I recently read an article that claimed 61% of employers looking (on Linked-in) for potential employees in any field ignore those who do not use proper grammar on social sites, including Facebook postings.
It seems using bad or incorrect grammar on your social sites is even more of a faux pas than posting about drinking and parties or other frowned upon activities (in the eyes of an employer).
My son chimed in with another interesting article he'd read on the subject of grammar and dating sites. It seems women are more attracted to men who have a grasp on correct grammar. Those men receive more "likes" than the others who are more lackadaisical with their grammar skills.
Although I make my share of grammatical errors, I work like heck to limit them. Nonetheless, I admit to being a grammar Nazi. I may not be totally efficient (or as thoroughly educated as I'd like to be on the subject) with all the rules of grammar, but I sure expect it of others! LOL! And I find it ironic that I am a horrible speller, yet when a man misspells words, it turns me off. How unfair of me!
Bottom line? Don't let social media, tweeting or texting ruin your grammatical skills (or your love life!). :) Make an effort at the very least.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Should you OUTLINE?
I wrote my first novel, Cadence Beach, without an outline, but as I write this second novel, I find I could use an outline.
I'm not a fan of rigid or long, involved outlines by any means, but I have come to a place in my writing process where I do believe an outline that offers a clear path to follow from point A-Z is a necessary tool. If only I'd come to that helpful conclusion thirteen chapters ago, I wouldn't be limping through my first draft as much as I am. But, as I mentioned, I made it successfully through novel number one without an outline; I'll make it through the current one.
I do write a brief summary or synopsis of a story before I begin draft number one, but I'm finding it's not helpful enough to carry me through to the end. So, my advice to fellow writers is to always write some sort of outline, long or short, for the simple value of moving the process of writing a first draft along at a more reasonable pace. You'll groom the path along the way with adding and changing details , but at least with an outline there is a path to follow.
Through both personal experience (as mentioned above) and a wonderful, helpful book I purchased called Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success by K.M. Weiland, I'm on my way to a smoother and better paced writing experience. I hope you find the same successful outcome.
I'm not a fan of rigid or long, involved outlines by any means, but I have come to a place in my writing process where I do believe an outline that offers a clear path to follow from point A-Z is a necessary tool. If only I'd come to that helpful conclusion thirteen chapters ago, I wouldn't be limping through my first draft as much as I am. But, as I mentioned, I made it successfully through novel number one without an outline; I'll make it through the current one.
I do write a brief summary or synopsis of a story before I begin draft number one, but I'm finding it's not helpful enough to carry me through to the end. So, my advice to fellow writers is to always write some sort of outline, long or short, for the simple value of moving the process of writing a first draft along at a more reasonable pace. You'll groom the path along the way with adding and changing details , but at least with an outline there is a path to follow.
Through both personal experience (as mentioned above) and a wonderful, helpful book I purchased called Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success by K.M. Weiland, I'm on my way to a smoother and better paced writing experience. I hope you find the same successful outcome.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Preparing for College
As my eldest is going through the task of filling out college apps and writing numerous essays, I'm struck by one thing: the questions of gender and ethnicity (maybe two things?). If discrimination due to gender or ethnicity is not acceptable (or legal!), then why do those questions even make an appearance on the applications for college? Those questions can easily be answered (if needed) after acceptance into the college.
I confess I have not looked at any of the apps as I'm not the one applying to schools, so I don't know if the questions of gender and ethnicity are optional, but I don't think they have any business being on the application at all if one is to believe it's illegal to discriminate against any gender or race/ethnicity. I doubt they are asking out of curiosity (yeah, right!) or even to keep track of what groups are applying in the first place. Those questions can be answered upon acceptance into a college.
I don't know if being white, Italian, Scandinavian and American Indian will help or hurt my child in this process, but the inappropriateness of the above mentioned questions remains regardless.
Shouldn't merits be the focus? The only focus?
Would you agree or disagree that posing the question of gender or ethnicity on college applications is unnecessary, even wrong?
Whatever questions are posed or not on college applications, it's an exciting and anxious time for young students who wish to further their education, so I wish them all the very best!
I confess I have not looked at any of the apps as I'm not the one applying to schools, so I don't know if the questions of gender and ethnicity are optional, but I don't think they have any business being on the application at all if one is to believe it's illegal to discriminate against any gender or race/ethnicity. I doubt they are asking out of curiosity (yeah, right!) or even to keep track of what groups are applying in the first place. Those questions can be answered upon acceptance into a college.
