use them to store links...ideas...even pictures. And they have check boxes, so I can scratch things off.
DeleteFaking your own death? What a cool story prompt! I wish you happy writing in November.
ReplyDeleteI guess I gave away a good portion of the book's plot with this post. LOL
DeleteBrain fog. Sometimes, I can't remember my own birthday when picking up scripts. But then, I'm responsible for knowing all the family b/ds and SSNs. To much info rattling around up there.
ReplyDeleteThe google app looks interesting. I have a notepad on my phone and am constantly sending emails to myself with notes and reminders. But it could be useful on the laptop. There's always something new to play with.
That's it. It's having to remember for everyone that gets us.
DeleteI send myself notes from notepad too. Notepad is also awesome. Keep works a bit like that- you can ever set up reminders on the notes and it will alert you that you have a deadline.
I use Google Keep on my phone, mostly for random tidbits of writing, world-building, and plotting I think up on the fly and can't record. I've got one that says "Just because I can't lie doesn't mean I have to be honest." I don't use it daily, but I do find it useful. :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you could use it on your phone. I'll have to check that out.
DeleteI don't use anything daily, well besides the obvious things. LOL
I didn't know it wasn't illegal to fake your own death! Wow. Maybe I'll try that google notes thing. I need something like that!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving it and you know I'm not the most tech savvy of people!
DeleteOkay, that's wild that it's not illegal.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I know how you feel about keeping "IT" together. Agh. There's so much. I thought my life might be simpler with kids out of the house, but that is simply not true. Now I keep up with their lives far away and keep going with all the regular stuff. The "IT" stuff. Or, I try to.
If anything, I might be busier because the weekends are no longer catch ups, but visiting time.
DeleteYes, that was interesting, something I didn’t know about faking your own death... One more thing I might be able to use, in a story of course 🤗
ReplyDeleteAlways just in the stories. :)
DeleteWow. I didn't know it wasn't illegal to fake your death. Does that depend on which state you live in?
ReplyDeleteI lurves Guernsey. It's one of my favorite books ever! I enjoyed the Netflix story, but there was so much more to the book!
It's the fine print on the faking that will get people. If they cash in on life insurance or use a fake name to get a job, they've committed fraud. But to wander off and allow people to assume you're dead is not illegal. And it would be a tough thing to prove that someone faked a death. I mean if you find them, they can just say they didn't know people thought they were dead. It would be pretty impossible to prove. Some people will go too far and do things like steal dead bodies and burn them hoping people believe it's them, which is illegal.
DeleteI'm learning so many new things today. I never knew what a log line was. And faking my own death isn't illegal???? Cool!!! (not that I'm thinking of doing that...hahaaa...)
ReplyDeleteUsually, without a body, it's going to be a missing persons anyhow. Unless you're swimming out to sea with witnesses and never come back to shore...
DeleteJust be sure not to commit in other crimes in the process. Fraud would be the easiest legal trap to fall into.
ReplyDeleteI thought the insurance company would come after you if you faked your own death. That's kept me alive all these years. :-) I like the idea of the free google note app. I usually just put notes on notepad, but then I forget why--does that constitute brain fog? Happy 1st Wed. Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. You can't carry life insurance and cash in on it. That's illegal.
DeleteI keep a notebook with me too. And I use notepad and email myself notes. I guess I'm admitting it takes a village to keep me organized. Happy 1st Wednesday to you too.
Wow! Just wow! I have to meet you in person some day. You are very, very cool 😊☀️
ReplyDeleteI am. As are you. And we totally should do that!
DeleteSo I can fake my own death and not go to jail? But where's the fun in it if I can't get a big insurance payout? lol Wuz hoping for that was I.
ReplyDeleteSorry, you can't take the money and go on the run.
DeleteWow.
ReplyDeleteMind blown.
DeleteI use Google Keep on my smartphone too and PC and cell sync up so I can add a note on the go too. I also use Evernote which I also have on cell but use on the PC rather than phone. Interesting tidbit about faking your own death. I'm late making the rounds today.
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never.
DeleteI'm going to check it out on my phone when I am done here. That would be sweet to sync my world.
I’ve done that before, where I’ll look at a word I’ve typed a million times looks somehow wrong but it’s not. Lol. Going to check out Google Keep now. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIt's the most ridiculous word. I'd be embarrassed to admit how often it trips me up.
DeleteBrain blanks. I like it. And let me say you're ahead of the curve. I have little black holes my thoughts fall into never to be heard from again.
