tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38862299393799971512024-03-12T23:30:18.854-07:00Writers UniteUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-42883633962159863992013-11-06T05:12:00.004-08:002013-11-06T05:12:51.439-08:00Late For Work<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Assignment; Short story on man attacking a police officer while his vehicle is being towed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Alex woke the day began like many previous mornings;
hitting snooze once then grabbing his bag and heading to the gym. After a quick
shower and coffee he jumped into his truck just as the skies opened and biting
rain drove hard against his wind-shield. “Well, no matter”, thought Alex, “it
is a fitting way to begin November”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He flipped to his favorite radio station and backed out of
the driveway. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘looks like the rain is here to stay today’ said a jaunty
voice, so let’s hear you call in with some of your favorite rainy day songs’
then, as they filled in with a commercial, Alex flipped to the local news
station. Simultaneously he felt, heard and saw something hit the side of his
truck. Coming to a screeching stop he jammed the truck into park and jumped
out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A Mennonite woman, eyes wild with fear was trying to calm
her spooked horse. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Whoa there, easy there”, she cried, and the horse reared
again while she pulled back with all her might. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Take it easy now” Alex approached the horse, noting there
were no visible injuries. He still wasn’t sure what happened but the horse
slowly was settling down a little, sensing that whatever startled him seemed to
be over. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Hello’, Alex turned to the woman dressed in traditional
Mennonite dark coat. She was drenched and her teeth were chattering as she
tried to answer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Are you okay?” asked Alex. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think so”, she nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Your truck mirror hit the side of my buggy. There’s no shoulder on this
road and I couldn’t get off to the side any farther without running off the
road.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The rain was coming down so hard that I never saw you at
all”, said Alex. The sound of sirens caught their attention. Obviously someone
had already notified the police. Two cruisers topped the hill, slowing suddenly
at the sight of them. Turning on their flashers they pulled over. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Both officers, Alex noticed immediately, were young enough
to be his sons. With chests puffed out they strutted over with the authority
that only a uniform and gun could boast.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Approaching Alex first they asked what happened and Alex
told them all he could remember. “May I see your driver’s license and
registration please?” something about his cockiness rubbed Alex the wrong way
but the more he co-operated the sooner he would be less late for work. He
handed it over and one officer returned to his car to run them through the
system. The other officer was speaking to the lady. Alex sat in his truck
feeling sorry for the woman, thankful that no one was hurt, but at the same
time feeling his frustration level escalate as he realized this was taking much
too long. The officer tapped on his window. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sir, he said, I need you to step into my car for a little
bit”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I don’t understand” said Alex. The young cop replied, “That’s
okay, you just do what I say and there will be no trouble” Now this guy was
really getting on his nerves! “I hate to tell you that I’ve called a tow-truck”
the officer continued, “but there are some unpaid parking fines and you do not
have your ownership signed. Also, your sticker on your plate is not valid
though a quick check confirms you have paid for them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, what’s the real problem?” asked Alex. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The real problem, mister, is that you almost killed a horse
and a woman!”(a horse and women that had proceeded on their way some time ago)
This young whipper-snapper cop really irritated him, especially the faint smirk
as if he was sort of bored and looking to see how far he could push him under the
guise of Professional Manners’.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alex wasn’t sure if it was the way he emphasized Mister or
if it was his two-bit strut but something suddenly seized him and he grabbed
the officer by the scruff of his uniform. The officer, taken completely
off-guard scrambled to grab his gun but Alex’s years at the gym were no match
for Young Whipper-Snapper. Suddenly Whipper-Snapper’s training kicked in as
well as his partner and the next thing Alex knew he was looking at the ground
from beneath one officer’s knee while the other officer cuffed him and read him
his rights. He turned his head in time to see the wheels of his truck go by as
the tow truck pulled away…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He was definitely going to be late for work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
© Janet Martin</div>
Janet Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10126248666972072628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-19173616637497361392013-11-03T19:15:00.000-08:002013-11-03T19:16:00.129-08:00Weird (homework assignment) Weird<br />
<br />
Number thirteen was my pick<br />
Glynis's answer came quick<br />
A weird day in your work place<br />
One topic I'd like to erase<br />
<br />
Laughter filled the room<br />
Oh could I zoom<br />
To another day, another meeting<br />
My cheeks in danger of over heating<br />
<br />
Every day is weird<br />
This topic I feared<br />
Would expose what its really like<br />
I'd much rather take a long hike<br />
<br />
Strange things happen overnight<br />
Things that just aren't right<br />
Prices disappear from the deli scale<br />
The departments looks like its been hit by a gale<br />
<br />
Wind whistles through the door<br />
Leaving snow on the floor<br />
The floor mops have developed legs<br />
Hidden out back behind the kegs<br />
<br />
Students are a no show<br />
They will lack in dough<br />
When pay cheques are written out<br />
That's for sure, without a doubt<br />
<br />
The lunch room lights<br />
Are just not right<br />
Most days they are clear and bright<br />
Others as dark as a starless night<br />
<br />
Shelves, racks and bins<br />
Have developed fins<br />
They swim to other parts of the store<br />
Maybe their permanent spot had become a bore<br />
<br />
Bananas with French bread<br />
Put their by Fred<br />
Who changed his mind and went<br />
Home to pay his overdue rent<br />
<br />
There is so much more<br />
But it is really a bore<br />
Things that I think are weird<br />
Would make your eyes teared<br />
<br />
Come see me at work<br />
But do not lurk<br />
Just wink, nod, smile or wavc<br />
I'll try my very best to behave.<br />
<br />Overalled Story Tellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08615868686335677882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-49444848668516423462013-06-11T12:57:00.001-07:002013-06-11T12:59:56.221-07:00Writers Unite (poetry assignment)Writers group, what a delight<br />
Meeting with like minded people<br />
Sharing the written word<br />
<br />
Janet pens inspirational poetry<br />
Bev journals from the heart<br />
Sue's writing a quilling book<br />
Andy's contains environmental issues<br />
<br />
Glynis, our fearless leader<br />
Teaches this motley crew<br />
With passion, perfection and love<br />
<br />
Who am I amongst these<br />
A unique scribe- a story teller<br />
God directs my pen<br />
As words flow onto paper<br />
<br />
I'm not like anyone else<br />
Nor do I plan to be<br />
Content with who I amOveralled Story Tellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08615868686335677882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-51589014960499887352013-06-10T19:18:00.005-07:002013-06-10T19:18:49.388-07:00The Tale of a Man Names Lou<div class="MsoNormal">
Once, in a land
of Lubadoo</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There lived a man that folks called Lou</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now Lou, in everybody’s eyes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Was perceived to be very wise</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And often times with nodding head</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They all agreed to what Lou said.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lou lived in a gray castle tall</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And roses climbed the old stone wall</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In lovely red, year after year</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bloom of roses would appear</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And many paused to gaze in awe</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the red roses that they saw<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One day in restless discontent</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lou stopped to smell their perfumed scent</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He shouted, “Hear what I’ll tell you</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These red roses are really blue!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Folks shook there heads at what Lou said</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For how can blue one day be red?<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But Lou walked up and down the street</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And every day he would repeat<br />