I don't know if being white, Italian, Scandinavian and American Indian will help or hurt my child in this process, but the inappropriateness of the above mentioned questions remains regardless.
Shouldn't merits be the focus? The only focus?
Would you agree or disagree that posing the question of gender or ethnicity on college applications is unnecessary, even wrong?
Whatever questions are posed or not on college applications, it's an exciting and anxious time for young students who wish to further their education, so I wish them all the very best!
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Slowing Down
Good day!
I just read a post on LinkedIn where a fellow author talked about being way too busy to visit the site often enough to reap any benefits, then followed up the post with another, sharing that she'd just had her eyes opened to the fact she was living her life way to fast when she received a speeding ticket. Her "story" inspired this post.
Like most of us, I can fill my days to the brim and have little time left for anything else but eating and sleeping. But I choose not to. That has never made me happy, and I don't handle high stress well. So a long time ago, I carefully chose not to "be too busy". How do I do this? Well, I guarantee it's not because I have any less life to live than most. I believe, and my choices reflect this belief (in other words, I practice what I "preach"), that most of us always have a choice. Our busy schedule will only be as busy as we allow. No matter how insurmountable your schedule may seem, take a deep, examining look and you'll find you can shift or remove things from that schedule that will indeed free up some of your time for much needed reflection, rest or social activities.
It's a choice (in most cases, not all). A choice I personally made a long time ago when I realized I couldn't live at a high level of stress or be too busy. I needed reflection time, time to exercise and time to be a friend, mother and wife, and time to do it well. I make that time on a daily bases with the exceptions being limited and short-term.
To my point, many of us find the time for exercise, squeezing it in during early morning, mid-day, evenings, late at night or in small bursts all throughout the day. The end result is that you have "found time" to exercise. On the flip side, others claim they have no time to exercise when the truth of it is, they don't want to fit it into a schedule they already feel is overwhelming. Bottom line: we have time for whatever we make time for. And if you think you don't have time to make or enjoy friendships, or reap the benefits of exercise, or just do nothing for a while, try looking again.
Of course, like everything in life there are exceptions. But for the most part, the majority of us can choose how we live, and our busy schedules that keep us from the things we need or want to do should be temporary. Being too busy for something we want to enjoy or experience should be a short-term issue, not a daily, long-term way of life. Life will always throw curves, but we should find our way around those curves and back onto a path at a pace we can enjoy to the fullest.
I simply suggest most of us do have time for the important things in life if we are willing to rearrange and shift for them. And I also suggest each of us take the time to slow down. Really slow down. Time, even just an hour out of our day, to reflect or be at rest can make such a difference. You'll be a better you.
I hope this has been helpful and/or eye-opening to some of you. Good luck, and may you "find the time" for all the things you enjoy and love.
I just read a post on LinkedIn where a fellow author talked about being way too busy to visit the site often enough to reap any benefits, then followed up the post with another, sharing that she'd just had her eyes opened to the fact she was living her life way to fast when she received a speeding ticket. Her "story" inspired this post.
Like most of us, I can fill my days to the brim and have little time left for anything else but eating and sleeping. But I choose not to. That has never made me happy, and I don't handle high stress well. So a long time ago, I carefully chose not to "be too busy". How do I do this? Well, I guarantee it's not because I have any less life to live than most. I believe, and my choices reflect this belief (in other words, I practice what I "preach"), that most of us always have a choice. Our busy schedule will only be as busy as we allow. No matter how insurmountable your schedule may seem, take a deep, examining look and you'll find you can shift or remove things from that schedule that will indeed free up some of your time for much needed reflection, rest or social activities.
It's a choice (in most cases, not all). A choice I personally made a long time ago when I realized I couldn't live at a high level of stress or be too busy. I needed reflection time, time to exercise and time to be a friend, mother and wife, and time to do it well. I make that time on a daily bases with the exceptions being limited and short-term.
To my point, many of us find the time for exercise, squeezing it in during early morning, mid-day, evenings, late at night or in small bursts all throughout the day. The end result is that you have "found time" to exercise. On the flip side, others claim they have no time to exercise when the truth of it is, they don't want to fit it into a schedule they already feel is overwhelming. Bottom line: we have time for whatever we make time for. And if you think you don't have time to make or enjoy friendships, or reap the benefits of exercise, or just do nothing for a while, try looking again.
