Finally, I’d like to offer up the following, slightly modified, version of the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance
To the flag
Of the United State of America
And to the Republic
For which it stands
One nation

Under God, Yahweh, Allah, Vishnu, Kali, Shiva, Brahma, Saraswathi, Lakshmi, Parvathi, Ganesha, Anjaneya, Gaea, Uranus, Cronus, Rhea, Oceanus, Tethys, Hyperion, Mnemosyne, Themis, Iapetus, Coeus, Crius, Phoebe, Thea, Prometheus, Epimetheus, Atlas, Metis, Dione, Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Hera, Ares, Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes, Artemis, Hephaestus, Asclepius, Demeter, Persephone, Dionysus, Eros, Hebe, Eris, Helius, Thanatos, Pan, Nemesis, The Graces, The Muses, The Erinyes, The Fates, Iuppiter, Iuno, Minerva, Vesta, Ceres, Diana, Venus, Mars, Mercurius, Neptunus, Volcanus, and Apollo, Ianus, Saturnus, Quirinus, Volturnus, Pales, Furrina, Flora, Carmenta, Pomona, Portunus, Fontanus, Aker, Amun, Ammut, Anubis, Aten, Bastet, Geb, Hapi, Hathor, Horus, Isis, Khepri, Khnum, Maat, Min, Mut, Neith, Nepthys, Nut, Osiris, Ptah, Ra, Sekhmet, Seshat, Seth, Sobek, Taurt, Thoth, Anu, Ninhursag, Enlil, Enki, Marduk, Tiamat, Kingu, Nabu, Ishtar, Ea, Enurta, Anshar, Shamash, Ashur, Kishar, Tao, Amaethon, Angus Mac Og, Arawn, Brainthus, Belatuadros, Beli, Borvo, Bran the Blessed, Camulos, Cernunnos, Condatis, Dispater, Dwyvan, Dylan, Esus, Govannon, Grannos, Gwyddno, the Horned God, Llud, Lugh, Mandred, Myrrdin Wyllt, Oghma, Achtland, Adsullata, Aerten, Agrona, Aife, Aine, Andarta, Andraste, Anu, Aoibhell, Ariadne, Arianrhood, Arnamentia, Aveta, Badb, Belisama, Blodeuwedd, Brigantia, Bridgid, Britannia, Cailleach Bheur, Cerridwen, Cliodna, Clota, Condwiramur, Corra, Coventina, Cred, Creddylad, Cyhiraeth, Damara, Damona, Divona, Druantia, Epona, Erce, Goewin, Habetrot, Henwen, Latis, Le Fay, Marcia Proba, Modron, Morgan LeFAy, Morgay, Morrigan, Nantosuelta, Nicevenn, Nimue, Oanuava, Njord, Freyr, Frigg, Freyja, Nanna, Skadi, Hermod, Odin, Bor, Tyr, Loki, Heimdall, Ulle, Forsetti, Aegir, Ran, Hel, Sif, Bragi, Idun, Balder, Ve, Vili, Vidar, Hod, Ba, Bixia Yuanjin, Cai-shen, Cao Guo-Jiu, Cheng-Huang, Chu Jiang, Dha-Shi-Zhi, Di-cang, Di-guan, Dong-yue da-di, Dou mu, Er-lang, Fan-Kui, Fei Lian, Feng Po-po, Fu-zing, Gao Yao, Gong De Tian, Gou Mang, Guan-di, Gui Xian, Gun, Han, Han Xian-zi, He Bo, Heng O, Hou JI, How-Chu, How-too, Hu Jing-de, Huang Fei-hu, Huang-lao, Huang-lao-jun, Ji Nu, Jian Lao, Jin Jia, Kui-xing, Kwan Yin, Lan Cai-he, Lao-jun, Lei-gong, Lei-zi, Li Tie-guai, Ling-bao tian-zong, Lieu Bei, Long-wang, Lu Ban, Lu Dong-bin, Lu-xing, ma Wang, Ma-mian, Men-shen, Mo-hi-hai, Mu Gong, Mu-king, Niu Want, Nu-gua, Pa, Pa-cha, Pan Jin Lian, Pan-gu, Qi Gu-niang, Ru Shou, San-qing, San-xing, Shen Yi, Shen-nung, Shou-lao, Shou-xing, Shui-guan, si-ming, Song Di, Song-zi niang-niang, Sun-pi, Tai-sui-xing, Tai-yi, Tai-yue da-di, Tao-de tian-zong, Tian Hou, Tian-guan, Tian-mu, Tu-di, Want Mu niang-niang, Wei Cheng, Wei-tuo, Wen-chang, Wen-shu, Wu Guan, Xi Shi, Xi Want-mu, Xian, Yang Jing, Yan-lo, Yao-shi, Yen-lo-wang, Yi-Ti, Yuan-shi tian-zong, Yu-huang, Yu-qiang, Zao-jun, Zhang Fei, Zhang Xian, Zhi Song-zi, Zhi-ni, Zhong kui, Zhu Rong, Zi-yu, Anguta, Aningan, Asgaya Gigagei, Atira, Awonawilona, Big Heads, Breathmaker, Coyote, eohako, Estanatlehi, Evening Star, First Man, First Woman, Gahe, Sluskap, Hio, Irdlirvirisissong, Kanati, Kitcki Manitou, Michabo, Morning Star, Magenatzani, Nesaru, Nokomis, North Star, Ocasta, Olelbis, Rabbit, Raven, Sedna, Selu, Shakura, South Star, Sun, Tekkeitserktock, Tirarwa-Atius, Thobadestchin, Thoume, Torngasak, Twin Thunder Bosy, Wachabe, Centeotl, Chalchiuhtlicue, Chantico, Chicomecoatl, Cihuacaotyl, Coatlicue, Ehecatl, Huehueteotl, Huitzilopochtli, Iztpzpalotl, Iztlilton, Macuilzochitl, Metztli, Mictlan, Mictlantecuhtle, Mictlantecihuatl, Ometecuhlti, Patecatli, Paynal, Quetzalcoatl, Teoyaomqui, Tezcatlipoca, Tlaloc, Tlazolteotl, Tonacatecuhtli, Tonatiuh, Tonantzin, Xilonen, Zipe Totec, Xiuhetecuhtle, Xochipilli, Yacatecuhtli, Apo, Apocatequil, Apu Illapu, Catequil, Cavillaca, Chasca, Chasca Coyllur, Cocomama, Coniraya, Copacati, Ekkeko, Huaca, Illapa, Inti, Ka-Ata-Killa, Kon, Mama Allpa, Mam Cocha, Mama Oello, Mama Pacha Mama Quilla, Manco Capac, Pachacamac, Pariacaca, Paricia, Punchau, Supay, Rucaguary, Vichama, Viracocha, Zaramama, the Triple Goddess, the Divine, Hastur, Cthulu, Yog Sothoth, the Great Old ones, the Elder Gods, and any other gods or goddesses that may be added at a later date as they are discovered,

