Somewhere, recently, I read that if you have set some goals and just kept them to yourself without writing them down or telling them to others, your goal will probably wither and dry.
I've had to think about this for a while. I have always been the type of person who would set goals, but not write them down or say a word to others about them. That way, no one could call me on it. I thought it was a way to save face.
Writing down my goals sounded like a way to own those goals I was out to acomplish, but they tended to become easily covered. On a notecard on my desk? Covered with other papers and books. In a writer's journal? Turn a page and the goal is easily forgotten. On the bulletin board in front of my desk? Covered with other things that needed to go on the bulletin board. The same for my Toshiba bulletin board.
During a writing workshop last year, we were given a sheet of paper and told to put out name and the word "writer" on it. A full sheet of 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper. Most of us put our name and the word in the upper right or left corner of the paper, like we were taught in school. Our instructor chuckled and commended the single individual who wrote her name and the word in the center of the paper in large print. "Do you really think so little of your self as a writer?" she asked the rest of us. She challenged us to go out into the world and tell everyone "I am a writer." So I did.
But I continued to keep my goals to myself until I read that email or newsletter.
It was the end of October and I had been planning once again to participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). For those of you who haven't heard, the challenge is to write a 50,000+ word novel in the 30 days that comprise the month of November. Usually, the only person I confided in was my hubby, but this year I decided to tell more people: anyone really who would listen. An amazing thing happened. The more people I told, the more I felt compelled to finish those 50,000 words.
As I look upon the experience, I think that setting goals must be three fold: set your goals and determine what it will take to accomplish the goal, then write it down, AND FINALLY, share your goals with anyone who will listen.
So, since I can't verbally talk to you, here are at least two of my goals: 1) Post a new "Sunday Edition" story every Sunday, and 2) Post regularly on this blog and my other blogs.
I've said it and published it. Now, to make good on my word.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
THE FICTION OF LIFE
Have you ever read Shakespeare's "The Seven Ages of Man"? It's part of one of his comedic plays As You Like It.
In my writing mind, I find the poem is a valuable tool. As an writer, try examining your life for the stories you have experienced and the stories you could have experienced.
Of course, I don't remember being an infant, but my mother does. Right now we are going through old papers that she has collected over the years, and she is ready, willing, and able to tell the stories of my childhood and her childhood. Some of it is the stuff good stories are based on.
In our second stage, we go to school. What lessons did I learn? What did I do? Several years ago, I was taking a college course that dealt with administration and society. The professor asked us to write our autobiography and examine why we are the person we are today. I was amazed at the experiences I unearthed about my school years. They are now recorded in that 30+ page document.
The third stage somewhat overlaps the second stage and continues, for many of us, into the sixth stage and for some into the seventh stage. It's the relationship stage. Who was your first crush? Your first boyfriend? And in looking at relationships, we can include the organizations we belong to, our best friends, and even the relationships with those with whom we work.
The fourth stage seems to me to address the world of work. What jobs have you held? I think the strangest job I had was posing as a victim for lifesaving classes. I had to pretend I was actively drowning and the aquatics student had to save me; then, I had to pretend I was the unconscious victim, near death, hoping to be saved before I died.
As the justice in the fifth and sixth stages of life, we are the parents and grandparents who look at the world with a different vision than we did as just a student or young adult. My mother who is in her 80s says that she has lived enough years to be able to say just exactly what she thinks. She's quite the spunky senior citizen.
Although by the time we reach the seventh stage, we have probably lived a full life, as writers we can harvest the ideas of the the experiences we share with people who have reached this stage.
Take some time and read Shakespeare's poem pasted below. Then, start to mind-map your life. What personal experiences can you identify as inspiration for a fictional story?
Let me know how this poem fits your life.
In my writing mind, I find the poem is a valuable tool. As an writer, try examining your life for the stories you have experienced and the stories you could have experienced.
Of course, I don't remember being an infant, but my mother does. Right now we are going through old papers that she has collected over the years, and she is ready, willing, and able to tell the stories of my childhood and her childhood. Some of it is the stuff good stories are based on.