That what was red is really blue</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And slowly folks agreed with Lou</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For wasn’t Lou still, after all</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The wise man in that castle tall?<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then came that sad and solemn day</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Lou was old and passed away</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The mourners stood out on the street</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where rose-petals fell at their feet<br />
They told their children ‘here lived Lou</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who taught us red is really blue’<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now no one questions anymore</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What they had all believed before</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As generation rise and fall</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blue roses climb the castle wall</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It seems they never, ever knew</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These roses were not always blue<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Time’s centuries have come about</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And no one stops to think or doubt</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For who can say red is not blue?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nobody here has heard of Lou</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or how one day he simply said</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>'These roses are not really red'</i><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
…and visitors are mystified</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To hear folk speak with love and pride</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At these blue roses; how they’ve grown</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Year after year against the stone</div>
For no one here remembers Lou<br />
Or wonders that red is not blue<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The moral of this little tale</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is simply this; Truth does not fail</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though generations come and go</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The truth remains unchanged and so</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before we teach that red is blue</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We should make sure that it is true<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Be careful then that none deceive</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lest generations thus believe</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A vile untruth told to be true</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For those red roses are not blue</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet everyone within their youth</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Were taught what others thought was truth</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the poem I wrote for our homework assignment. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
Janet Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10126248666972072628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-46746382709991683112013-01-05T11:51:00.002-08:002013-01-05T11:53:29.785-08:00Of Friends...<div class="MsoNormal">
After all is said and done</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And this small life draws to an end</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our dearest worth upon this earth</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Must surely be that of a friend<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life’s road yawns into the unknown</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With many a trying twist and bend</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet darkest miles are warm with smiles </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If we can share them with a friend<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘To have a friend we
must be one’</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This truth is surely ages-old</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And oh, the measure of its treasure</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cannot in humble words be told<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For friends, in spite of us, are true</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seeing beyond the veil of skin</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They weep and laugh and pray with you </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To fill the empty cup within<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
…so, after all is said and done</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regardless of what life may send </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The dearest, rarest, purest wealth</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is ever found within a friend<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
© Janet Martin<br />
<br />
I re-posted this from my other blog:)<br />
<br />
You guys are the best<3 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dedicated to my dear friends at <a href="http://writersunitedrayton.blogspot.ca/">Writer's Unite</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You enrich my life more than mere word can tell.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank-you.</div>
Janet Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10126248666972072628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-81463602293051941602012-10-06T04:48:00.000-07:002012-10-06T04:48:06.483-07:00Hello all,<br />
<br />
I am posting the link to a few things I was going to share...My experience of 'life in a small town' and also the poem being published in the Nov. edition of <a href="http://www.wisdomcriethwithout.com/latest-issue/">Wisdom Crieth Without</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://anotherporch.blogspot.ca/2012/07/park-street-in-july.html">Park Street in July</a>.I stayed with My Grandma one summer when I was 15. That is my experience of 'small town life'. *Crash, mentioned in the poem got married a few years ago and resides in Elmira:)<br />
<br />
This is the poem in the magazine. They told me I would get a complimentary copy and ten dollars!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://anotherporch.blogspot.ca/2012/06/times-chariot-ridea-sonnet.html">Time's Swift Ride</a>...a sonnetJanet Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10126248666972072628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-51421105562498403982012-07-09T19:16:00.000-07:002012-07-11T19:44:10.699-07:00Story Sparker...(Homework for June) by Janet<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Tahoma;"><b><br />*Story
Sparker</b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">
<br />
<b>How many times did she need to say it? Suppressing the urge to scream at the
man, Kelly tossed her auburn hair back and bit the bullet.<br />
“Thank you for doing this.”<br />
Her pasted on smile did not match the ache in her heart. It had been three
years. Three years spent faking; pretending; lying. She felt as if her head
would explode.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">Her
forced gratitude as he lay aside the tea towel did not distract him from his
cause.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">‘No amount of
planning can prepare you for the real deal.’</span></i><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;"> She suddenly
recalled her co-worker’s words the week before her wedding. Words she could not
grasp at the moment, but three years later, fully understood.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">His
unflinching glare devoured her attempt at a cool composure. Ignoring her
feigned gratitude he repeated the question, “Do you love me? Say it. Go ahead
and repeat what you said!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">Her
hands shook as she twisted the dish cloth and wiped the counter for the fifth
time, trying to steady her voice. “I simply said, yes, I love you, but I don’t <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">like</i></b>
you…anymore”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">There!
