Jack Kerouac's Rules for Writing (contest)

Why do we sit cross legged?

Not everyone wants to be a writer, but every writer wants to be a better writer. How? It's good to read a lot and read widely. The examples we stumble upon do much to open the mind to the possibilities of the pen. It is sometimes even better if we can glean some advice from successful writers. They do not endure by chance but by the whim of changing tastes of the audience. What will endure 100 years from now? That's what matters to those attempting to write literature. For the rest, the producers of pulp fiction, anything will do. It's all just fodder for sales. Beware the imitators. Kerouac is more influential now because he influenced so many influential people after him. He was onto something, studying Buddhism before it was trending.

Jack Kerouac's rules for good writing

(polymathematics) Oct. 17, 2018: Jack Kerouac, the king of the Beats, has 30 rules for writing to share with aspiring writers of any generation. Rule 0, which is not stated, is "Be ruggedly handsome." Look what it did for James Dean. But great writing can overcome even that.

By Jove and Jack, I think I got it — the spirit of the Beat, like when they say, "What do kids like about the crazy music today?" It's the same reason it's always been, whether the parents understand it or not: the beat, the beat, the beat!

Going Off Road

Get out of my way.

Seven (5/19/24) I swerve on each turn, like I always do, like I've always done all my life, turning to stare at people who interest me, because the ones I prefer are the madcaps, the spirited ones overwhelmed with a sense of urgency to reach the ring, to say something worth saying, to seize liberation, with a zest for everything all at once, madcap laughers like Syd B., who never utter an obliging commonplace, but revel and burn, who plummet like a shooting star, shining bright falling far, streaking phosphenes into the eye, flares, shattered glass, a thousand multiplications of the sun, each a sparkle in the heat, a gleam of steam the fogged breath of a wolverine, and everyone pants, "F yeah!" (Inspired by JK's On the Road)

Charles: Too derivative.

Seven: Of course it's derivative. I'm a student, following his example. I'm more passionately saying what he was attempting to say but at a more pounding beat, given the fiercer music we have today — grindcore and Bambie Thug, The Agonist (Alissa White-Gluz) and Dimmu Borgir, Die Antwoord and Eternal Conspiracy. It's madness, howling, burning from the inside as Bauhaus would say. Primal scream.

Charles: In that case, try it again.

Seven: We should open it up to readers of Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal. I'm sure any writer reading has in mind the deluded thought, "I'm sure I could do it better." Write it. Send it in — to the Comments Section below. We won't print it unless it's worth printing. (Comments do not automatically post).

Charles: So it's a contest?

Sort of. Here are the parameters. Pass this and be invited to send in more writing for consideration and possible publication. Writing is better when it has more restrictions, fewer degrees of freedom. Think about it. If the prompt were merely, "Do whatever." That's too many possibilities. But if there are fewer and fewer degrees of freedom, suddenly greatness emerges. We'll only give three rules to be able to judge and to be judging the same thing (comparing oranges to oranges):

1. Limit of 12 words
2. Topic: Burning from the inside
3. Use the word "road"

Charles: That sounds easy enough.

Seven: Guarantee you, Chuck, most will s***w it up, which will cut down on our number of finalists.

Charles: But a dozen words?

Seven: Honest Tea, their limit was 6 words, and people sent in amazing things that were printed on the inside of the caps. "Brevity is the heart of poetry." Get to the point. Edit. Cut the fat.

Charles: That's too hard; they'll never get it.

Seven: Okay, we'll add a fourth stipulation:

• Break one of the rules, if you want, but say which one you broke or be disqualified.

Charles: That's impossible.

Seven: No, we already have a submission. The contest has only been going on for 7 minutes, and we already have a submission.

Charles: What is it?

Sariputra saw it just as it is.

Seven: It comes from a Mr. Buddha from Scythia, who has chosen to break the third rule, and has nevertheless come up with something very profound:

"Not having been, they come to be;

once having been, they cease."

Charles: What?

Seven: Clearly, he's referring to dhammas ("phenomena," all "things"). It is explained by Andrew Olendzki Outline of Abhidhamma (buddhistinquiry.org) and stated the Anupada Sutta (MN 111).

