Memorial Day Poppies

We'll enjoy the day off, and hope for sun. We may find a good bargain, clean out the garage, or enjoy a cool one on the deck.
In light of the thousands fighting now in a questionable war, try to take some time this Memorial Day to remember those who have fought and died.

In 1915, inspired by the poem, “In Flanders Field”, Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too,
the Poppy red
That grows on fields
where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

Writing Mom

Mom, mother, mommy, ma, mama, mam, mammy, mum, mamman, mamma, omma, oma, ammi, ummah...

These are only a few of the ways to write this word, but however written, its meaning is clear.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Until Next April

I've enjoyed reading a lot of great poetry during National Poetry Month. Here's one to bid farewell to April. This isn't my favorite cummings poem, but as a writer, the title had me hooked.

nobody loses all the time

i had an uncle named
Sol who was a born failure and
nearly everybody said he should have gone
into vaudeville perhaps because my Uncle Sol could
sing McCann He Was A Diver on Xmas Eve like Hell Itself which
may or may not account for the fact that my Uncle

Sol indulged in that possibly most inexcusable
of all to use a highfalootin phrase
luxuries that is or to
wit farming and be
it needlessly
added

my Uncle Sol's farm
failed because the chickens
ate the vegetables so
my Uncle Sol had a
chicken farm till the
skunks ate the chickens when

my Uncle Sol
had a skunk farm but
the skunks caught cold and
died so
my Uncle Sol imitated the
skunks in a subtle manner

or by drowning himself in the watertank
but somebody who'd given my Unde Sol a Victor
Victrola and records while he lived presented to
him upon the auspicious occasion of his decease a
scrumptious not to mention splendiferous funeral with
tall boys in black gloves and flowers and everything and

i remember we all cried like the Missouri
when my Uncle Sol's coffin lurched because
somebody pressed a button
(and down went
my Uncle
Sol

and started a worm farm)

Hug your favorite librarian!

Oh, better yet, walk into your local library and get a card if you don't already have one. Then browse to your heart's content, finally choosing one perfect book or a perfectly obscene pile of books you can't wait to enjoy. Watch your librarian's face while your books are scanned. They know you through what you read. Bright, wonderful librarians!

It's National Library Week!

Happy Birthday, Wanda June

....Wanda June is one of my favorite Kurt Vonnegut pieces—a play, though his books such as Slaughterhouse Five and Cat's Cradle are better known. Read some Vonnegut today, in honor of his passing. Obscure works, essays, plays and his amazing books are all highlighted on this site:
http://www.vonnegutweb.com/

Easter Laughs

I mean no disrespect to those that celebrate Easter, but you have to laugh at an oldie, but goodie, THE DUMB BUNNIES EASTER, by Sue Denim with illios by the fabulous Dav Pilkey. How can you not enjoy seeing bunnies in underwear spray painting fried Easter eggs? Oh, and the Easter Bunny arrives in a minivan pulled by eight flying pilgrims. Pure silliness and you just know that Ms. Denim and Mr. Pilkey had a great time creating this book.

A poem for the season (NY Times)

Happy St. Patrick's Day

A few famous thoughts about Ireland and the Irish:

Ireland is rich in literature that understands a soul's yearnings, and dancing that understands a happy heart.
Margaret Jackson

This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever.
Sigmund Freud (about the Irish)

In Ireland the inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs.
Sir John Pentland Mahaffy

I'm troubled, I'm dissatisfied. I'm Irish.
Marianne Moore "Spenser's Ireland"

NY Times-Nicholas D. Kristof

Mr. Kristof mesmerizes readers with insightful columns and today was no different. Powerful words demand attention, as well as a picture of a starving Ethiopian girl named Hidaya, whose image won't leave my mind. Kristof is sponsoring a contest in which a journalism student and middle school or high school teacher will win a chance to travel the world with him, blog for the NY Times and reach readers here—where most of us have plenty to eat.

Rules will be posted at www.nytimes.com/winatrip and www.myspace.com/kristofontheground

Curtis Sittenfeld

When I began reading PREP by Curtis Sittenfeld, the main character really put me off and I almost closed the book. Glad I didn't. Strange, compelling book. It's one I've owned for awhile and finally read. At the end of my paperback version is a Q&A between Sittenfeld and Katie Bacon from The Atlantic Monthly. I hope you'll appreciate this quote from Sittenfeld as much as I do: "I don't think you can learn to write a book except by writing a book. And then of course it's going to be imperfect."

Researching?

Check out the following site for a plethora (oh, it's fun to write that word) of reference site links on almost every topic imaginable.

http://www.journalism.cuny.edu/research-center/assistance/web-search-tools.html

Babel

Babel is difficult to watch, but the film should be a must see for writers. Communication, and lack of it, is the theme of this excellent screenplay by Guillermo Arriaga. It focuses on how we connect with others using sounds, words and actions, which can change our own lives and create a ripple that might effect the entire world. A powerful message.

Tennis anyone?

Numbered 81st in the world, Serena Williams used her power, skill, and mostly, determination, to best the number 1 player at the Australian Open this weekend. Williams' commitment to her game is inspiring—I think that same drive is necessary in facing the publishing world. Game, Match, WIN!

Ready to submit?

If you're ready to submit your manuscript to an agent, take a look at this link:

http://www.sfwa.org/writing/howto.htm

Laughs courtesy of Miss Snark!

Jen Singer at mommasaid.net

Stop by and have a laugh at Jen Singer's site. Her video momma-logues are hilarious plus there's lots of other informative and funny features. Jen has written for all the top parenting and women's magazines and her book, 14 HOURS 'TIL BEDTIME, will keep you laughing.
Happy 4th Birthday, mommasaid.net!

Spelling and Martin Luther King

My kids may know more about Dr. King than I do, thanks to books, school assemblies and studying that part of history, which we didn't when I was in elementary school. Today, we read several picture books on Dr. King and "boycott" was on my daughter's spelling test last week. Proud to say she got it right, but more proud that she understands what it means in connection with Martin Luther King.

Book thoughts

I heard an editor speak last night and mention what she looks for in a book: When you get to the last page, you want to read it all over again. Hmmm, hope I'm writing one of those.

Sharing words with you

I've got a short essay published at CommonTies.com.
You can read it at: http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/01/05/wishing-myself-back/

Scroll through the Formento Words in Print link to see more of my magazine work posted.

Happy Friday!

Alright is All Wrong

Working on one of my manuscripts, I had a variety of opinions from my critique group on a character's response of 'alright.'
Seems my alright is all wrong. All right, enough, enough.

Check out the following link for more common spelling errors.

http://www.gabwhacker.com/xwp/bluequill/spell.asp?display=3

Clearing the desk

Cleaning off the top of my desk—or trying to. I've made a few discoveries underneath the stacks. Part of a dog biscuit and a lost earring, now found. But mostly forgotten scribbled post-it notes with ideas. Some are going straight into the shredder, but a choice few gems will fuel my writing for 2007.

More of my articles/interviews/essays have been posted to my Formento Words in Print link. Enjoy!