She had said it. Her words hit hard, like a hammer driving in the reality of hopeless
despair.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">The
silence hung between them, an invisible wall fortified by years of tears,
tempers and torment. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">How
does one begin again? Words cannot be unspoken and years cannot be undone. The ticking
clock offered no counsel. The sun fell in golden bars across the wooden kitchen
floor where they stood miles apart.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">Never
in a million years had she dreamed that it would be like this. Never, in her
wildest dreams had she fathomed the depths that bitterness and resentment could
fill. She studied the face that once she had memorized in crazy fantasies and
now approached with uncertainty and…fear?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">Home…
the word played on her tongue and she rolled it in her cheek trying to feel it;
home…the word that should suggest heaven conjured confusing suggestions of
hell.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">Her
eyes wandered to the framed needlework above the door, lovingly stitched by a
starry-eyed teenage dreamer ‘Home, sweet home’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">Tears
fell, in golden shatters on the sun-patched floor…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Janet Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10126248666972072628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-66819051058066171142012-07-09T08:47:00.001-07:002012-07-09T08:47:11.057-07:00Story Sparker homework.<span style="background-color: cyan;">How many times did she need to say it? Suppressing the urge to scream at the foolish man, Kelly tossed her auburn hair back and bit the bullet. "Thank you for doing this."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">Her pasted on smile did not match the ache in her heart. It had been three years. Three years spent faking; pretending ; lying. She felt as if her head would explode. </span><br />
Just because he had given her a gift, like so many times before; did not make the past go away. How could her father not see that his actions had repercussions that would affect his whole family for years to come? Even worse was the guilt she felt in keeping his secret. It made Kelly feel like she also was betraying the very people who trusted and loved her. <br />
Her father was sitting in his chair watching TV, a glass of whiskey in his hand. She looked at him and for the first time saw not her father but a cruel and vindictive man. Kelly decided she needed to leave the room to try to come to terms with the rage that was slowly building inside her skull. A walk in the garden might help clear her thoughts. "What to do next? If I tell the truth what would be gained? What would be lost?" <br />
As she paced the garden paths she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. "I'm just so angry, how could he make me do this? Why did he make me do this? How could this man that supposedly loved me put me through this for all these years? So many questions...<br />
She sat down on one the wicker chairs across from the pool, scared and also strangely calmed by the realization of who her father really was. She took a look around at the huge estate and all the many things that her fathers indiscretions had bought. Kelly thought about how this secret was slowly destroying her. "I have been bought just like the chair I am sitting in." She needed to do something. Her life had to change. She would take the chance and let the truth be known. It was the only way to save what was left of her sanity. Walking to her car and picking up her cell phone she made the call...Rosemaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00548771456384925055noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-6147406316920571622012-03-04T19:34:00.002-08:002012-03-04T19:49:16.522-08:00Thingamajigs and More Great Grammar TipsFor anyone who missed Writers Unite this past Friday, here is the agenda and an overview of what you missed. Who knew nouns could be so exciting? <br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi647zdVHXE3lK5zz9cJim9wXuMqE9HX1I32BvRs1yIb-ozGKCIH98VC2zXeCdCM9IUdaroLjzS3jDJf3KqOCn4EFr6We_eLWqxjMfDprGeoTcsKRX9249JJl2_A0lkyYMpxgFRUg398Rhr/s1600/teaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi647zdVHXE3lK5zz9cJim9wXuMqE9HX1I32BvRs1yIb-ozGKCIH98VC2zXeCdCM9IUdaroLjzS3jDJf3KqOCn4EFr6We_eLWqxjMfDprGeoTcsKRX9249JJl2_A0lkyYMpxgFRUg398Rhr/s200/teaching.jpg" uda="true" width="200px" /></a><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape alt="Description: C:\Users\Glynis\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\EEN1LG91\MC900435237[1].png" id="Picture_x0020_27" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 51pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-top: -43.5pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: margin; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: margin; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; text-align: left; visibility: visible; width: 82.6pt; z-index: -251658240;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="MC900435237[1]" src="file:///C:\Users\Glynis\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\04\clip_image001.png"></imagedata></shape><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Agenda <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Writers Unite<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">February 3rd, 2012</span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Welcome & Prayer</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Get snacks, etc. Thank you Rosemary – snacks</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Introduce any new members (sign clipboard) and outline what we do</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Collection ($2) and update – treasurer’s report</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyone had anything published or pending publication since last month?</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Computer/blogging - Amanda - worksheets. Logo? </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homework sharing ( - bring a piece of work [WIP] along with the following: Working Title; audience; where you are submitting with details about the publisher/editor or periodical OR an idea of where you would like to submit. You have to tell us why it fits this particular market or publisher. This can be poetry, a chapter or portion of a chapter from a novel, an article, a short story, devotion, photograph with appropriate caption or story; song [must be played/sung after reading!] </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We will wait until next meeting to talk about INSCRIBE and other writing organizations </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 12pt 0cm 10pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grammatically speaking -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Round 2 (below) 8 Parts of Speech – focus on Nouns!</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 12pt 0cm 10pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">CD presentation. Commando Reconstructing of Non-Fiction Manuscripts – Don Bastien <span style="color: red;">(No time)</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 12pt 0cm 10pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next meeting date?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>_<span style="color: red;">13th </span>- April ? NOT Good Friday_____________</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Snacks?<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Amanda - April</span></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qmLEdFBwSi9XFnDG1XA0W7MLtR34ybWr1khU4E-tXnsJHe_xV5r02euDHQkb2deAHtogbJuWe7cPGW4QX9bUI4b7a4fsQ58gF-77QZTcXWLiTJX8EzWedeMM0oiiOMJJhhhfoboJVSYJ/s1600/adverbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qmLEdFBwSi9XFnDG1XA0W7MLtR34ybWr1khU4E-tXnsJHe_xV5r02euDHQkb2deAHtogbJuWe7cPGW4QX9bUI4b7a4fsQ58gF-77QZTcXWLiTJX8EzWedeMM0oiiOMJJhhhfoboJVSYJ/s200/adverbs.jpg" uda="true" width="199px" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Eight Parts of Speech</span></u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span> <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. Verbs are words that show an action or a state of being.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4. Adjectives are words that describe nouns or pronouns.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5. Adverbs are words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6. Prepositions are words that describe the relationship between a noun or pronoun and some other word or element in the rest of the sentence.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7. Conjunctions are words that join two or more words, phrases, or clauses.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8. Interjections are words that show emotion</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Noun Notes! <img border="0" height="145px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8wbq09PLICh19GfOSCSi0h4X2bb_bu28UMCcDcxKqmexWR3CZSx5UjdxSR6uhRmJDpUldXSSCJG_BEZTETRoOg4S44JstuS-pWdlBw-L1rXTMMGbG0mk8sTnaNjRkUE3fvZI3OPw6Hne/s320/parts+of+speech.jpg" uda="true" width="320px" /></span></u><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" new="" roman?;="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" style="font-family: '; font-size: 16.5pt;">What Is a Noun?