Grammarcheck.net recently posted this infographic of 21 frequently ignored (or unknown) grammar rules and writing mistakes that everyone who writes should know.
How many do you know? How many do you ignore?
I’m with them on all but the serial comma and semicolon. I only use a serial comma for clarity in my writing. And, I think the semicolon is too formal for my voice. I only add it when my copy editor insists.
Source: www.grammarcheck.net
Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara
I am now doing the rehab exercises for my fractured ankle.
Having been through physical therapy five years ago when I sprained the same ankle, I was allowed to do the exercises at home. Therapy involves some stretches and writing the alphabet.
Writing the alphabet was the most challenging exercise because my left ankle is the one fractured. I am right-handed so figuring out how to “write” the alphabet with my left foot is difficult.
As I was trying to remember which way a “j” curves, I thought of the Chinese student living with us this year. If he sprains his ankle, will he have to “write” with his ankle in Chinese? 
Somehow a plain English “j” seems less complicated.
I’m never without a book. Sometimes it hides in my purse; sometimes in my tote. I like the idea that my books are flowers carried in my pocket.
I read a blog recently where certain elements of the blogger’s stories were listed with the question, Are you my reader? That got me to thinking about who reads romance.
According to Maya Rodale, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that romance readers are single women in possession of cats and in want of a man.”
I’m a long time romance reader and neither truth applies to me.
She adds, “Other “true” facts about the romance reader: They’re “nice people with bad taste in books”, uneducated, bored, stupid, “lack romance in their lives.” Or if we want to be really specific, they’re “middle aged women who are bored in their marriages and want to fantasize about hard, chiseled men.” Or maybe they’re “younger women who are using them as emotional porn.”
None of those characteristics apply to me either.
So who reads romance?
Romance Writers of America did a survey and created the graph below to identify romance novel readers. These demographics are a closer match to who I am as a romance reader.
If you’re a romance reader, do the stats fit you?
BTW, if you’re interested, you can read the rest of Ms. Rodale’s humorous post on romance reader myths and truths here.
Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara
The past few weeks have been difficult on Miller Farm.
Chicken Wrangler Sara’s sprained ankle ended up having a fracture. This has the daily routine a bit of a challenge.
Then we had a situation arise that has required tremendous emotional energy. I found myself going into survival mode – making it from one day to the next.
One morning I was letting the chickens out and wishing I could crawl back in bed. Most of the chickens had run out of the coop when I saw one hen sliding down the ramp.
I had to smile in spite of all that is happening.
I can always count on the chickens to provide humor when it is needed most.
I like this quote from Ruth Ozeki, American-Canadian novelist, filmmaker and Zen Buddhist priest, and the wonderful graphic Edie Melson created from her words.
This time of year I watch from my office window as leaves in the Rio Grande National Forest fall, scattering and covering the forest floor. Inside, sitting at my computer, I peck away at the computer keys and the words appear on the screen like those falling leaves.
Soon snow will cover the leaves on the forest floor or the wind will scatter them over the ridge. Hopefully, my words will fall into place and become a completed book.
Looking at this graphic you can clearly see what a world of difference attitude and action can make in success. The I wish I could circle gives you only a 30% opportunity for succeeding while the I am circle gives you a 90% chance of success. Thanks to The UnNovelist.com for the motivation.
Which circle describes where you are with your latest project?
Me, I’m at 90% and determined to get this story finished and to the editor before the holidays.
I don’t know about where you live, but here in the Rocky Mountain Forest things are changing. While I’m not looking forward to the winter, I do look forward to the change.
Can you feel the change of season where you are? Are you ready and willing for the change?
I hope so because I truly believe Mr. Shaw’s words. Without acceptance of change (and I mean more than the weather), we do not move forward.
SOURCE for image: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/20/living/elmore-leonard-author-interview/
Elmore Leonard (1925-2013) began writing Westerns in the 1950s. From those, he went on to specialized in crime novels and suspense thrillers.
Because of his trademark rhythm and pace, many of his short stories became films. You might recognize Get Shorty (1995, John Travolta and Gene Hackman); Jackie Brown (1997, Pam Grier,) and Out of Sight (1999, George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez).
He also wrote scripts for television.
That’s how I became acquainted with the writer’s work through U. S. Marshal Raylan Givens, star of the television series Justified.Trigger-happy Marshal Raylan exemplifies the author’s use of the Western theme inside crime fiction.
The character first appeared in Leonard’s novel PRONTO (1993), again in RIDING THE RAP (1995), and RAYLAN (2012). He resurfaced as the main character of the short story “Fire in the Hole” (2012) which screenwriters used as the basis for the television series.
If you’ve watched the series, you’ll remember Raylan’s Stetson Open Road. It’s said that Leonard was particularly keen that the producers of the TV show get Raylan’s hat right, an indication of the hat’s importance in Raylan’s characterization.
Btw, Leonard won the 2010 Peabody Award for Justified.
As a writer, Leonard was skilled at gritty, realistic dialogue and a master of the tight scene. He gave the reader immediate access to a character’s thoughts, what we call deep POV today.
The thing that impresses me most about Mr. Leonard is, unlike most genre writers, he is taken seriously by the literary crowd.
In his 2007 book, he offered 10 tricks for good writing:
He then summed those ten rules into one:
Personally, I like his summation best. What about you?
When I stand at water’s edge and look out into the ocean, I feel tiny and insignificant. Then I think of Anatole France‘s quote and believe I can be or do anything, everything.
Don’t you?
