"So, here's the challenge: make a list of five strengths that you possess as a writer/artist. It's not really bragging, it's an honest assessment (forced upon you by this darn meme). Please resist the urge to enumerate your weaknesses, or even mention them in contrast to each strong point you list. Tag four other writers or artists whom you'd like to see share their strengths."

This task was thrown down at my feet last week by the always innovative and inspired visionary behind The Donny Brook Writing Academy, Siam Cyan, aka: Angora Holly Polo, aka: Miss Erin Barnes. Giddy with excitement at the opportunity to brag about how great I really am, I set out all to reveal all of the secrets to my wonderfulness. Then I remembered that over the last eight days I had been called mysterious more times than I had washed my hair. Panic struck. Will stepping up to this challenge bring down the mysterious luster I accidentally achieved? I determined that being wonderful is better than being mysterious in all cases except film noir and first dates.

I fulfilled my obligations of being "pinged" and while I read it over I had an epiphany: I wrote my responses completely wrong. The answers had nothing to do with the question and even less to do with wonderful. I pussyfooted around the edge of the question and gave cryptic answers to my strengths. I answered the question as if I returned to creative writing 101. At no point during the answers did I even consider my writing, only how wonderful I am. I guess it is just easier to promote propaganda than to examine the strengths. So, I selected all and hit delete. Here are my re-thought and re-examined five strengths.

1) I am borderline misanthropic and am beyond cynical on everything related to pop society, but my writing is able to show my extreme distaste without alienating people. Hopefully making my writing a guilty pleasure for people that subscribe to People magazine.
2) Being raised in the suburbs has given me a complex that none of my experiences or ideas is original. This forces me to really think about what I write before I write, so I'm not stuck pumping out exactly the same things as everyone else.
3) Once, I was told I write in bumper sticker phrases. I take a lot of pride in that. It is like the dash of spice that adds to the story/article/blog when the subject matter may be on the bland side. I think this gift came from my childhood obsession to design tee-shirts with clever catch phrases on them (damn you, target and hot topic for making my dream passé) The shirt I want to make the most right now is a screen print shirt with a picture of Woody Allen and the caption underneath would say "Not for Children."
4) I heard somewhere that it takes 30 years for a writer to master his/her craft, where as it might only take a pool boy a few hours to master their craft. The fact I believe this statistic allows me to have no ego when it comes to criticism. Even if I were writing in the womb, I wouldn't be close to mastering the craft. I know I've got a lot to learn and a long ways to go before I can say I've achieved the pinnacle of writing potential. I'm open to advice, so pour it down my throat!
5) The material is running thin at this point, the last "strength" is a stretch, at best. I force myself to revise everything. Genius comes during revision. Everything I write seriously I devote enough time for at lest two drafts. I know that some may be asking how is that possible with all of the spelling and grammar errors, but go back and read the rules of the question, this isn't about my faults and flaws, if it were the blog would be a lot longer.

That turned out to be a lot harder than I had expected it to be, but with the great trails comes great rewards, and my reward is pickin' on four more writers/artists. My choices are the Cruz brothers, Vince and Ray, Gabe and Marcus Church.

And Raymond you're tagged as a writer, no fluff about being an actor.