</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Everything You Wanted to Know</span></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">Look around you. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">Everything that you see, you can name. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">What do you see? A computer, the living room, Amanda, Bev, desk, chair, keys, etc</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">Nouns are <b>words</b> that name people, places, things, or ideas.</span></i><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span ?times="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" style="font-family: ';"></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" new="" roman?;="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" sans-serif??,?serif?;="" style="font-family: ';">Types of Noun</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" new="" roman?;="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" sans-serif??,?serif?;="" style="font-family: ';"></span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMqcSecLdFeLfRKB7R9Mjdg9gRDfXL3Q_9KV-MKJyWj5Qj6CG6rAJ0tMTzi5lqefhssr9vyuoRwMekWH2vs6ahwZUjV05J5iGjPjZBmajAuO-ho9b4tiYz7JI6v2gBfqtuN4Y2yFPbChY/s1600/nouns1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMqcSecLdFeLfRKB7R9Mjdg9gRDfXL3Q_9KV-MKJyWj5Qj6CG6rAJ0tMTzi5lqefhssr9vyuoRwMekWH2vs6ahwZUjV05J5iGjPjZBmajAuO-ho9b4tiYz7JI6v2gBfqtuN4Y2yFPbChY/s200/nouns1.jpg" uda="true" width="200px" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center;">COMMON: </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">These name general, <i>nonspecific </i>people, places, things, or ideas. They start with a lowercase letter unless they begin a sentence. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">For example: writer, city, class, religion, book, shoe</span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">PROPER:</span></b><span mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" new="" roman?;="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" sans-serif??,?serif?;="" style="font-family: ';"> These name <i>specific</i> people, places, things, or ideas. They always start with a capital letter.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">For example: Victor Hugo, Paris, Disneyland, Christianity, Janet Martin, </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">ABSTRACT:</span></b><span mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" new="" roman?;="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" sans-serif??,?serif?;="" style="font-family: ';"> </span><span ?times="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" style="font-family: ';">These are the opposite of concrete. They name something that you cannot perceive with your five senses - something that <i>does not physically</i> exist. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">For example: happiness, freedom, Christianity</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">CONCRETE: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">These name something that you can perceive with your five senses - something that <i>physically</i> exists.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">For example: cat, chocolate, Martha</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">COUNTABLE: </span></b><span mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" new="" roman?;="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" sans-serif??,?serif?;="" style="font-family: ';">Yep. You guessed it. These <i>can be counted</i>, and they use both the singular and the plural forms. Anything that you can make plural is a countable noun.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">For example: clock/clocks, David/Davids, poem/poems </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">UNCOUNTABLE: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">These <i>cannot be counted</i>. Since they cannot be counted, they only use the singular form. </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">For example: milk, rice, water </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">*Note that you would never ask for <i>milks, rices,</i> or <i>waters</i>! </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">COMPOUND: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">These are made up of two or more smaller words. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">For example: tablecloth, haircut, applesauce, baseball </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">COLLECTIVE:</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';"> These are singular nouns that refer to a group of things as one whole.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">For example: class, audience, family</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">SINGULAR: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">These refer to <i>one</i> person, place, thing, or idea.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">For example: box, face, road, ball</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">PLURAL: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">These refer to <i>more than one</i> person, place, thing, or idea. They generally end in with an <i>s</i>.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">For example: boxes, faces, roads, balls</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span ?times="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" style="font-family: ';"></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" new="" roman?;="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" sans-serif??,?serif?;="" style="font-family: ';">NOUN 'Jobs'</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">Out of all eight of the parts of speech, the noun performs the most <b>jobs in a sentence</b>. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">SUBJECT:</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';"> whom or what the sentence is about </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">e.g.<b> Mary</b> kicked the ball.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">DIRECT OBJECT: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">- receives the action of the verb </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" style="font-family: ';">e.g. Mary kicked the <b>ball</b>.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">INDIRECT OBJECT:</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">- receives the direct object </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" style="font-family: ';">e.g. Mary kicked <b>Jimmy</b> the ball.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: ';">the noun or pronoun after a preposition </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" style="font-family: ';">e.g. Mary kicked the ball at <b>Jimmy</b>.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCT7jz5kfG4JYz70YFGOLoexnpHjyE1brfW-B5jq8FqZlRLP052-nOxOrz2sOQXXBqS3bJt9yd0ntYWROlN7Rx13lCnGMIrKQ3WRH0aPgyu8CjpP1DkbaGyTneDgbNvVmHuAPQhkAE8C3/s1600/soccer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCT7jz5kfG4JYz70YFGOLoexnpHjyE1brfW-B5jq8FqZlRLP052-nOxOrz2sOQXXBqS3bJt9yd0ntYWROlN7Rx13lCnGMIrKQ3WRH0aPgyu8CjpP1DkbaGyTneDgbNvVmHuAPQhkAE8C3/s200/soccer.jpg" uda="true" width="200px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFq0P2hDELaPiK7nDIKSmwS9U6MMmRUkj8weoLr85JHRkc2KfHqbeyRk6vMIx1Lia99P5FRXH-zvwL0769LYKNiOM3cp9A10L90u3srzom3Enx6lUgWNm7DDOixHIsxrHwuXhjmAKan5ca/s1600/soccer.jpg"><span style="color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype></span></a><b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">PREDICATE NOMINATIVE:</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: '; font-size: 10pt;"> renames the subject, always after a linking verb </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" style="font-family: '; font-size: 10pt;">e.g. Mary is a soccer <b>player</b>.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">OBJECT COMPLEMENT: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span ?times="" en-ca?="" new="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" roman?;mso-fareast-language:="" sans-serif??,?serif?;mso-fareast-font-family:="" style="font-family: '; font-size: 10pt;">completes the direct object</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span mso-fareast-font-family:?times="" mso-fareast-language:en-ca?="" new="" roman?;="" roman?;mso-bidi-font-family:?times="" sans-serif??,?serif?;="" style="font-family: '; font-size: 10pt;">e.g. They named the baby <b>Becky</b>.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
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</div>Glynishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621548333351709607noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-71614198617749942392012-01-22T18:11:00.000-08:002012-01-22T18:11:53.564-08:00Tinsel Revelation ~ BY HEATHER CLEMMERAs I hung our children’s home made Christmas ornaments on our freshly cut tree, stories in the media and Facebook comments blinked in and out of my mind like our tree lights. Do I truly believe others are taking away my Christmas? Are they taking away Jesus? Does it matter if my Christmas tree is called a Christmas tree or holiday tree? People’s anger and negative comments hurt my heart more, WHY?<br />
