Grammar Made Easy

I am not the “Grammar Nazi.” I’m the “Grammar Duchess.” For me, this means I am a member of nobility, but not part of the monarchy. I do better than most, but I’m no Stephen “King.” And let’s face it, my blog? It’s my journal. The only time I focus on what I want to say, not technicalities, and silly things like grammar.

With that said, my cousin and sometimes editor, keeps me well-informed of my mishaps. She’s taught me how not to totally butcher the English language. In hopes of extending the same help to everyone, she started a Facebook page called GRAMMAR MADE EASY. I help with it, as well as another young lady. I hope you click the LIKE button and join us! Feel free to comment and post!!

Happy Writing!

Writing the Storm

Storms, certainly not tornadoes, help me write. It's the sound of the rain, the grumble of Mother Earth that pulls me from reality into my imagination. Perhaps this started when I was a child.

In my childhood I was absolutely terrified of storms. I would not leave my Dad's side. I remember shaking in my flip-flops praying the Giants would stop wrestling over my head. I even used my sacred wand (oak stick) to cast a spell on Mother Earth. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

When I turned 7ish, during those moments of horrific fear, I wrote or played Barbies or Glamour Gals. Either way, I spent time creating a story. I often lost myself in those moments of story-weaving. Many times I forgot it was storming, minus that occasional blinding flash of light and earth shaking rumble that followed. This became ritual to me- if it stormed- I wrote or played. Either way, I created a world far from there, far from the storm in a mystic cave, or endangered jungle or perhaps a castle in Ireland where the faeries dared me to step into their circle.

Old habits are hard to break. It storms, I write. And I write the same as I did a two decades ago (clearing throat)- with a pad of paper and a pen (pens seemed more grownup than a pencil.) There is something about feeling a good ink pen flow across paper. It's a ballet of words at best, even if it's the Hillbilly Hop version...

May each of your WRITE THE STORM!!!

Time...

I’ve had a few people ask how do I:  homeschool, volunteer on a Board of Directors, serve on various committees, work Part-time on the weekends, write and give presentations, blog (ok, we know I’m not doing this a lot!) keep up my astronomy newsletter for homeschoolers (another love of mine I’ve taken a break from,) occasionally mentor to parents on IEP’s, IDEA, etc., walk my dog, feed my kids, read, write, etc. etc.

I really don’t know how I do it all. My writing suffers more than anything. Some weeks I barely get 300 words written! Some weeks I write 7000 words! And let’s face it-- my grammar suffers on my blog! But hey, I posted something on here!  

I must say, writing this is eye-opening. Who knew I spent so much time on the Internet? Hmmm… I challenge YOU to write your schedule and see where your time goes.

Merry Writing!!

Daily Schedule

8:00-9:00                     WAKE

9:00-10:00                   Prepare for the day; work with children a bit; walk the dog

10:00-11:30                 Free time for the boys

I research, return phone calls, emails… (sighing) get on Facebook

11:30-12:00pm            LUNCH

12:00-4:00                   Strictly School. I rarely get to write during this time.

4:00-9:00                     Dinner, baths, story time, etc. etc. I SOAK up time with my boys!! We manage to cram documentaries, educational TV, educational games and many more fun things during this time too! Always homeschooling!

9:00-1:00ish am           Write, Read, Catch-up on TV shows if I have any and spend time on the Internet. Occasionally I play World of Warcraft.

TIP:  NOT WATCHING TELEVISION frees up more time than people realize!!

Writer's Block or Whining?

Want to scare a writer? Mention writer's block... Writer’s block (generally speaking) is when a writer loses the ability to write, or they think their work is inferior.  And it really scares the beegy-weegies out of me!! I stare at the screen in horror. Dread soaks into every pore on my body. I type. But nothing comes. I type more. Still nothing. Nothing but writer’s block. This does not happen often, but ask any writer— once is enough.

Sooo… I edit, thinking this will get my juices flowing... Naaa... if anything I get discouraged, lose inspiration and stop writing altogether. All this stems from my “problem,” or better yet—my dirty little secret. My writer’s block, in its most severe form, is lack of confidence. I know when I am writing, it’s good. (My blog doesn’t count. I blog to get a break from all the “rules” and “worries.) Yet when I edit I think its mega crap. And to make matters worse, I have a second problem. I edit before I’m finished, which means, I rarely finish. I get too discouraged due to the lack of confidence.  I know all this, yet occasionally I slip into the same old routine— or trap.

Lack of Confidence is suicide to writers. It certainly has hindered my writing. Now when I have the urge to edit I refrain— somewhat. Then I read. Yep, it’s true. I read my way through writer’s block! I found reading the genre I write really inspires. Unfortunately I pass a lot of time reading, not writing. I prefer to call it “research.” (clearing throat) To be perfectly honest, reading boosts my confidence. Have you read a book and thought “Wow, this got published? I know I have a chance!” Who hasn’t? Right?

My (recent) conclusion to it all? I fight the urge to edit until I actually FINISH a project. And read, read, read! It offers me inspiration and confidence! Writer’s block is a state of mind. Somewhere deep down in my soul, I know I’m good. Otherwise I wouldn’t continue down this path that started when I was a child. "So, suck it up, Ol’ Girl! Stop whining and write!” (I heard that in my grandmother’s southern voice!)