In our second stage, we go to school. What lessons did I learn? What did I do? Several years ago, I was taking a college course that dealt with administration and society. The professor asked us to write our autobiography and examine why we are the person we are today. I was amazed at the experiences I unearthed about my school years. They are now recorded in that 30+ page document.
The third stage somewhat overlaps the second stage and continues, for many of us, into the sixth stage and for some into the seventh stage. It's the relationship stage. Who was your first crush? Your first boyfriend? And in looking at relationships, we can include the organizations we belong to, our best friends, and even the relationships with those with whom we work.
The fourth stage seems to me to address the world of work. What jobs have you held? I think the strangest job I had was posing as a victim for lifesaving classes. I had to pretend I was actively drowning and the aquatics student had to save me; then, I had to pretend I was the unconscious victim, near death, hoping to be saved before I died.
As the justice in the fifth and sixth stages of life, we are the parents and grandparents who look at the world with a different vision than we did as just a student or young adult. My mother who is in her 80s says that she has lived enough years to be able to say just exactly what she thinks. She's quite the spunky senior citizen.
Although by the time we reach the seventh stage, we have probably lived a full life, as writers we can harvest the ideas of the the experiences we share with people who have reached this stage.
Take some time and read Shakespeare's poem pasted below. Then, start to mind-map your life. What personal experiences can you identify as inspiration for a fictional story?
Let me know how this poem fits your life.
The Seven Ages of Man
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players,
They have their exits and entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
Then, the whining schoolboy with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden, and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice
In fair round belly, with good capon lin'd,
With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws, and modern instances,
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose, and pouch on side,
His youthful hose well sav'd, a world too wide,
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again towards childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
Friday, November 30, 2012
A FIRST NOVEL
As November comes to a close, I am here to shout "I have finished the 50,000+ word requirement for National Novel Writing Month." Now come the difficult steps: revision, editing, and proofreading, as well as searching for a more appropriate title. As I move into this process, I find myself getting excited about the prospect of having a completed project.
Right now, as I leave the "I'm finished with my worst first draft" phase and enter the "Must revise! Must edit!" phase, I am focused on the following as the premise of my story:
When Beth loses her son as a casualty of war and her husband as a casualty of infidelity, she struggles to pull herself together and find meaning for her life.
With the close of November and the beginning of December, I will be focusing on blogging. Join me for the Sunday Edition where I hope to post a new story, poem, or view on life every Sunday.
Monday, October 22, 2012
USING PROMPTS WHEN YOUR MUSE IS QUIET
It is said that one of the keys to writing is to get thy
butt into the chair and just do it. Great! Butt is in chair. Now what?
Now, I sit and stare at a blank page on my computer screen
and think. Think? Do I really think? If I were truly thinking, I would be
typing at jet speed, or maybe warp speed. But I’m sitting here rereading what I
wrote and trying to get inspired.
I can be driving home from work and ideas hit me from the
right and left. But once I get home and sit down at the computer to actually
write, NOTHING.
OR
I can plan to get up with the alarm at least an hour early
and write then, or so say many writers. Really? It takes at least an hour and
two good cups of coffee for my brain to activate. It’s like the Power Rangers
can’t find each other.
So, what’s a writer who is trying to write each day supposed
to do. Especially if they have an idea for a novel and NaNoWriMo hasn’t started
and it’s October?
I like to work with prompts. I make my creative writing students
write to a prompt each day as soon as the bell rings. Mondays = story idea;
Tuesdays = 5 words; Wednesdays = picture; Thursdays = personal; and Fridays =
story starters. I generally write for 10 minutes to the same prompt they are
given.
Sites for writer prompts:
Although Creative Writing Solutions says it is a website for
teachers and parents, it is a site that offers some thought provoking writing
prompts.
Creativity Portal offers several different kinds of writing
prompts, from story starters to a daily picture.
Writing Prompts: Creative Writing Ideas is an article on Hub
Pages that identifies prompts in categories such as “Life Experiences”.
World’s Best – Daily Writing Prompt contains a library of
writing prompts.
Other places to look for inspiration include song lyrics,
the newspaper, the news, books that make you wonder what a character would do “If?”,
even history.