It hit me hard one day before Christmas while I worked. As I finished folding a report and slid it into the envelope a mother and her son just finishing their appointment grabbed their coats off the metal coat stand. I wheeled my chair to a clearing where I could see the little boy and mom and said, “You are welcome to grab one little gift off the Christmas tree. There is a company each year that donates gifts for the children.” The mom replied, “We are Jehovah witness and don’t believe in Christmas but thank you so much.” And off they went. <br />
<br />
This little boy didn’t take a gift. Christmas is about giving. Giving what? Due to the nature of where I worked what did it mean to that company that EACH child got a gift? Does it matter he didn’t get a gift? To my heart it did matter because to me Christmas is about giving to everyone in all circumstances. Right? That is what Jesus did and last time I checked I am following Him not a tradition of a tree. My heart started pumping excitedly as I walked back to where co-workers were and asked, “Is it ok if I take some of the little gifts and put them in a different pile away from the tree?” I then explained about the little boy. “No the gifts are for the tree, for Christmas and that is their choice they don’t take one,” unfortunately sums up the response I tried to allow to rip through my ears and block from my heart. <br />
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So let me ask, as Christians we so badly need our “Christmas” tree and how dare someone tell us not to call it that, are they really taking CHRISTmas? Are we so angry that that little boy couldn’t have been giving a gift just because it was for a special child and he needs to feel loved at a special time for us? The revelation hit! The prickly stump can be called a Holiday tree or a Christmas tree. I could have one or not have one. My house will have Jesus at Christmas; no one can ever take that away, no one. So let them take away the name of the tree I will actually even let them take the tree.<br />
<br />
As they pack up my tree I cry as visibly in its place is the cross. A child like moment after where I laugh and say, “Na Na Na boo boo you can take the tree because it doesn’t take Christmas.” Under that cross are gifts that are mine and even the gift to still love those who don’t celebrate Jesus. Picking up the pine needles and tinsel left behind I put the pieces to the cross and pray, “Thank you papa that as people take away our tree you were there, you are there, you will always be there. I see even more now Lord Christmas is not about a tree or worldly traditions. Also Father thanks that now we don’t have to worry about getting rid of a tree. AMEN”Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-5924797106336663672012-01-13T13:17:00.000-08:002012-01-13T13:17:20.969-08:00Amazing Grace<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFehF-n5kWvoyxbbECmd1Xa__YiDiK0GCNI9qhVOEkGqmLx6B_zFWGZ0fsQFDaXbYAaTKlS3Eb0XqzArOH6A4Qd5xCQE7CSx0uGvvbsztkc1FK0btpPFriTA9Zs7VCeIMd3M4S_VIhgR3U/s1600/librarian.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFehF-n5kWvoyxbbECmd1Xa__YiDiK0GCNI9qhVOEkGqmLx6B_zFWGZ0fsQFDaXbYAaTKlS3Eb0XqzArOH6A4Qd5xCQE7CSx0uGvvbsztkc1FK0btpPFriTA9Zs7VCeIMd3M4S_VIhgR3U/s1600/librarian.png" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">John 1: 16-17</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I thought librarians were kind, bespectacled people; quiet and demure, always ready to toss in an extra day or two of grace for those forgetful souls who neglect to check the due dates on their borrowed books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Last week I came close to being photographed and fingerprinted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got off lightly with a reprimand, public humiliation and a psychological tarring and feathering instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had one overdue book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well…there may have been one or two unpaid fines showing up on the computer, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But did she have to be so loud?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I had finally made the effort to venture out to return two bags of well-read books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I arrived at the library turnstile, I slid the pile of books into the ‘return here’ slot and made my merry way into the library in search of more reading material.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The librarian smiled as I plopped my new books on the counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tried to zap my library card with her technologically correct magic wand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing. Her computer jammed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her smile slipped away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She eyed me suspiciously and in a megaphone-like voice said, “Your library card privileges have been suspended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come over to the other side of the desk.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Uh…” I glanced around feeling a multitude of eyes upon me as I meekly followed the sergeant-major librarian to the guilty section.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Beads of perspiration formed on my forehead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why…uh…can’t I use my…uh…library card?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I smiled a sickly grin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just a minute!” she hollered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll check on this computer to see what the problem is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aha!” she cried, managing to attract everyone in earshot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You owe us money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have an overdue book out.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She continued to speak in shrill tones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suddenly recalled a notification I received earlier that week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Dr. Seuss!” she screamed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You have a Dr. Seuss book out.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt a fool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to scream out, “It was a biography of Dr. Seuss - not Green Eggs and Ham!” to all the now tuned-in patrons who were pretending to browse amid the nearby books.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s in the book depository,” I whimpered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wait here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll check,” she ordered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saluted and stood to attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moments later she returned clutching the delinquent book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You owe us sixteen dollars and forty-five cents!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sixteen dollars and forty-five cents?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gasped, feeling a little like green eggs and ham, myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it a bit of a stiff fine for one overdue book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The computer is showing fines dating back to last November and December,” she wiggled her finger at the flashing screen<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh…uh…yes…well, okay…I remember now.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">My face was crimson and my salivary glands felt paralyzed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Would you like me to pay?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sergeant major only raised her eyebrows and punched a few computer keys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Will you take a check?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I inquired, fumbling through coins and coupons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll take a check.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your fines amount to sixteen dollars and forty-five cents,” she repeated once more with emphasis.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I gave her my check and, without uttering a word, she signed out my new reading material.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thanked her and she dismissed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Slump-shouldered, I trudged my guilt-ridden body to the car and thought about the grace of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank goodness <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">His</i> grace comes without strings. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I trudge my guilt-ridden body to fall at the foot of the cross, no computer print out of blunders stops God from loving me. When He showers me with blessings I know I am far from deserving, yet He continues to show mercy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">My patient Lord tells me I am His own <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Romans 8:16)</i> and he longs for me to be with him in paradise <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(2 Peter 3:9).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am comforted knowing that his gift of grace is real and it is for little ol’ unworthy me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> is amazing!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><br />
