Writing Hint #10 Verbs
From time to time – well, far too frequently actually, I hesitate over something I have written. I read it, reread, rewrite, change the words and even change the order of words just to make sure everything is correct.
Despite this, I still make mistakes.
Oh the wretched trials of being a writer! One area that I have particular problems with happens to be in the use of verbs. Straight forward you might say. Indeed, and so it should be, but sometimes I get terribly confused.
I wonder if this are the result of 35 years of reading the scribblings of emerging writers in my classroom? Now I don’t seems to be able to distinguish right writing from wrong righting.
So when I comes across this writing hint, I were quite perplexed:
Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
Terrible Tongue Twister Tortures Trevor
No Comments »3rd September, 2006; Category: General
I enjoy reading the Review section of The Weekend Australian newspaper. It has a broad range of articles about books, authors, literary events and many book reviews. Saturday’s edition had a short review of a book called “Sheep’s Miscellany: a collection of Truths and trivia.”
According to the author, Karen Gee, the toughest tongue twister in English is:
“The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick.”
And she also states that New Zealanders lead the world in Googling the word “sheep.”
I’ve always wondered about the Kiwis.
Why do you write?
I recently came across this great quote:
“I write for the same reason I breathe –
because if I didn’t, I would die.”~ Isaac Asimov
Why do I write?
- I am a communicator. After 35 years of teaching young children I am convinced that this is the real me.
- I am a storyteller. I love relating stories – usually jokes – to others.
- I am a creative person. I love the process of taking a scene, a character or an idea and running with it to see what happens. My characters sometimes hijack my stories and the ending even surprises me!
- I am an escapist. I prefer to live in a fantasy world. Reality is too harsh, too disappointing, too REAL. In the words of Ashleigh Brilliant: “I have abandoned my search for the truth and am now looking for a good fantasy.”
- I am a visionary. I dream dreams. I can see the big picture. And sometimes these dreams and visions seep out of my being on to the page and I just have to share them with others. If the others think I’m a little unhinged, a little strange, a little whacky with a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock, so be it. I cling to the words of King Solomon who said: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18)
- The Writer’s Life archive of articles on this blog.
Why do you write?
Share your thoughts in the comments section.
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Why I don’t do mornings
I am not a morning person.
Never have been.
Well, actually, that’s not strictly true. I have had my moments, a few occasions when I arose early and went for a walk, or went birding (see my birding blog here). Often those occasions were when we were out camping in the Australian bush and the birds woke me up at dawn – or a stronger call urged me to commune with nature in the early rays of the day’s sunshine.
I did have a great few months of early rising in the latter part of last year. I was in training for a trek in the Himalayas in Nepal last January (read my Travel Blog here). I would rise daily at dawn and go for a 2 to 3 hour training walk. It felt great. It also helped my attempt on the approach to Everest (we got to within five days walk of base camp).
I am a great admirer of those who regularly rise very early and go for a walk, or do some gardening or write several thousand words before breakfast. (Yawn – just the thought makes me tired.)
Here is a short list of reasons excuses Why I Don’t Do Mornings:
- I am inclined towards laziness.
- I am a procrastinator.
- The bed is too comfortable, warm, cosy (whatever).
- The air outside is too hot, too cold, too windy or too wet.
- I lack the discipline.
Now for a list of Reasons I Should Do Mornings:
- So I can go for a walk.
- So I can go birding.
- So can combine 1 and 2 above.
- So I will feel better.
- So I will get more writing done.
- For my health (I’m trying to manage my recently diagnosed diabetes).
In the recent group writing project on ProBlogger one of the lists included an entry called Five Reasons Why Mornings Rock submitted by Health Hacker. The article has five useful suggestions on getting more out of life and leading a healthier lifestyle – just by getting up earlier in the morning.
On this site I also found another great article on depression – something that I have struggled with over the years. The link to this article is below. The article also had links to very useful articles about sleep and rising early. These appear on Steve Pavlina’s blog.
Even getting up a half hour earlier each morning would be very beneficial. That is all I need to get in some essential exercise. With spring just a few days away and the hot summer is only months away, the early morning is the best time for walking anyway. In this way I should be able to get into the writing earlier each morning.
I think I’ll try it.
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Creativity
2 Comments »19th August, 2006; Category: General
Creativity is not a topic I have specifically written about on this blog. I’ve just been reading the post on the blog YourCre8tivity about writing and creativity. The writer has written a post about ways of stopping creativity.
The article is called 5 Ways to Block Your Creativity and it is in 2 parts:
- 5 Creativity Blockers
- Unlock Your Creativity.
I particularly liked the last two suggestions:
- Keep your life in balance.
– Spending all your time at work or playing video games narrows your field of reference. A balanced lifestyle gives you a wider palatte to draw your inspiration from and ensures that you have the energy to follow up on those inspirations.- Follow your own vision.
– Your best creative efforts will coincide with the things you care most about. That’s when energy, desire and effort are all harnessed together.
I find life throws me out of balance on far too often, and coping with the disappointments, the trials, the challenges and the demands of others can sometimes take so much energy that the creative juices run dry.
Furthermore, on reading this article I realise that I have not read through my vision statement for more than six months. I need the energy supplied by my vision to reinvigorate me, as well as keeping me on track, always aiming for the goals I have set myself.