So, don’t procrastinate, produce. Don’t worry about the
topic or the blank page. That’s what is so great about writing. If you don’t
like how you wrote it, it is easy to revise what you have done OR “scrap it”
(but never actually throw it away – it might be useful somewhere along your
writing journey) and start something new OR let the idea simmer on the back
burner behind a closed door in your mind until it seems to make sense.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
PROCRASTINATION and CHALLENGE
My hand pauses on the doorknob. Procrastination bubbles to the surface. I don't have to do this today; I can wait until tomorrow. I nod in agreement with myself. I didn't tell anyone where I was going. Tomorrow will be a better day to do this.
"What are you, chicken?" a voice deep inside me bellows. "It's always tomorrow with you, isn't it?" I am still paused with my hand on the well worn knob. "If you truly look at it, this is yesterday's tomorrow. Pull the door open, would you?"
I take a deep breath and pull. The door opens to a gymnasium and arranged center court sit 12 gray metal folding chairs in a circle. The gentleman with the clipboard looks up before I can escape. "Welcome. I'm glad you finally came."
Eyebrows raised, I point at myself.
"Yes, you. I've been waiting for you. I am always waiting for procrastinators, but they seldom find the right tomorrow. Won't you take a seat?" He motioned to the 11 empty chairs. "I believe you'll be the first member of Procrastinator's Anonymous."
WHERE IS PROCRASTINATOR'S ANONYMOUS
Unlike support groups for other maladies like alcoholism, drug abuse, and over-eaters, procrastinators rarely catch up to tomorrow. They wait for tomorrow to set goals, accomplish tasks, start something new.
What causes procrastination? At least for me, I think procrastination comes from fear of the unknown and fear of failure as well as from a lack of self-confidence.
At first, I thought having an empty house for the better part of every two weeks would be a blessing. I could write. I could clean. I could grade. I could write. I could write.
It has now been almost three years since my husband began a career as an over the road trucker, but I have accomplished little with writing (or in cleaning for that matter).
THE CHALLENGE
It has taken my husband, who listens to book radio, to challenge me out of my procrastination. Although there is no support group for procrastination, my husband has listened to many author interviews. What he has gotten out of these interviews is that I need to be like the professional writers who set writing goals for themselves.
His goal for me is to write 2,000 words a day. It doesn't matter if those words are part of a novel I have talked incessantly about, a short story, or just to write whatever comes to my head, but I MUST WRITE 2,000 WORDS A DAY.
Have I started? I sure have. I haven't hit the goal yet, but I am working toward it. At least I have my backside in my desk chair and I am striking keys that will put words on the page.
"What are you, chicken?" a voice deep inside me bellows. "It's always tomorrow with you, isn't it?" I am still paused with my hand on the well worn knob. "If you truly look at it, this is yesterday's tomorrow. Pull the door open, would you?"
I take a deep breath and pull. The door opens to a gymnasium and arranged center court sit 12 gray metal folding chairs in a circle. The gentleman with the clipboard looks up before I can escape. "Welcome. I'm glad you finally came."
Eyebrows raised, I point at myself.
"Yes, you. I've been waiting for you. I am always waiting for procrastinators, but they seldom find the right tomorrow. Won't you take a seat?" He motioned to the 11 empty chairs. "I believe you'll be the first member of Procrastinator's Anonymous."
WHERE IS PROCRASTINATOR'S ANONYMOUS
Unlike support groups for other maladies like alcoholism, drug abuse, and over-eaters, procrastinators rarely catch up to tomorrow. They wait for tomorrow to set goals, accomplish tasks, start something new.
What causes procrastination? At least for me, I think procrastination comes from fear of the unknown and fear of failure as well as from a lack of self-confidence.
At first, I thought having an empty house for the better part of every two weeks would be a blessing. I could write. I could clean. I could grade. I could write. I could write.
It has now been almost three years since my husband began a career as an over the road trucker, but I have accomplished little with writing (or in cleaning for that matter).
THE CHALLENGE
It has taken my husband, who listens to book radio, to challenge me out of my procrastination. Although there is no support group for procrastination, my husband has listened to many author interviews. What he has gotten out of these interviews is that I need to be like the professional writers who set writing goals for themselves.