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</div>Glynishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621548333351709607noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-41780072979776621262011-12-31T12:38:00.000-08:002011-12-31T13:28:41.283-08:00Farm AuctionA little glimpse of my next story.<br /><br /> The auctioneer gave a brief description of the tractor. Darren knew all the rest of the details. What if I don't get it. What if I haven't saved enough. I have to have this tractor. For Abes sake. It was his first tractor and I want it to be my first tractor too. So many thoughts went through Darren's mind.<br /> "Where would you like to start the bidding folks?" the auctioneer questioned.<br /> There was silence. No one bid and no one moved. Darren had always been taught to wait and see how the bidding went. Time seemed to stand still. Why was everyone so quiet? Darren waited patiently.<br /> "Do I hear one thousand dollars? This tractor is worth a lot more than that. Come on folks, get your hands out of your pockets and start bidding, " the auctioneer commented.<br /> Darren couldn't believe it. No one was bidding. The auctioneer tried one more time. Again, no one responded. Darren didn't know what to do. He couldn't let the tractor go by.<br /> "Well folks, I'm going to have to pass by this one. It's a shame, she's a beauty," the auctioneer stated with disappointment in his voice.<br /> Darren couldn't hold back any longer. Out of his mouth blurted, "I'll buy it. I'll start the bidding at one hundred dollars."<br /> "We have a bid, " the auctioneer announced. "One hundred dollars. Do I hear two hundred. Two hundred dollars. Two, two, two, two. Come on folks, this is a fine piece of machinery. Two, two, two, two. One fifty, one fifty, one fifty."<br /> Darren looked around in disbelief. No one was bidding. What was wrong? The auctioneer gave one more try.<br /> "I've got a one hundred dollar bid. Do I hear one twenty five? One twenty five, one twenty five, one twenty five, " the auctioneer questioned.<br /> No response came from the crowd.<br /> The auctioneer broke the silence by saying, "Well, I guess I'm just going to have to sell her to this young fella here for one hundred dollars. Going once, going twice, sold to our one hundred dollar bidder. Your number please?"<br /> Darren held up his number, 01. It was recorded by the auctioneers assistant.<br /> "You've got yourself a ..........<br /><br /><br />Hopefully I get this published and you can hear why no one was bidding.Overalled Story Tellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08615868686335677882noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-70888992330475267932011-12-28T02:57:00.000-08:002011-12-29T15:44:35.981-08:00My Dad has won the Lottery. Well not the lottery that gives you lots of money but the one that gives you life. Dad is eighty five years old and is living a relatively pain free life in his own little house. He has family around him that take care of his every whim and wish. Since he moved to Drayton a few years ago his life has changed for the better. Dad has a social life that he diligently takes care of ; Coffee at the "Crest" every Tuesday and Thursday, Fellowship on Sunday at a tiny old Anglican Church (Does not even have plumbing). He seems happy and content. What more could you wish for in life. To make it to eighty five with your health and dignity intact. Family and friends that care about you. Many people are not that lucky.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0SHjCeYAGPU/Tvz7NCjWKXI/AAAAAAAABZg/fb3RYHBSUFg/s1600/DSC05253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0SHjCeYAGPU/Tvz7NCjWKXI/AAAAAAAABZg/fb3RYHBSUFg/s320/DSC05253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rosemary & Dad - July 2011</div>Rosemaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00548771456384925055noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-11859247098696351992011-12-14T05:16:00.000-08:002011-12-29T15:40:49.750-08:00Excerpt from my novel<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>This is one of the chapters I've written for my novel...my seat-of-the-pants novel! Not sure where in the story this will be but it will be somewhere! Thanks for indulging me!</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>**********</i></span></b></div><br />
Brent watched Taylor throughout the entire funeral. She looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. In a sense, she did. Her whole world was about to change. Colin may not have been the best husband but he was a big part of their lives.<br />
<br />
As the congregation filed out to the reception, the family went off to the graveyard to say their last good-byes. Taylor came up to Brent with an earnest look in her eyes.<br />
<br />
"Brent, please come with us. You are practically family. Please?" She touched his arm. Her eyes looked particularly green today. Maybe because she had been crying for the last few days. Brent met her gaze. Her black, conservative dress hugged her petite frame.<br />
<br />
"Of course I'll come along. I'll go grab my truck." Brent dug into his pants pocket for his keys.<br />
<br />
"No need. Just come in the limo with us. There's lots of room", Taylor insisted. She turned to go. Brent put his hand in hers. She didn't pull away.<br />
<br />
The sun shone as a true irony of the day. Brent was glad he had left his jacket at home. He certainly didn't need it as he walked hand in hand with Taylor. This was where he always wanted to be. But as they got closer to the car, Taylor let go to get in. He silently chastised himself for enjoying their connection. This woman lost her husband; her children lost their father; their squad lost an officer. Now was the time to say good-bye.<br />
<br />
Taylor got into the car first, with Brent following her. Calleigh sat with her grandmother, crying on her shoulder. Reid sat quietly beside his grandfather. Taylor slid in beside Reid.<br />
<br />
"Nana and Papa are going in their car." Taylor turned to Brent. "That's Colin's parents". He nodded an acknowledgement. Taylor continued, "And these are my parents, Abigail and Walter."<br />
<br />
Brent leaned over to shake both of their hands.<br />
<br />
"My condolences to you both", Brent said compassionately.<br />
<br />
"Thank you", Walter said for both of them.<br />
<br />
They all sat quietly for the car ride to the cemetery. As they drove, the smell of coconut wafted from Taylor's hair as Brent sat close to her. He knew he shouldn't be thinking about that but he couldn't help it.<br />
<br />
Two things were on his mind. He lost a fellow officer and a friend, even if Colin had been a jerk the last little while. This was part of the job. Officers die every day on the job. They prepare you for this in Police College. You know going into it, it can happen. "No matter how much preparation they give you, it's still not easy", Brent thought.<br />
<br />
The second thought he had was Taylor of course. Who was going to look after her and the kids? Was she going to move closer to her parents? He looked at the woman across from her. She sat, eyes cast down, staring at the floor of the car. She had her arm around Reid. She leaned across the seat to rub Calleigh's hand.<br />
<br />
Brent's attention came back to the present as the car pulled to a stop. Everyone got out except Taylor and Brent. She turned to him and put her hand on Brent's knee. An electric current shot through him. His eyes met hers.<br />
<br />
"Thank you", she said quietly. He put his hand on hers and smiled at her in response. He didn't trust his voice right now. He wanted to keep his hand on hers forever. But he pulled away as she did. Taylor climbed out of the car and Brent followed. She went up to her children and took their hands in hers.<br />
<br />
