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.

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.

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.

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.