His goal for me is to write 2,000 words a day. It doesn't matter if those words are part of a novel I have talked incessantly about, a short story, or just to write whatever comes to my head, but I MUST WRITE 2,000 WORDS A DAY.
Have I started? I sure have. I haven't hit the goal yet, but I am working toward it. At least I have my backside in my desk chair and I am striking keys that will put words on the page.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
STEPPING AWAY
I've spent most of July stepping away: away from the novel I was working on, away from working on my short stories, away from my poetry, away from this blog, and away from writing every day. I had become involved in far too many different ventures. I, like most people, needed to re-assess where I was going - what my goals actually included.
The lack of rain has made me glad that I planted my veggies and herbs in pots in the front of my house. With minimal watering they are producing tasty additions to my recipes. The actual vegetable garden space has run amok with thistles and other weeds.
This is a lot like my mind and my writing: my mind has run amok with ideas and tasks and garbage. I've started to take out the mental garbage by jotting even the junk down or recording it. By doing this, I'm getting it off my mind. Releasing it; therefore, allowing space to think.
I have now revisited the first chapters of the novel I have been working on. The one where the protagonist's husband angers and upsets me. It seems that because I stepped away from the story, I seem to better understand the story I'm trying to share, his role, and where the story heads.
Now it is time to get to work.
The lack of rain has made me glad that I planted my veggies and herbs in pots in the front of my house. With minimal watering they are producing tasty additions to my recipes. The actual vegetable garden space has run amok with thistles and other weeds.
This is a lot like my mind and my writing: my mind has run amok with ideas and tasks and garbage. I've started to take out the mental garbage by jotting even the junk down or recording it. By doing this, I'm getting it off my mind. Releasing it; therefore, allowing space to think.
I have now revisited the first chapters of the novel I have been working on. The one where the protagonist's husband angers and upsets me. It seems that because I stepped away from the story, I seem to better understand the story I'm trying to share, his role, and where the story heads.
Now it is time to get to work.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
I AM A WRITER
It never fails. I find something about writing and writers and join a bit late. This time it is a 15 day challenge entitled "15 Habits of Great Writers."
Today's challenge? Declare yourself a writer.
An ironic challenge as I proceeded today to address that even though I hadn't read the challenge until this evening. (NOTE: The challenge started yesterday.)
As the school year came to a close, our English department staff gathered together at one of our fellow teacher's homes to sit out on his deck and spend some time together as real people and not just teachers.
It was here that I volunteered to write at least one article about the positive things at our school for one of our newspapers. Stuck myself out there and stated that I could write the article because I am a writer.
Later, with this same group, I joined forces with another writer in our midst as a writer support base. We have taught in the same building for some 8 to 10 years, but not connected as writers. It felt good to declare myself a writer.
I am a writer! I am a writer! I am a writer!
I feel like a kid in elementary school who had to write something 100 times on the board. Maybe if I do that, I'll start to actually believe that I am truly a writer.
Today's challenge? Declare yourself a writer.
An ironic challenge as I proceeded today to address that even though I hadn't read the challenge until this evening. (NOTE: The challenge started yesterday.)
As the school year came to a close, our English department staff gathered together at one of our fellow teacher's homes to sit out on his deck and spend some time together as real people and not just teachers.
It was here that I volunteered to write at least one article about the positive things at our school for one of our newspapers. Stuck myself out there and stated that I could write the article because I am a writer.
Later, with this same group, I joined forces with another writer in our midst as a writer support base. We have taught in the same building for some 8 to 10 years, but not connected as writers. It felt good to declare myself a writer.
I am a writer! I am a writer! I am a writer!
I feel like a kid in elementary school who had to write something 100 times on the board. Maybe if I do that, I'll start to actually believe that I am truly a writer.
Monday, June 4, 2012
A WRITER'S VOCABULARY
I love to read, which may explain why I enjoy writing. Recently, however, I am finding that my reading vocabulary is greater than my writing vocabulary. Grasping the meaning of unfamiliar words in context has never been difficult for me, but then I don't own the word and use it in my daily speaking and writing.
This deficiency became very apparent at my prompt group the other day when I listened to what the other members had written. I was in awe of the words some of them had so smoothly utilized to give their piece a more polished feeling. My written vocabulary pales in comparison to theirs.
