Today will be devoted to getting that commission done. Type, typity, type, type.
Yes, it's kind of like that.
Today will be devoted to getting that commission done. Type, typity, type, type.
Comments
An interesting perspective on written tone.
My fifteen year old little brother was just beginning to express himself on a popular social media site on adult issues. He had moved a step beyond liking the adorable puppy photos our uncle posted and was joining in long political discussions with his peers. I was quite frankly very proud of his debut. He had an engaging style, precise grammar, and a factual knowledge of the issues that most adults couldn’t boast of. However he knew this as well and it showed in his tone. Mom decided to approach him with some constructive criticism. Mom: “You have been making some great posts on the site lately! I am very proud of you.” Me:*Dutifully minding my own business like a good big sister.* Little Brother squints at Mom: “… but….?” Mom: “But your posts are a bit too arrogant for constructive debate Sweetie.” Little Brother frowns: “What do you mean? I never call people names, or say that their ideas are just stupid, even when their facts are just wrong.” Mom: “Well Sweetie, it’s like this. The words you are using are fine but your tone is –“ Little Brother tilts his head in confusion: “But my tone is fine. I never use all caps!” Me: *Breaks into gales of laughter * Mom: *Glares at me while trying not to laugh* Sweet “Sense and Sensibility” what kind of authors will the next generation be? Sometimes when a bug gets an author down it can be a boon to writing. It can free up wide swathes of time that would otherwise be unavailable for the author to work. However sometimes it just sucks the creativity out of the author like some predatory creature or the parasites that is causing it.
For those who are not in the know November has for some reason been dubbed National Novel Writing Month. This was shortened to NaNoWriMo and is a pretty big thing. The goal is to write 50,000 words in the course of a month. That usually works out to somewhere between 1600 and 2000 words a day. There are support groups nationally and locally. All in all this author finds it a very useful support system, especially when one needs inspiration to just knuckle down and write.
Even if an author does not finish the 50,000 it often gets the creative juices flowing and can lead to surprising twists. An author sits in the cab of a truck that has seen more years than most human have by the time their children are in grade school. The afternoon sun slants through the trees and lights the surrounding fields with a warm golden glow. A half grown cow tosses its shaggy black head and lowes, sending a fog of glittering breath into the November air. The author's fingers flicker over the keyboard of a laptop in fits and starts as the muse shivers in the cold air. "Rev it up Sam!" The shout comes from the bulky youth standing next to a man in an oxygen mask beside a yellow barn. The author sets the laptop to the side of the spacious cab and settles firmly into the drivers seat. A hand reaches out the window to smack the door repeatedly. A brief flurry of hand signals is exchanged with the youth. The powerful engine roars to life and the trailer backs smoothly up to the barn door. "Laryngitis," the youth explains to the confused farmer as they start to load the hay. "But I can't back a trailer so we both had to come anyway." True story! |
AuthorBetty Adams is an up and coming author with a bent for science and Sci-fi. Archives
March 2024
|