"Let's go say good bye to Dad, okay?", she said with a quivering voice. She began to walk to the grave site but glanced back to make sure Brent was coming. He was only steps behind them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-50849198014531515742011-12-09T14:18:00.000-08:002011-12-09T14:39:13.651-08:00Some Thoughts on Thoughts...Hello all,<br />I thought I would do my homework assignment for this month which is posting something on this blog, so here goes...<br />I've been doing a lot of thinking about thinking today. It is the beginning of anything and everything ever written or done, yet how often do we really think about thinking? As writers I'm sure we all agree, before pen touches paper, or in this generation, before fingers touch keyboards we have thought about what we would like to say and how best to say it.<br /> Where do these thoughts come from? The short answer, from life. We all have our own personal answers from that point on.<br /> Today I have been pondering the importance of a healthy thought-life. It affects everything we do and who we are. To keep our bodies healthy we need to make wise food choices. To keep our minds healthy we also need to make wise 'food' choices. Are we caring for our minds in the same way we care for our bodies?<br /> My train of thought was sparked by today's devotion in The Daily Bread. 1 Kings ch. 3, the story of God granting Solomon (as a child) whatever he wished for and Solomon asked for wisdom. I wonder what Solomon fed his mind to ask at such a young age for a discerning heart.<br />Here are some of my...<br /><br />Thoughts about Thoughts...<br /><br /><br />Behind our eyes<br />Intricately designed<br />Is an infinite cell<br />Simply called a mind<br />And from it will flow<br />All manner of thought<br />Our action will show<br />What words do not<br /><br />***<br /><br />In every action<br />In every deed<br />Whether minute or mighty<br />Thought is its seed<br /><br />***<br /><br />Do we serve thought?<br />Or are we its master?<br />Thought is the forerunner<br />To success or disaster<br /><br />***<br /><br />I thought I knew a little<br />But with each passing year<br />The little bit I thought I knew<br />Has seemed to disappear<br /><br />***<br /><br />My thoughts are always more beautiful<br />With you in them<br /><br />***<br /><br />What is the measure<br />Of one little thought?<br />Coupled with action<br />I believe…quite a lot!<br /><br />***<br /><br />Who can know the power<br />Of the mind at all<br />By it man becomes great<br />And by it great men fall<br /><br />***<br /><br />The power of a man<br />Cannot be defined<br />By physical attributes<br />But the strength of the mind<br /><br />***<br /><br />Physical strength, no matter how fine<br />Is oft overcome by weakness of mind...<br /><br />***<br /><br />What are you thinking about today?<br /><br />Janet MartinJanet Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10126248666972072628noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-61602789663926947922011-10-04T20:55:00.000-07:002011-10-04T20:55:36.416-07:00Quizzical Queries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdAoFk5XbAqKcNCDA20go_ZbzQ10YAmEp8cEnzdaHn0ymHinW55xZ83-yCMnj8_kdb4uyTLpm1erWcjtWicgx5LWVgEI1bqkSEHQBpeORNJrZP7pAxIDkzbKJhJ9mBp0gv-9-0cK9iraC/s1600/writing2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdAoFk5XbAqKcNCDA20go_ZbzQ10YAmEp8cEnzdaHn0ymHinW55xZ83-yCMnj8_kdb4uyTLpm1erWcjtWicgx5LWVgEI1bqkSEHQBpeORNJrZP7pAxIDkzbKJhJ9mBp0gv-9-0cK9iraC/s1600/writing2.jpg" /></a></div>For me, preparing for Writers Unite is a lot of work, but the rewards of seeing someone 'get it' or asking questions or using something that she or he has learned is a reward that negates any toil! I really do love helping other writers. And you guys are the best!<br />
I surely don't know everything there is to know about writing - the more I research and listen, the more I learn, too. But I am more than happy to do my part to help where I can.<br />
<br />
I really enjoyed this past meeting as we discussed and shared how to write a query letter. The keenness of everyone present spurred me into action. <br />
<br />
I thought, as a bit of a resource, I would post some of the notes I shared orally. You might use it as a review or even as a bit of a checklist as you begin to write your own query letters - you can start with your homework assignment - writing a query letter to a potential publisher! Anyone who couldn't make it to the meeting but would still like to do 'their homework' get hold of me and I will send details your way! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: red; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How to Write a Query letter<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">What is a query letter?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A letter or email sent to an editor or agent which details an idea for a magazine, newspaper, book or other publication, along with an attempt to sell this particular idea, along with yourself as the potential writer.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">You need to present your ideas as succinctly as possible so that an editor will want to read and buy your article or book.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: black; display: none; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hide: all;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span></span></span><span style="color: black; display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hide: all;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: black; display: none; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hide: all;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span></span></span><span style="color: black; display: none; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hide: all;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For articles:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">R</span>ead the publication where you would like to see your article! <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You need to read as many copies as possible of the market you wish to submit to so that you get </span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a basic idea of the magazine's audience and the style of writing they prefer to publish</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many publications have internet sites now</span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and some will send you a catalogue of their books or sample copies of their publications <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">visit your library and look through the publications which interest you. Could your article fit here? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell the editor why YOU are the one to write this article.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did you just write a piece on "Cooking with APPLES?" Inform the editor of Taste of Home Magazine about your cooking expertise, your extensive APPLE knowledge, and why their audience needs this vital information from you and nobody else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tell the editor what the article is about.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For example, stating “I wrote an article about moms on a budget that I think your readers will really like,” is not enough information. What about the moms on a budget? Did you write about smart ways to cut costs? Maybe this piece is about how to use everyday items in unusual ways. Perhaps it’s to do with working moms who need to find ways to spend more time with their kids than on housework or maybe you are talking about being frugal or using God’s provisions wisely. Be specific. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is better: Mom’s on a Budget is a step-by-step guide that shows mothers with limited income how to make sensible decisions when shopping. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Talk about an actual budget and make the focus needs verses wants. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It tells the editor what’s in store, but doesn’t give away the whole thing. The idea is to hook the editor into wanting to read your article.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red;">For books:</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find out what type of books the publisher prints. Will your book fit somewhere in their most recent catalogue?</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As with magazines, most book publishers have websites where you can get a feel for what each publisher specializes in printing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Give a brief synopsis of the book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Include a brief outline of what the book is about. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s a good idea to include a hook or exciting excerpt from the book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For both books and magazines:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put your contact information at the top of the letter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijydjUgayAxwlyayNX0j8_EOjmeLTP-LAzBKhdPcR8Fw75j8SMmzexZGVfokizupYxaQR17b__6TbtZJRd4G0-iUKBWXRTP-SYNbe30wzjdr1FvwksxCCKOhDP6a5YTWn-Q8SvYOmsuetr/s1600/query.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijydjUgayAxwlyayNX0j8_EOjmeLTP-LAzBKhdPcR8Fw75j8SMmzexZGVfokizupYxaQR17b__6TbtZJRd4G0-iUKBWXRTP-SYNbe30wzjdr1FvwksxCCKOhDP6a5YTWn-Q8SvYOmsuetr/s1600/query.jpg" /></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Include the date.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Find out the editor's name.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Editors leave or change titles within the company more frequently than you may think. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Phone and ask if you don't know. Don't always rely on information in writer's market books - especially if they are out of date.