ReplyDeleteI probably have those, but am still in denial. LOL
DeleteHi Elizabeth....
ReplyDeleteAs I said in my post... SLOW DOWN! LOL. MY you are the BUSY woman! Keep breathing and enjoy the up and coming holidays. ALL that STUFF will be waiting for you in the new year... I am running on fumes myself a bit. Trying to jungle several moves at once, one from Chicago to the new house in Galena, another scheduling a truck for me to drive from Florida to Galena with a TRUCK FULL of furniture(Thrift stores here have the most amazing thing for a fraction of the cost up north!), and the final, hire a local moving company to clear out the storage unit I have and bring everything to the house... Oh, did I mention, a gut remodel of the kitchen... LOL I was up all night ordering appliances, cabinet hardware, etc... Amazing how much we cram into one of the smallest rooms in the house. I have a HUGE formal dining room at 16x15 ft. yet the kitchen is a 12x12 with two windows, three entrances/exits. and a hug radiator, which I need to remove. LOL. Ah, the exciting times of an interior designer.... What was I saying to you about slowing down.... LOL Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Michael, we are the kind who like to tell other people to slow down while we keep adding things to the to-list. LOL. I'm so jealous of your decorating skills. I save myself a lot of time by just keeping everything the same. I'll maybe do a home make-over every decade or so.
DeleteI love to thrift shop. I need to head to Florida.
I've never forgotten about the log line, because I'd never heard of it. You're far ahead of me. And I'm forgetting names of people I'm close to these days - it is kinda scary.
ReplyDeleteYou, my dear, will continue to complete it all successfully, despite self-doubt and momentary forgetfulness. You always do. Believe in yourself. We all do.
Robyn. You sweetest of people. I wish you lived close enough to give a hug.
DeleteThe other day I was having to write a "Don't Forget" post for our PTA Facebook page and kept thinking the word "forget" looked wrong... So I totally get having moments where you begin to second guess very normal words (like "was").
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing? A word we use every single day. I suppose it's good to pause now and then and check ourselves.
DeleteI hate to be the bearer of bad news, but age doesn't do much to improve your memory. I like it's just because my brain is so FULL. HA
ReplyDeleteI think there's probably a lot of angles to the faking one's death scenario. If the faker's family believes they're really dead, what's to stop them from having the legally declared dead after a given number of years and then collection on life insurance, and the spouse from remarrying and inadvertently committing bigamy? A couple of old movies were based on that premise, but right off hand, I can't remember their titles. I think Doris Day might've been in one of them.
That is where the trouble happens. When other laws are broken. I suppose if you ever want to fake your death without causing other people problems, you should be kind enough to get divorced and cancel your insurance.
DeleteIt's fascinating what we can find out on the internet. I can get lost in the research.
ReplyDeleteThe first day I had the internet, I made the mistake of googling theories on the anti-Christ...talk about a rabbit hole!
DeleteLove that Falling Behind meme:)
ReplyDeleteHope your weekend is filled with fun, sunshine and a talkative muse.
Hugs
There was plenty of sunshine, but I didn't get much work done. I'll catch up tomorrow.
DeleteI have to laugh at myself sometimes for the simple words I forget how to spell and the basic facts my mind does a memory wipe. I'd like to chalk it up to old age, but who knows, maybe I was always this way and am just now noticing.
ReplyDeleteI have always been this way. I've been telling my kids for years to remember I was always a forgetful goof- don't stick me in a home for it!
DeleteEven I, not a writer, have had that trouble. I have looked at words I know really well and just not had a clue if I was spelling them correctly. At least these days we can Google.
ReplyDeleteSome of them just look wrong. They probably are and our good sense is rebelling.
DeleteI love Google Keep and have been using it on my phone for a long time. I didn't know there was one for computers--that's great!
ReplyDeleteI hope you find a happy medium with your writing. ((Hugs))
♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
I didn't realize it was on the phone until the comments. I now have both and it is an awesome way to stay organized. I love that I can access from whatever device I happen to be on at the time.
DeleteHugs back!
I, too, love Google Keep and this is from a lad who *STILL* walks around with a bunch of 3x5 cards in my custom-made wallet. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteOh! Nearly forgot... what is a MoMa (or was it MaMo???)
I love index cards too. And notebooks. I use them all. I have notes and thoughts scattered all over my house. I don't have a custom-made wallet, but I have found that a coupon holder works well for organizing index cards.
DeleteI got it wrong. It's not MoMa, it's MoMA. Museum of Modern Art in New York. Much of its creative works were lost on me.