Brand new blog, so I get to play with backgrounds!
Summer is here and I'm thrilled to be surrounded by my boys full time again, but not writing or blogging so much.
We are big reading family and have books popping out of every nook, but I do know that lots of other families struggle to keep their kids reading, especially during the summer. Having just visited with some girl relatives who are NOT into reading at age 13, I began to wonder what books are being marketed to them? Seriously, I know about Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid for younger kids, especially boys; and light graphic novels for older ones, but what about these girls? Easy, quick reads that make them laugh? Something about the Mall? Anyone know any books for these girls?
Monday, June 27, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Completely different
I found this site and love it - sometimes I just need to know that movies for my kids won't end with the hero dead, dying, or unloved; and sometimes I just want to know if my movie is worth finishing!
http://www.ruinedendings.com/index.php
http://www.ruinedendings.com/index.php
Friday, June 17, 2011
Lessons from different styles
Fiction has been a hobby for me for a long time, but this year I decided to dive in and learn about the craft - and finish something! Edits, readers, classes, books - there is so much to learn.
But I'm also learning more about writing in general. I just finished a great Memoir class (something VERY out of my comfort zone). We had a cozy group and our teacher gave us writing suggestions, then we would return each week and read a piece (if we wanted). Lots of comments were about the content of the work, because it was so interesting, but some were on the way the story worked.
What I learned is that specific details are not boring, and a reader can handle a lot of them. The generalizations (I felt sad, it was a tough time), left you craving for more. I still see images of some of the details my group wrote. It is a good lesson for fiction writers and expands on that "tell/show" thing. A laundry list of details is hard to absorb, but when specific details are woven into the story, the effect is powerful.
But I'm also learning more about writing in general. I just finished a great Memoir class (something VERY out of my comfort zone). We had a cozy group and our teacher gave us writing suggestions, then we would return each week and read a piece (if we wanted). Lots of comments were about the content of the work, because it was so interesting, but some were on the way the story worked.
What I learned is that specific details are not boring, and a reader can handle a lot of them. The generalizations (I felt sad, it was a tough time), left you craving for more. I still see images of some of the details my group wrote. It is a good lesson for fiction writers and expands on that "tell/show" thing. A laundry list of details is hard to absorb, but when specific details are woven into the story, the effect is powerful.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Lamb's Quarter
Lamb's Quarter or Goosefoot
Do you know this lovely weed? I help weed for my CSA and carry a container just for Lamb's Quarter. Vitamin A and C, phosphorus, calcium, thiamin, iron, niacin and riboflavin - what more do you want? Oh, good taste? Try a yummier version of Spinach. Fantastic.
If you have kidney issues, ask your MD, but otherwise, enjoy. We eat our fill then parboil and freeze the rest for the winter. Yum.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Dating . . .
OK MG writers - I have the evidence. Fifth grade, middle school, the dating bug has started according to my child. It is funny because when I wrote my story with a 12 year old main character, I thought I would put a tiny dose of romance in, but wondered if it were correct. The kids "talked" about going out in 4th, but it just ramped up. *Sigh* it is easier to look at this fact from a MG writer research perspective than as a mom . . .
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Haha- Invasive Species Fashion
Check out this store! I am definitely shopping there for next Christmas!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Creativity
I had fun helping my kids' school for Art Day today. Lots of projects happening all day, with grades and classes mixed up. I love it.
I was with the Lego builders (did they see the Legos busting out of my house? Or do I have some stuck in my hair?). We dumped tubs of Legos out for the kids and said, "Get busy!"
Well the good news for our world is that most kids said, "Yee-Haw!" and dove in. Out of three sessions, just one little girl sat quietly, not touching a brick. I asked her what kinds of things she liked (trying to get an idea for building) and she said, "I just watch T.V. at home." BAM - I knew I had a tough one. "OK," I said, "what's your favorite show?" "I watch whatever is on." Double BAM! So I hunted out the object pieces (trees, doors, windows, a horse) and threw out ideas about building a farm, or a house for the horse. With no love for the task, she picked up the horse and sighed. I knew my BAM limit was full, so I went to ask the wild alien and fighting ship builders if they needed help. But here's the cool thing. Five minutes later she was rummaging through the pile, hunting out special bricks with all the other kids. She ended up building a funky little house-thing, but she built it!
Let creativity live, and even the most tuned out will hop on - and love it.
I was with the Lego builders (did they see the Legos busting out of my house? Or do I have some stuck in my hair?). We dumped tubs of Legos out for the kids and said, "Get busy!"
Well the good news for our world is that most kids said, "Yee-Haw!" and dove in. Out of three sessions, just one little girl sat quietly, not touching a brick. I asked her what kinds of things she liked (trying to get an idea for building) and she said, "I just watch T.V. at home." BAM - I knew I had a tough one. "OK," I said, "what's your favorite show?" "I watch whatever is on." Double BAM! So I hunted out the object pieces (trees, doors, windows, a horse) and threw out ideas about building a farm, or a house for the horse. With no love for the task, she picked up the horse and sighed. I knew my BAM limit was full, so I went to ask the wild alien and fighting ship builders if they needed help. But here's the cool thing. Five minutes later she was rummaging through the pile, hunting out special bricks with all the other kids. She ended up building a funky little house-thing, but she built it!
Let creativity live, and even the most tuned out will hop on - and love it.
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