Of course, like everything in life there are exceptions. But for the most part, the majority of us can choose how we live, and our busy schedules that keep us from the things we need or want to do should be temporary. Being too busy for something we want to enjoy or experience should be a short-term issue, not a daily, long-term way of life. Life will always throw curves, but we should find our way around those curves and back onto a path at a pace we can enjoy to the fullest.
I simply suggest most of us do have time for the important things in life if we are willing to rearrange and shift for them. And I also suggest each of us take the time to slow down. Really slow down. Time, even just an hour out of our day, to reflect or be at rest can make such a difference. You'll be a better you.
I hope this has been helpful and/or eye-opening to some of you. Good luck, and may you "find the time" for all the things you enjoy and love.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
First Draft
I recently took a writing class where the instructor spent a great deal of time and energy trying to get one very important point or lesson across: your first draft will suck!
At first, I shook my head, thinking no way could I possibly let my first draft suck (the idea piqued my OCD behavior tendencies!). I'm one of those writers who edits as she goes. While it's not exactly a bad thing to do, it does slow down the process and "talks over" the creative voice.
The best advice I got from the class was to let myself "write badly", knowing I will most definitely be writing several more drafts following (my favorite part of the process, oddly enough).
Changing any habit is tough, and this has been no exception. I still try to edit as I write my first draft, but now that I'm aware of what I'm doing, I can hush the editor voice and let the creative voice rise.
I still stop about 1/4 of the way through and start from the beginning again, editing just enough to get a better and stronger grasp on where my story is going, who the characters are in all their glory and yes, correcting any issues I find along the way. This process works great . . . for me. I think of it as catching my breath part way through the course before hiking up the remainder of the hill.
If you don't already keep your inner editor at bay during the first draft, give it a try. It's very freeing! And it allows the creative voice to pave the way.
Here is a link to an informative and entertainingly written guest column on the Writer's Digest website by author Kathy Leonard Czepiel. - http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/5-tips-on-writing-first-drafts
Enjoy and good luck with your own process!
At first, I shook my head, thinking no way could I possibly let my first draft suck (the idea piqued my OCD behavior tendencies!). I'm one of those writers who edits as she goes. While it's not exactly a bad thing to do, it does slow down the process and "talks over" the creative voice.
The best advice I got from the class was to let myself "write badly", knowing I will most definitely be writing several more drafts following (my favorite part of the process, oddly enough).
Changing any habit is tough, and this has been no exception. I still try to edit as I write my first draft, but now that I'm aware of what I'm doing, I can hush the editor voice and let the creative voice rise.
I still stop about 1/4 of the way through and start from the beginning again, editing just enough to get a better and stronger grasp on where my story is going, who the characters are in all their glory and yes, correcting any issues I find along the way. This process works great . . . for me. I think of it as catching my breath part way through the course before hiking up the remainder of the hill.
If you don't already keep your inner editor at bay during the first draft, give it a try. It's very freeing! And it allows the creative voice to pave the way.
Here is a link to an informative and entertainingly written guest column on the Writer's Digest website by author Kathy Leonard Czepiel. - http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/5-tips-on-writing-first-drafts
Enjoy and good luck with your own process!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Back from the dead no longer science fiction?
Did you know that birth rates around the world are down? Yet population is rising. This is due to our ability (and obsessive need) to prolong life. Many of the strides we've made to prolong life are wonderful, but are we taking it too far when there is talk of bringing people back from the dead?
On the Today Show this morning (http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/2013/02/26/17101996-god-held-me-coming-back-from-the-brink-of-death-is-possible-says-doctor?lite), there was a guest author/scientist who is taking part in the discussion about bringing people back after they die.
Unlike a sci-fi movie, the return to life must occur within 8 hours after a person is considered a corpse (this is new knowledge). They (scientists) are working on how to do this without brain damage or any damage to the person, and they seem to have it nearly figured out. It's a matter of making the process available world wide (or even hospital wide). Depending on what city and hospital you end up in, you may or may not be brought back if you die.
How do you feel about this? I'm torn.
Having a loved one die is beyond painful, and I can imagine the urge to bring them back, but I'm torn as to how good of an idea this is. Maybe it depends on what killed them? Hmmm. I can't say. But ultimately, I suppose my Christan faith reminds me that no matter what we do or don't do, if God wants us to go home to him, there will be no fighting it. And if he wants to allow us to stay longer, he'll let that happen, too, via doctors or whatever means. So we may as well do everything in our power to save loved ones and ourselves (as is our instinct). That's how we should live anyway, right? Do everything "in our power" to accomplish whatever (even life) and let God take over where our own power falls short.