This, as an educator, doesn't make sense, as I teach writing, vocabulary, and literature. So, what am I to do?
I need a stronger vocabulary so this summer I am embarking on learning new words and incorporating them in my writing.
There are several books that you could purchase and work through to improve your vocabulary, but some of the online vocabulary sites are more fun.
Why not join me in improving your vocabulary on one or all of the following sites. Don't see your favorite vocabulary site in this list. Let me know what it is and I'll check it out and add it for others to explore.
These two sites as well as crossword puzzles and scrabble are ways to improve your vocabulary.
Or, on a final note, what about taking a short piece of your writing and underlining words that could have synonyms and using the Thesaurus to find what other words you could possibly use.
Happy vocabulary building.
This deficiency became very apparent at my prompt group the other day when I listened to what the other members had written. I was in awe of the words some of them had so smoothly utilized to give their piece a more polished feeling. My written vocabulary pales in comparison to theirs.
This, as an educator, doesn't make sense, as I teach writing, vocabulary, and literature. So, what am I to do?
I need a stronger vocabulary so this summer I am embarking on learning new words and incorporating them in my writing.
There are several books that you could purchase and work through to improve your vocabulary, but some of the online vocabulary sites are more fun.
Why not join me in improving your vocabulary on one or all of the following sites. Don't see your favorite vocabulary site in this list. Let me know what it is and I'll check it out and add it for others to explore.
These two sites as well as crossword puzzles and scrabble are ways to improve your vocabulary.
Or, on a final note, what about taking a short piece of your writing and underlining words that could have synonyms and using the Thesaurus to find what other words you could possibly use.
Happy vocabulary building.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
SUMMER GOALS
The end is in sight. I can actually see summer. Today was the last day of teaching for the 2011-2012 school year, and it has been a long grueling stretch. Now we're in the the final exam stretch.
As I look ahead to next week when I will no longer have the structure of the "daily grind" so to speak, I realize that I can not go through another summer without created structure. I did that last summer (Although I did take several classes and workshops) and it got me no where. Last summer and this school year, however, did teach me the value of schedules and goals. Yes, one would think that at my age I should already know that. Not so. While my children were young and living at home, I lived their schedule of scouting, sports, YMCA day camps, and activities at our local community college. When they had graduated, I taught summer school for a few years. Again, a summer scheduled by someone else. So last summer with no one telling where I had to be or what needed to be done, I floated through the summer and by August I had nothing to show for my "summer off."
In beginning the transition from a teaching career to a writing career, I have been reading numerous articles and blogs that talk about setting goals and schedules. As a night owl, I have been working to set limits on the time I go to bed so that I can rise and get things done.
What to get done?
1. Get the first draft of my first novel completely finished
2. Develop a schedule and keep to it for blogging
3. Organize all of the miscellaneous things I have written
4. Develop a method of recording what I send out and to whom and with what result
5. Reading for myself (I've been doing good at this in the evening before bed)
6. Reading and preparing for the next school year (each English level has a new anthology for next year and I have two levels and very few pieces carry over)
7. Learning to eat healthy and get exercise
8. Gardening in Northern Illinois and getting my lawn healthy
9. Clean and clean out the stuff in my house that I no longer need, use, or want (Do I hear garage sale?)
10. Learn to carve out time to just sit and enjoy life
Wow! Is that too much between now and August 27th? Have I missed anything? I'll just have to see.
So, in the vain of getting my blogging more regular, this Sunday, look for an entry on the "Sunday Edition" page of this blog and let me know what you think.
As I look ahead to next week when I will no longer have the structure of the "daily grind" so to speak, I realize that I can not go through another summer without created structure. I did that last summer (Although I did take several classes and workshops) and it got me no where. Last summer and this school year, however, did teach me the value of schedules and goals. Yes, one would think that at my age I should already know that. Not so. While my children were young and living at home, I lived their schedule of scouting, sports, YMCA day camps, and activities at our local community college. When they had graduated, I taught summer school for a few years. Again, a summer scheduled by someone else. So last summer with no one telling where I had to be or what needed to be done, I floated through the summer and by August I had nothing to show for my "summer off."
