May 2013
8 posts
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Mailman or Civil War Hero?
What makes the American postal system great, aside from cheap rates? Our mailman’s uniform looks like a Civil War tuxedo.
Day 1, Week 6
Honestly, I under committed last week. Good thing my boss (me) knows when I need more work.
This week’s commitments:
Write a new chapter for Kyle Goes BYE
Re-polish the picture books (my mom, the mother of all word nerds, read them & gave feedback)
Research conference grant
Write bite-sized book pitch
Next week is short for me. And then the month is almost over. Tick TOCK!
“You have to listen closely to the sound of your own breathing; be aware of how...”
– Ann Trason in Born to Run
Synopsis: BATTLE BERT
Bertrand Battle Boomer Bailey, Battle for short, is a tough kitten living in an abandoned Air Force base house. He has always dreamed of having a human family to love and snuggle. When Jeff, a man far from his own family moves into the house, Battle sees his chance to make his dream real.
Convincing Jeff that Battle is the perfect kitten for him isn’t easy, but Battle doesn’t give up. In the...
Day 1, Week 5
I’m so freaking excited about this week. Last week’s commitments were grueling but paved the road for some interesting work (at least, interesting to word nerdy me).
This week’s commitments:
Write and send first agent query (he doesn’t know it, but I already have him in my sites)
Clean up my social platforms (will not be interesting but needed)
Post synopsis of BATTLE...
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PHEW!
Commitments for this week: complete. Now the real hard work starts.
April 2013
10 posts
9 tags
Day 2, Week 4
One month as a writer. April included:
Started a memoir
Completed Battle Bert, an early reader/pic book
Edited Bad, Bored Emma, another early reader/pic book
Started Layla Goes Bye, a middle reader book
Created publishers and agents spreadsheets (Excel - it’s not just for engineers and data heads)
Traveled to Arizona, NYC and Las Vegas
Had an emotional hiccup yesterday when I realized...
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Write What You Know
That’s what they say: write what you know.
So, why is tonight the first time I’ve thought about writing a kids book with running in it? Went from brushing teeth to 725 words written in 25 minutes, or so. Excited to see how it reads tomorrow!
20 minutes before dinner, inspiration struck. We’ll see how it sounds tomorrow, in the clear light of day and when I’m not hungry. For now, donzo!
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Day 2, Week 3
Week 3 of working for myself on becoming a published children’s book author.
Biggest realization: history proves that I show up for a traditional job every day, so I can show up for myself every day. Even if it is 80 degrees and sunny, like today, I still have work to do that will only get done if I show up at one of my “offices.” Here’s where I spent today:
This week’s...
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Black ice, eyes and guys
Random observation: Black ice, black eyes and Black guys sound REALLY alike when said outloud. I’m wickedly tempted to call my mom in Idaho and ask her if she’s seen any black guys/ice just to see if she knows what I’m talking about.
Me: Hey, mom, heard you guys had some crazy cold weather. Seen any Black guys?
Mom: Yep, it was freezing but I managed to avoid all the black ice.
Me: Mom,...
Creative Cocooning
Creative Cocooning: An experience marked by a notable shift from external socialization to inward retreat, where the desire to create becomes of primary importance.
Like a social butterfly, in reverse.
Day 1, Week 2
Getting in the rhythm of being a writer, which seems to involve a lot of not writing. Last week, my major accomplishments were:
- starting
- completing the final edit of BATTLE BERT, 1 of my 2 young reader/picture books
- starting a magazine article
This week’s goals are:
- craft BATTLE BERT query letter
- 1 post on each of my blogs - total of 3 (this counts as 1; sweet!)
- complete...
swedishbits asked: Hi, I'm not sure how the comment system etc. works on tumblr yet, but I just wanted to point out sth about your post about the Swedish soap. The unpronouncable words are because of a typographical error, probably due to the ä and å. The words are supposed to be "färskt från havet", which is somewhat easier to pronounce. Gott nytt år!
December 2012
1 post
October 2012
1 post
6 tags
One letter away from pimping
A friend told me his email almost arrived missing the letter P. Not the biggest deal - a small typo even for a Word Nerd like myself. Except the meaning of the sentence hinged on that P.
Without the p, the sentence was glowing praise from a pimp: Hoe your day was productive!
With the p, it was an encouraging note from a friend: Hope your day was productive!
Shout out to the letter P for keeping...
September 2012
1 post
2 tags
“Jet lag is just insomnia with an accent. - Serene Lewis’ 3am wisdom from...”
August 2012
2 posts
“I believe I did what honor dictated and that belief sustains me. Except for a...”
– Fletcher Christian, seen at Credo restaurant in SF (go for the quotes, not the food)
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“She was the third beer. Not the first one, which the throat receives with almost...”
– Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
July 2012
4 posts
6 tags
“‘It is possible to love two women,’ Vladimir declared…...”
– Russian Debutante’s Handbook, Gary Shteyngart
June 2012
12 posts
7 tags
20 Quotes for Cat Lovers →
amandaonwriting:
In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this. ~ Terry Pratchett
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. ~Robert A. Heinlein
You know how it is with cats: They don’t really have owners, they have staff.” ~P.C….
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Conjunction & Conjugation
Conjunction’s function: hookin’ up words and phrases or ideas
Conjugation’s function: separate the past, present and future from the possible, the regretted and the past that is in the future.
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“When I say I am a refugee, you must understand that there is no refuge.”
– Little Bee, Chris Cleave
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The Niceties: How Are You?
The words we say matter at least as much as the words we type...
Fred was Jim’s boss and a real slimeball. Cheated on his girlfriend. Lied to coworkers. Kicked puppies, etc. But Jim took pride in being loyal and so he allowed himself to be blind to Fred’s vagaries and stayed true through it all.
Eventually, Fred got let go from the company and Jim had to take over his work. At the...
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Phase of the Moon: Gibbous
I just learned that there is a word that specifically defines the moon’s state when it isn’t full, isn’t half and isn’t concave (the traditional child’s-drawing-of-the-moon shape). The word is gibbous.
gibbous [ˈgɪbəs], gibbose [ˈgɪbəʊs]adj
1. (Astronomy) (of the moon or a planet) more than half but less than fully illuminated
2. having a hunchback; hunchbacked
...
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May 2012
6 posts
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Inspired by Baseball
As baseball season heats up, here are 3 excellent baseball-inspired phrases:
Brush back: A pitch that sends a message to the batter from the pitcher, “Boy, we may be playing baseball, but this is NOT a game.”
3 true outcomes: As long as no one else gets involved, there’s only three ways a face-off between a pitcher and batter can end: the good= homerun; the bad= strike out; the...
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Serene's Made-Up Words: Enthusiasthma
Enthusiasthma (EN thoo ZEE ass mah): noun. 1. A severely constricted lack of interest. 2. Breathless excitement about an event, place or thing.
Usage: 1. We’re going to Chuck E. Cheese? Whatever. (yawn) 2. We’re going to Paris? Oh my god, oh my god, OH MY GOD! (passes out)
April 2012
13 posts
I'm Here for the Inspiration
I’ll bring cookies and tea if you bring beautiful, funny, smart, cool and/or thought provoking.
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“A dessert without cheese is like a beautiful woman who is missing an eye.”
– Brillat Savarin, French gastronome (and simile poet, me thinks)
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“How can anyone govern a nation that has over 246 different kinds of cheese?”
– Charles de Gaulle, when talking of his country, France
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“Cheese is ‘milk’s leap toward immortality.’”
– Clifton Fadiman, editor
“They’re not telling the truth if they don’t teach, one, that writing is hard...”
– Doris Lessing (via amandaonwriting) 