Writing Life
Now About That Winner
I am thrilled to announce that the fabulous Julie C. Gardner author of the blog By Any Other Name was the person…
The Day After My One Year Blogoversary!
Wow, I am hungover. Last night, I went out and partied hard. Why? Well, yesterday was my blogoversary!…
What The Huh?
Seems we have to teach our children about how it is necessary to use different language to communicate to different audiences. About when it is appropriate to abbreviate and when it is necessary to use a more formal tone, proper grammar, and a spell checker. About when to use and refrain from using emoticons. Today’s “screenagers” don’t get it….
Rewarding My Frequent Fliers
A while ago, I decided that I would reward the person who made the 3,000th comment on my blog with a gift. No, there is nothing significant about the number 3,000. I just saw that the number was approaching, and the time felt right….
Lessons From Search Bombing
On April Fool’s Day, Ironic Mom & EduClaytion got together and created a hilarious way for bloggers to have a little fun. They call it “Search Bombing” and it involves using Google to type in little things we bloggers know about each other and then intentionally searching for them in an attempt to have these words show up on the intended bloggers’ “Most Frequently Searched Terms” lists. …
A Literary Interview With You
Today I am interviewing you about your favorite and least favorite books of all time. …
How I Tricked My Book Club Into Writing
My neighborhood book club has been going strong for nearly three years. This time I was the host, and (gasp) I made them write….
Who Me? Stylish?
I said I was taking a break from blogging to work on my book. But I must not have been very convincing because the next thing I know, I received this message from Clay Morgan over at Educlaytion: “I have something for you over at my blog.” Well, for the love of Pete, that’s like crack. I mean, how can anyone resist that? You would have to have to be one cold-blooded bitch not to heed the call of a fellow blogger….
If My Kid Writes One More Book Report…
I get it. My school district clearly wants our kids to pass the standardized test.
They want a slice of the pie.
But our kids are dying of boredom….
How I Fell in Love with Words
Through my youthful correspondence with a boy, I fell in love. With words. In person, I am often left feeling like I did not say the right thing. But when writing, I have time to be careful, to ponder, to find a new way to say something old. I learned how, in English, multi-syllabic words have a way of softening the impact of language, how they can show compassion, tenderness and tranquility. Conversely, I learned that single-syllable words could show rigidity, honesty, toughness, relentlessness. I saw how words could invoke anger, sadness, lust, and joy….