Indivisible
With liberty and justice for all.

If you’re a non-Australian looking for a good lesson in fast-paced writing, then you need look no further than Australia.

One of the first things I noticed about Australian language and speaking, besides the actual accent, is the habit of the majority of Australians to interrupt. But far from simply being a very rude country all over, it’s actually the way of the language.

Maybe it’s because Americans have guns, so if you piss them off you could get shot, but Australians don’t place such a high importance on waiting until a person is completely finished speaking. Instead, if they think they know what you are going to say, where you are going with the conversation, or even if something relevant has popped into their minds, they won’t hesitate to speak up.

I’ve puzzled over this for a while and come to the conclusion that Australians place more importance in the ideas and messages being conveyed rather than the actual words.

How does this help you with your writing?

If what you’re working on is starting to turn yawn-inspiring, take a lesson from Australians; don’t be afraid to interrupt your characters. Be it their inner monologues, discussions with other characters, or even switching perspectives from one chapter to another. Don’t place the ultimate importance on what they are saying or thinking.

Don’t be polite to your characters.

If you want to try this out in exercise form first, take two characters and write a scene (or more) consisting of interruptions galore. Just remember that moderation is usually a good thing.

Note: I’m not trying to start some ‘my country is the best’ war or anything. Any comments I make are out of good humor, as it is the Aussie way to make fun of everyone (including each other), and these traits have been rubbing off on me over the past near two years.