Science: The Rules of Earth (video)

Sean B. Carroll (Ri); Ellie Askew, Dhr. Seven, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Half of the Animals on Earth have disappeared since 1970

The Rules that Govern Life on Earth with Sean B. Carroll

The Royal Institution, May 18, 2016

Evolutionary biologist Sean B. Carroll reveals how a few simple rules govern all life on earth, from the cells in our bodies to populations of animals on the Serengeti. Subscribe for science videos every week: bit.ly/Ri... Watch the Q&A that followed this talk: youtube.com... From revealing how inheritance works and developing evolutionary biology to manipulating viruses and bacteria to create products humans need, 20th century biology has been a revolution. In telling the stories of some of the greatest discoveries of 20th century biology, Sean B. Carroll reveals how a few simple rules govern all life on earth, from the cells in our bodies to populations of animals on the Serengeti. A talk to show you why modern biology holds the key to remedying our greatest medical and ecological challenges. Sean B. Carroll is an internationally-recognized evolutionary biologist whose research has centered on the genes that control animal body patterns and play major roles in the evolution of animal diversity. He's also an award-winning author, educator, and executive producer as well as the Allan Wilson Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics at the University of Wisconsin.

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"I am able to approach the buddhas barefoot and undisturbed, my feet in wet grass, wet sand. Then the silence of the extraordinary faces. The great smiles. Huge and yet subtle. Filled with every possibility, questioning nothing, knowing everything, rejecting nothing, the peace not of emotional resignation but of the Madhyamika (Middle Way), of sunyata (emptiness), that has seen through every question without trying to discredit anyone or anything -- without refutation -- without establishing some other argument. For the doctrinaire, the mind that needs well-established positions, such peace, such silence, can be frightening."

-The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton

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Dating 101: Secrets of a Matchmaker

Erin Meanley

A professional match-maker reveals keys to successful dating

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I read a hilarious nonfiction book called "Matchbook: The Diary of a Modern-Day Matchmaker" and loved it so much, I just had to track down the author, Samantha Daniels.

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She is a former divorce lawyer turned professional matchmaker. In the book, you read about all the crazy singles she meets -- thanks to her business "Samantha's Table," which has offices in NYC and LA. She has helped over one hundred couples get married and thousands get into long-lasting relationships. Wow! I just had to ask her some questions.

Erin: Tell me about the 80-20 dating rule.

Samantha: In "Matchbook," I spoke of the 80-20 rule -- any time you meet someone who has 80% of the things you are looking for, you should realize that this is a great person for you. If you throw back into the dating pool an 80% guy, the next guy is going to be 80% again, just a different 80% because it is near impossible to find more than 80% perfect for anyone.

Erin: In your book, you talk about how important timing is with guys.

Samantha: Men need to be ready and desirous of a relationship at a particular moment to get into a relationship, whereas women can be ready at any time if they meet "the guy." Single women need to try to catch the guy when his "ready light" is on. We have all seen men end up with women who just don't seem as good for him as his last girlfriend, and this is because he wasn't ready then, but he is ready now.

Erin: Story of my life. So do you have any dating tips for our readers?

Samantha: Smile -- men want to be with a happy girl. Be open to possibilities, limit your pre-date phone chat to a minimum, and teach him early that texting only supplements phone calls and dates!

Erin: What are some red flags we should look out for?

Samantha: Beware of guys who tell you how great you are before they know how great you are, guys who have shady answers that you just don't believe, and guys who are serial daters.

Erin: I always meet younger guys. I love them, but they're never ready to get serious. Where or how can I meet single men in their 30s?

Samantha: Lounges are better than bars and clubs. Organize small dinners with your friends and their friends, and look around the gym!

Erin: I'm on it! Thanks, Samantha!

And how about that 80-20 rule? I think I meet a lot of 20-percenters, actually. But I'll be careful to look for the 80! Do you often throw good single men back into the dating pool?

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  25 First-Date Dos and Don'ts
  His Top 10 Intimacy Wishes Revealed
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• More Dating Tips:
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  Dating 101: Are Bad Dating Habits Keeping You Single?
  Six Dating Behaviors That Scare Single Men Away
  Dating Secret Exposed: Why Nice Guys Finish Last
  Debunking the Dating Scarcity Myth
  What's Behind the Trend of Women Dating Younger Men?