Keeping this in mind, the next time you see a family with more than the accepted 2 kids, smile instead of sneering (yes, I've heard many times of people sneering at families). From what I've read in many different sources, they are NOT the problem with population, in fact we need them to help balance the age demographic of our population. Right now we are headed to being top heavy with seniors (we may already be there, I'm not quite up-to-date). We need the young ones to refresh the world! ;)
The above statements are my interpretation and opinion. You are encouraged to share yours.
On the Today Show this morning (http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/2013/02/26/17101996-god-held-me-coming-back-from-the-brink-of-death-is-possible-says-doctor?lite), there was a guest author/scientist who is taking part in the discussion about bringing people back after they die.
Unlike a sci-fi movie, the return to life must occur within 8 hours after a person is considered a corpse (this is new knowledge). They (scientists) are working on how to do this without brain damage or any damage to the person, and they seem to have it nearly figured out. It's a matter of making the process available world wide (or even hospital wide). Depending on what city and hospital you end up in, you may or may not be brought back if you die.
How do you feel about this? I'm torn.
Having a loved one die is beyond painful, and I can imagine the urge to bring them back, but I'm torn as to how good of an idea this is. Maybe it depends on what killed them? Hmmm. I can't say. But ultimately, I suppose my Christan faith reminds me that no matter what we do or don't do, if God wants us to go home to him, there will be no fighting it. And if he wants to allow us to stay longer, he'll let that happen, too, via doctors or whatever means. So we may as well do everything in our power to save loved ones and ourselves (as is our instinct). That's how we should live anyway, right? Do everything "in our power" to accomplish whatever (even life) and let God take over where our own power falls short.
Keeping this in mind, the next time you see a family with more than the accepted 2 kids, smile instead of sneering (yes, I've heard many times of people sneering at families). From what I've read in many different sources, they are NOT the problem with population, in fact we need them to help balance the age demographic of our population. Right now we are headed to being top heavy with seniors (we may already be there, I'm not quite up-to-date). We need the young ones to refresh the world! ;)
The above statements are my interpretation and opinion. You are encouraged to share yours.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Outlines: love them or hate them?
I recently read an article about novelists and outlines. Some writers can't imagine trying to piece together a story without a tight, involved outline, and others wing it all the way. I fall somewhere in between precise and winging it. I think.
I begin with an idea for a story and a very rough idea of characters and setting, then put that "on paper". That's where I start, but once I begin the actual writing, I back-fill the outline. I let the story and characters develop as I go, then make notes on the outline rather than the other way around. It works for me.
It's best not to be too rigid about the writing process, allowing imagination to sculpt. But with that said, I also believe each writer must do what feels most comfortable to them and what works. What I've learned most recently is that there are no rules to how we create our stories, only suggestions. Don't box yourself in with rules, even if you created them. Be open to change your process as you go, as you learn and grow.
The creative mind needs wiggle-room and a safe place to experiment. This has not been an easy lesson for me (I'm a rule-follower!), but I'm getting it now and it feels fantastic. With my second novel, I'm feeling the exhilarating freedom of . . . well . . . freedom. And I love it! Rules have their place, but that place is not in the creative process.
So follow your own creative path and enjoy the process guilt free!
Here is a link to an article on advantages and disadvantages of writing:
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/to-outline-or-not-to-outline-that-is-the-question/
Link on how to write an outline:
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Outline
I begin with an idea for a story and a very rough idea of characters and setting, then put that "on paper". That's where I start, but once I begin the actual writing, I back-fill the outline. I let the story and characters develop as I go, then make notes on the outline rather than the other way around. It works for me.
It's best not to be too rigid about the writing process, allowing imagination to sculpt. But with that said, I also believe each writer must do what feels most comfortable to them and what works. What I've learned most recently is that there are no rules to how we create our stories, only suggestions. Don't box yourself in with rules, even if you created them. Be open to change your process as you go, as you learn and grow.
The creative mind needs wiggle-room and a safe place to experiment. This has not been an easy lesson for me (I'm a rule-follower!), but I'm getting it now and it feels fantastic. With my second novel, I'm feeling the exhilarating freedom of . . . well . . . freedom. And I love it! Rules have their place, but that place is not in the creative process.
So follow your own creative path and enjoy the process guilt free!
Here is a link to an article on advantages and disadvantages of writing:
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/to-outline-or-not-to-outline-that-is-the-question/
Link on how to write an outline:
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Outline
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