In beginning the transition from a teaching career to a writing career, I have been reading numerous articles and blogs that talk about setting goals and schedules. As a night owl, I have been working to set limits on the time I go to bed so that I can rise and get things done.
What to get done?
1. Get the first draft of my first novel completely finished
2. Develop a schedule and keep to it for blogging
3. Organize all of the miscellaneous things I have written
4. Develop a method of recording what I send out and to whom and with what result
5. Reading for myself (I've been doing good at this in the evening before bed)
6. Reading and preparing for the next school year (each English level has a new anthology for next year and I have two levels and very few pieces carry over)
7. Learning to eat healthy and get exercise
8. Gardening in Northern Illinois and getting my lawn healthy
9. Clean and clean out the stuff in my house that I no longer need, use, or want (Do I hear garage sale?)
10. Learn to carve out time to just sit and enjoy life
Wow! Is that too much between now and August 27th? Have I missed anything? I'll just have to see.
So, in the vain of getting my blogging more regular, this Sunday, look for an entry on the "Sunday Edition" page of this blog and let me know what you think.
Monday, May 28, 2012
SUMMER BEGINS
As Monday morning dawns, my idea of summer begins. Why?
1. Pools open up
2. Smells of neighbors grilling fill the air
3. It's light enough and warm enough to take a walk after my daily grind is over.
4. It's light enough and warm enough to sit out in the morning with my dog and enjoy that first cup of coffee.
5. I can leave my windows open all night and not freeze. (Yes, you got it - I hate air conditioned air.)
6. Fresh fruits and vegetables are abundant.
7. Life slows down.
8. Garage sale signs start popping up on various street corners.
9. I actually have time to write like I want to.
10. My job-job is on hiatus and my passion has time to grow.
So, as summer begins, what are your favorite things to do.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
LESSONS FROM MY DOG
This morning Harley, my "foundling" dog, decided to poke his nose around the base of one of my maple trees. His attention was riveted. Then, I saw something jump out of his way. I thought it was a toad. (We get a number of these each year in our lawn.) Although he was content to pursue it, I needed to get him back into the house so I could get to work.
Crossing the yard, I discovered that what he was after in a friendly and curious way was a baby bunny. He didn't want to hurt it; he just wanted to see what it was. At that moment a second and then a third bunny about the size of my palm skittered out of the hole under the tree and began to explore.
I rushed my dog away from the bunnies and the tree.
If only I could have the abandon to pursue my stories the way Harley focused his curiosity on the baby bunnies. To block out all else from my senses and focus on the one thing that deserves my attention: the story.
So, just what can one do to find focus? Here are some of the things I am trying.
1. I am finding that classical music on the television is much more focusing than having on a television show for noise.
2. Sit down and require a minimum of 10 minutes. I can focus on anything for 10 minutes and drown out the noise. I can quiet the voices telling me what else needs to be done.
3. Limit my time for checking email, reading blogs by other people, and playing mesmerizing online games to a period of time. If I'm not done, I turn it off. I have to wonder why I was drawn to the game or pinterest or stumbleupon or the email or blog. If it is mindless, I have started turning it off. My time limit? 15 - 30 minutes.
4. I've started walking as exercise. It seems to help me focus at night when my mind truly wants to wander.
If you have any methods of maintaining focus, I welcome you to share. There are times we could all use a bit of extra help.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
BE AN ORIGINAL
As a teacher, I see all forms of plagiarism, but in a creative writing class? Spare me. Write your own stuff, your own ideas. Trust me, you may not put words together as well as Shakespeare did, but you are growing by trying.
OK, Yes, I am on a rant.
I was grading the last of the poetry unit submissions tonight. I'm tired, I'll admit, and the first poem of this one student seemed fantastic. It didn't ring that he could have plagiarized. Then, however, I read the second poem in the block of three. In my tired state and the work of at least 60 creative writing students, I didn't see the resemblance until I thought about the words. I questioned whether a sophomore in high school would use words like "curfew tolls" and "knell." As an English teacher, they should have screamed their original poets names: Thomas Gray, Edwin Arlington Robinson, and Thomas Hardy, but they didn't.
