Tuesday, May 11, 2010

VIKING POWER!

My friend Mari sent me a post card of wisdom that I received when I got home Sunday night. The Postcard has Viking Laws, and I love it even more for two details. The FIRST is that she taped two pins to it. One says:

Eat My Pants

and the other:

Sverige sugar (translation: Sweden Blows) *snort*


For the record, I am as much Swedish as I am Norwegian, though I've known much more about my Norwegian roots, as that grandma is the one I spent so much time with, and now I have a Norwegian friend/writing sister. But I actually adore this cute little rivalry... I note that it doesn't say DENMARK blows (which is where the actual animosity has a reason to exist, since those pesky Danes spent so many centuries trying to inflict rule on Norway, so I have to think this is more a sibling rivalry kind of thing, and THAT is why I can find it fun.

But the OTHER feature I love about this postcard, is Mari crossed out the word 'Viking' and wrote 'Writer', and then checked them off for me.

*hugs Mari *


So I want to share them with you, so you can become honorary Norsisima with me.


Viking Writer Laws

§1 BE BRAVE AND AGGRESSIVE

Be direct
Grab all opportunities
Use varying methods of attack
Be versatile and agile
Attack one target at a time
Don't plan everything in detail
Use top quality weapons

§2 BE PREPARED

Keep weapons in good conditions
Keep in good shape
Find good battle comrades
Agree on important points
Choose one chief agent

§3 BE A GOOD MERCHANT

Find out what the market needs
Don't promise what you can't keep
Don't demand overpayment
Arrange things so that you can return

§4 KEEP THE CAMP IN ORDER

Keep things tidy and organized
Arrange enjoyable activities which strengthen the group
Make sure everybody does useful work
Consult all members of the group for advice


I ADORE this applied to writing. Mari the Superstar checked me off on all of them, but I can see the benefit of a little more critical analysis.


§1: I feel like here I am doing pretty well—at least since taking on this cozy mystery project, which sort of embodies the spirit of this, I think... a chance came along and I am trying to make the very best of the opportunity, using all my resources... I'm adapting... a ninja of bendiness!

§2: I think here I've done pretty well too. I keep writing ALL the time. I read to try to learn what I don't know (or what I don't even know I need to know—THAT particular pool is VAST). I have the best comrades in the WORLD (and we are all over the world which makes me feel... you know... worldly...)

§3: I think other than feeding into that market assessment thing... I sort of need to write what comes... although I guess this Cozy Mystery thing is another way I am doing this... it is the niche where (hopefully) I can break in.. meeting demand. I also am being extremely careful to be as professional as possible, so I am ALWAYS invited back: provide good work, good product... and hope they want me.

§4: Here I fall down. I have sort of a free form approach to order, and I'm not sure anyone else would recognize it as such. I DO try to hold activities which strengthen the group... but I am not much of a dictator (Naked World Domination aspirations aside) and I am likewise sort of bossy—I WILL be the one in charge... when the bossy person is saying things like... “okay, everybody LIMBO!” I don't know how productive that is. It IS a good time though, and while it may not be enough to make me a full-fledged Viking, I'm pretty sure my Norsisima is in tact.

22 comments:

M.J. Nicholls said...

For the record, Sweden rocks. As do those four rules.

Cruella Collett said...

Glad you liked it :) I instantly thought of you when I saw the pins, needed a card - saw this and thought "hey, I could work with that...!"

Love the pics, by the way. Especially the top one looks NOTHING like a viking *snort* (But you're right - your Norsisisma [that's a whole lot of s'es in there...] is intact!)

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Love these Viking/writer laws! Great points...and I think you're following them really well. :)

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder

Hart Johnson said...

Mark, I could make a really inappropriate comment about for a male, blowing might rock, but I will refrain *shifty*

Mari-Yup, loved the whole thing--probably more so because it was so out of the blue. I like suprises (the top pic are supposedly Valkyrie--erm... no clue if that changes in the plural...)

Elizabeth, thank you! I'm TRYING (not always easy)--seems to me you are doing even better at them-are you sure YOU'RE not Norsisima?

Hart Johnson said...

Mark, I could say something really inappropriate about the male perspective thinking blowing rocks, but I won't go there *shifty*

Mari--I LOVE all of it! Possibly all the more because it was such an unexpected surprise!

Elizabeth, thank you! I think you're doing them all even more--are you maybe a little Norsisima?

TreeX said...

Valkyries! =D

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Haha as someone with Norwegian heritage I am enjoying this post! Excellent tips, awesome post cards.

KarenG

Bridge Marie said...

Heh, writer as viking? I like it. Viking as writer? Potentially even better.

Helena Soister said...

Love the Viking rules! If I combine them with my Celtic heritage then I'll be one powerful woman.
You posted this at 3:00 a.m.? Impressive. I'm not even lucid at that hour.

Marjorie said...

But for goodness sake do NOT take the example of Loki and tie a donkey to your scrotum. It may make a giantess laugh, but it will NOT help you become a better writer.

Hart Johnson said...

Marjorie-I read your comment and fell off my chair. BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I suppose unless you are writing about pain... *snort*

Joris-knew you'd like the Valkyries...

Karen-welcome fellow Norsisima!

Bridge--hmmmm... yes... I will have to add some Vikings to my dungeon, yes? They ought to inspire well!

Helena-I actually have been trying to write the blog the night before and SCHEDULING--sometimes I still have pics or something to find in the morning, but if it is done, that is how I go... and those Celts are probably part Viking, you know that, yes... those Vikings were spreading their seed around early.

Jan Morrison said...

tartlett - I like these and it makes me think there must be other transferables. I'm going to look up the code of the Pirates and see how this works. Anything that invites the image of Jack Sparrow can't be bad, can it? Or at least just bad in a really goooooooooood way.

Hart Johnson said...

Jan, I can help you out there:

The Pirate rules are more like guidelines, really.

and just today, on Caldonia Lass's blog I saw (with pirate flag):

The beating will continue until morale improves.

*snicker* But you are definitely onto something!

Ann said...

Loved the laws. I'm Irish, I am sure we have a code of sorts. Found you via KarenG and I am glad I did. Enjoyed your post and the art.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Those are good laws.

Hart Johnson said...

Ann--welcome! I love to see new people here! And I bet there ARE Irish rules along these lines (probably two equally strong and opposing sets!)

Thanks, Alex!

Lola Sharp said...

I enjoyed these...but they'd look good with a picture of Eric the Viking Vamp, no?

Jane Kennedy Sutton said...

What fun - I never realized that Vikings and writers had so much in common!)

B. Miller said...

This is so cool! I love this Viking philosophy. Bookmarking this post to come back to for inspiration! Thanks Hart!!

Hart Johnson said...

Lola-you've earned a place on my royalty board for that recommendation! You will be featured tomorrow!

Jane-surprising how success can take the same things no matter what kind, ne?

Becky-excellent! You should give Mari a peek too--I LOVE having a friend who is so thoughtful about HER culture and articulate in pointing out its oddities and ingenuities to us (She is my Giraffability friend)

Roland D. Yeomans said...

I loved the pictures. Oh, don't forget about the internal conflict blogfest tomorrow. It wouldn't be the Viking thing to do. I look forward to reading yours, Roland

Hart Johnson said...

AHA! NOW I know what Joris meant! I have guest author obligations, but will definitely watch for others!