When I hit those words, my mind started questioning and I decided to do a search which easily brought up the exact words of the poems the student had submitted. Unbelievable.
However, I guess Thomas Gray, Edwin Arlington Robinson, and Thomas Hardy should be grateful that their work received an "A" for being able to follow traditional formats.
OK, Yes, I am on a rant.
I was grading the last of the poetry unit submissions tonight. I'm tired, I'll admit, and the first poem of this one student seemed fantastic. It didn't ring that he could have plagiarized. Then, however, I read the second poem in the block of three. In my tired state and the work of at least 60 creative writing students, I didn't see the resemblance until I thought about the words. I questioned whether a sophomore in high school would use words like "curfew tolls" and "knell." As an English teacher, they should have screamed their original poets names: Thomas Gray, Edwin Arlington Robinson, and Thomas Hardy, but they didn't.
When I hit those words, my mind started questioning and I decided to do a search which easily brought up the exact words of the poems the student had submitted. Unbelievable.
However, I guess Thomas Gray, Edwin Arlington Robinson, and Thomas Hardy should be grateful that their work received an "A" for being able to follow traditional formats.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
REASONS TO JOIN A WRITER'S GROUP
This afternoon, I sat at a local library with other writers at a writer's group meeting. Although each of the writer's groups I am involved with meets only once a month, I feel that I am missing something that month if I don't make a meeting.
Here are my top reasons to join a writer's group. If you can't locate one near you, you could try one of the online groups.
1. Since so much of writing is done alone at one's computer or on paper, joining a writer's group connects you with like minded people. As a teacher, I am in a building with other teachers; although a nurse works with patients, the nurse is usually in contact with other nurses; likewise a mechanic works with other mechanics. A writer's group is one way to connect with other people who do the same work you do.
2. A writer's group and the speakers that make presentation create motivation. Although today's speaker was a children's author, I went away with the desire to sit down and get to work on my own pieces.
3. Being a member of a writer's group looks good on a resume. Likewise, becoming involved in the running of the organization (secretary, treasurer, newsletter editor) looks good on a resume.
4. Being involved in a writer's group can link you to a writing partner or mentor.
5. And finally, joining a writer's group can be just plain fun.
Here are my top reasons to join a writer's group. If you can't locate one near you, you could try one of the online groups.
1. Since so much of writing is done alone at one's computer or on paper, joining a writer's group connects you with like minded people. As a teacher, I am in a building with other teachers; although a nurse works with patients, the nurse is usually in contact with other nurses; likewise a mechanic works with other mechanics. A writer's group is one way to connect with other people who do the same work you do.
2. A writer's group and the speakers that make presentation create motivation. Although today's speaker was a children's author, I went away with the desire to sit down and get to work on my own pieces.
3. Being a member of a writer's group looks good on a resume. Likewise, becoming involved in the running of the organization (secretary, treasurer, newsletter editor) looks good on a resume.
4. Being involved in a writer's group can link you to a writing partner or mentor.
5. And finally, joining a writer's group can be just plain fun.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
WHO AM I?
I'm following an April Platform Challenge on Robert Lee Brewer's blog "My Name Is Not Bob."
Ok, I know that today is April 11 and I'm running behind in posting, but I didn't want to post what I didn't like. The first challenge was to "define myself". To think about myself in terms of the here and now as I sit in front of my computer rather than setting goals and projecting myself into the future was a difficult task. I think the hardest part of this challenge, however, was to sum up myself in one single sentence. It truly requires a writer to be concise and choose precise verbiage.
To read what I wrote, please click on the "About the Author" tab under the title of this blog.
Drop me a comment and let me know what you think. You can visit my other endeavors.
Ok, I know that today is April 11 and I'm running behind in posting, but I didn't want to post what I didn't like. The first challenge was to "define myself". To think about myself in terms of the here and now as I sit in front of my computer rather than setting goals and projecting myself into the future was a difficult task. I think the hardest part of this challenge, however, was to sum up myself in one single sentence. It truly requires a writer to be concise and choose precise verbiage.
To read what I wrote, please click on the "About the Author" tab under the title of this blog.
Drop me a comment and let me know what you think. You can visit my other endeavors.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
NAMES OF PLACES
Since my husband is a truck driver, he calls me with unique and interesting names of places.
This week so far he has been to North East, PA and Sunflower, GA.
When choosing and/or using the name of a place in a short story or longer work of fiction, it is best to check to see if a place with the actual name you are using exists.
My favorite site for this also gives detailed information about existing cities.
Check out http://www.city-data.com/ and let me know what you think.
This week so far he has been to North East, PA and Sunflower, GA.
When choosing and/or using the name of a place in a short story or longer work of fiction, it is best to check to see if a place with the actual name you are using exists.
My favorite site for this also gives detailed information about existing cities.
Check out http://www.city-data.com/ and let me know what you think.
Monday, March 5, 2012
A NEW PHILOSOPHY
Someone told me not long ago that if I had the chance to attend a large writer's convention that I had to go. I have been to theater and speech teacher's conventions, but I didn't realize the impact a writer's convention would have on me and my desire to write.
This past weekend I attended the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Convention in Chicago. I must have sported the proverbial deer in the headline look for the entire weekend: Chicago, the lights, the Michigan Avenue hotels, the writers. When 10,000 writers descend upon a small area (the Hilton Chicago and the Palmer House), there is a distinct energy an aspiring writer can latch onto and feed on.
Although I belong to four uniquely separate writer's organizations and groups, I still feel alone. After all, the writer's life, according to many, is a solitary life. But here among 10,000 like-minded individuals, I felt a silent support.
Trying to juggle workshops that interested me and the book fair, I didn't meet too many people. It almost felt like going to a Six Flags Amusement Park and trying to ride every ride in half a day.
It wasn't until I was leaving Sunday morning that I realized the impact that the experience had had on me. I rode the elevator down with a younger gentleman who had also attended the conference for the first time. He told me that he indeed enjoyed it, but that he was exhausted. I agreed with him. "But," I said, "I soaked up a lot of information. And I'm going home, getting organized, and writing my heart out so I can write as well as the people I listened to in workshops and the people I heard read their material."
If I happened to meet you, thank you for the bit of conversation we had. If you were there, did you enjoy your experience?
This past weekend I attended the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Convention in Chicago. I must have sported the proverbial deer in the headline look for the entire weekend: Chicago, the lights, the Michigan Avenue hotels, the writers. When 10,000 writers descend upon a small area (the Hilton Chicago and the Palmer House), there is a distinct energy an aspiring writer can latch onto and feed on.
Although I belong to four uniquely separate writer's organizations and groups, I still feel alone. After all, the writer's life, according to many, is a solitary life. But here among 10,000 like-minded individuals, I felt a silent support.
Trying to juggle workshops that interested me and the book fair, I didn't meet too many people. It almost felt like going to a Six Flags Amusement Park and trying to ride every ride in half a day.
It wasn't until I was leaving Sunday morning that I realized the impact that the experience had had on me. I rode the elevator down with a younger gentleman who had also attended the conference for the first time. He told me that he indeed enjoyed it, but that he was exhausted. I agreed with him. "But," I said, "I soaked up a lot of information. And I'm going home, getting organized, and writing my heart out so I can write as well as the people I listened to in workshops and the people I heard read their material."
If I happened to meet you, thank you for the bit of conversation we had. If you were there, did you enjoy your experience?
Monday, February 13, 2012
Birthday Wishes?
As I stood in my kitchen this weekend, I found that the back of a cereal box was talking to me. It was announcing that Life was celebrating its fiftieth birthday. It was at this point that I realized that I was older that Life itself. Not much, but definitely older.
Then I got to thinking. If Life is 50, then I could consider myself as old as dirt.
Life is a cereal. Life is a magazine. Life is a publisher. Life is ... love?
It's funny how we look at age. There are days where I feel as young as the high school students I teach, and then there are other days where I feel as old as my mother.
Just remember that life is how you feel, not a number.
Then I got to thinking. If Life is 50, then I could consider myself as old as dirt.
Life is a cereal. Life is a magazine. Life is a publisher. Life is ... love?
It's funny how we look at age. There are days where I feel as young as the high school students I teach, and then there are other days where I feel as old as my mother.
Just remember that life is how you feel, not a number.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)