</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Give your writing credentials<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the part of the letter that makes new writers nervous. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t panic though — you do have writing experience. Think back on everything you’ve done. Have you had anything published online? Have you written anything for others, or a church bulletin; maybe a news release for a local event. What about letters to the editor? It is still writing. Do you belong to a writing group - local and professional? This is good information for editors to know. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Include your phone number or email or blog address after your name <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give pertinent information the editor can use.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">State the genre, the potential audience, and word count.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Include a SASE if mailing<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">visit Canada Post’s website to order your stamps prn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">State what enclosures are attached.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Proofread your letter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put the same care into the letter that you (hopefully) put into the story or article. A poorly proofed letter doesn’t bode well with editors. They may still give you a chance if there’s a minor typo or two (though preferably not in their name or the company name), but a letter filled with errors goes straight in the garbage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pay attention to their guidelines - </span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">they are not all the same. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For magazines: some will ask you to send a cover letter and the entire article. Others will ask that you query only — without the article. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For books: some may ask that you query with ten pages, or query with three chapters or send an entire book proposal<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For both: you may find they only accept email queries and will ask you to use postal mail for the manuscript (ms), or they want both by email, or both by post mail.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you aren’t sure, look in a recent copy of a writer's market (can be found or ordered from the local library) for the website (or Google the company). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_G-N34h_gmDrdeT7Ca0dLegkHQkEuh_CiISEeU4IkEvukwPgyKLUQGnYEWDWDgi089b8CW3rGMuQ0Tl84gxAGvOqHb2XtW7o67IzyHBV_0NP3vWcuNyb7Sr-V9KHCLg41MdtgEXT9BNmx/s1600/query2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_G-N34h_gmDrdeT7Ca0dLegkHQkEuh_CiISEeU4IkEvukwPgyKLUQGnYEWDWDgi089b8CW3rGMuQ0Tl84gxAGvOqHb2XtW7o67IzyHBV_0NP3vWcuNyb7Sr-V9KHCLg41MdtgEXT9BNmx/s1600/query2.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If they state they do not accept simultaneous submissions, then send your article only to them and wait for their reply before you approach another publisher with that same article.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If they state they do accept simultaneous submissions, it is a good idea to let them know you’ve submitted queries elsewhere so if they really want your article or book, they’ll know to move on it right away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If they tell you they won't take unagented queries, then either find an agent, or cross that publisher off the list until you have representation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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</div><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> - </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you didn't learn the editor's title (Mr. Miss, Mrs, etc), leave it out.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don't refer to Kim Bell as Mr. Wright unless you know Kim is a man. Stick with what you know. "Dear Kim Bell" is a good intro in this case. If Susan Shepherd is definitely a woman, unless you know her marital status, don’t include a title then either. Mrs. Shepherd may take offense to being referred to as Miss or Ms. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don't tell them you're new to this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> The query letter is not the place to make announcements about “who you aren’t,” and “what you can’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never use friends or family as proof of your abilities.</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why would they say anything but good things about your writing. They need you to feed and care for them! They know that poor reviews might mean no apple pie. Don't ever tell an editor that your mom or Aunt Martha said you are the next Farley Mowatt or William Wadsworth Longfellow!</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Offer editors enough information that they’ll want to read what you have written. </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- Be clever but don't </span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">oversell your self, either. No bragging that you are the only one in the world that can write the article and that you are the ultimate expert on the subject. Be professional</span></span></div> - <span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t use exclamation marks, bold, or caps. </span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These are tools of an amateur. If you feel you must make an exclamatory statement, use one exclamation mark, only. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t query publishers you don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> - </span> Do your homework and never say that you don't really know their magazine. If you don't know much about their magazine the editor or publisher is likely not going to be too interested in looking at what you have to offer.</span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span><o:p> - </o:p></span><span><o:p>Don't pretend you know the editor through a friend of a friend's friend. Editors are quite smart and don't take kindly to name dropping to any degree. </o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t pester the editor. That means no hounding telephone calls or annoying emails. Check what the guidelines say about response times then add three weeks to that before you start contacting the company. </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwoyHaxggYwAao48kEAAbRc8LLQn5ivc_r3CanHXcvKlchmcx69CpBTYwTVwVcYR5c14H9djj4f_c6Jj1xjdLPYHpzVOuRT-TqVHYTAO7bUDp1zwutCxXFAxwTNUbHIU3oO0u8PnY1rzH/s1600/query3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwoyHaxggYwAao48kEAAbRc8LLQn5ivc_r3CanHXcvKlchmcx69CpBTYwTVwVcYR5c14H9djj4f_c6Jj1xjdLPYHpzVOuRT-TqVHYTAO7bUDp1zwutCxXFAxwTNUbHIU3oO0u8PnY1rzH/s1600/query3.jpg" /></a><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last note:</span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Try to keep your query letter short and to the point. Make it neat and inviting. Make sure you have prepared a letter without grammatical errors or spelling mistakes. Remember you get one chance to make a first impression. Make it count! </span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have fun! </span></span></div><br />
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</div>Glynishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621548333351709607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-85525765806177344262011-08-11T10:25:00.000-07:002011-08-11T10:35:02.119-07:00I know my poem has nothing to do with the Scrabble assignment. Since I have been able to make it to the meetings, I thought that I would share my latest poem.
<br />
<br />Tricia
<br />tlcherreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06490779185086445488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-34497424866467374802011-08-11T10:01:00.000-07:002011-08-11T10:22:27.208-07:00I have <span style="font-size:100%;">been to the other side and back.
<br />I have learned how keep my life on track.
<br />
<br />I have experienced dark days and teary nights.
<br />I wanted to see heavenly lights.
<br />
<br />I felt like letting go.
<br />I would tell God to take my soul.
<br />
<br />He showed me signs that
<br />told me it wasn't my time.
<br />
<br />I am so thankful for the
<br />love and support that is plentiful.
<br />
<br />I am not done with this life.
<br />I am going hang onto it with all my might.
<br />
<br />Listen to me God as I now say,
<br />you can take me when I am old and grey.
<br />
<br />
<br />Tricia
<br /></span>tlcherreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06490779185086445488noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-59001796505722203432011-08-09T02:54:00.000-07:002011-08-09T02:54:36.755-07:00Scrabble Words<br />
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<em></em><br />
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This is my second trip to Mumbia and I am not looking forward to the heat and lack of adequate facilities in this Indian city. I hear the <strong>zoom </strong>of the engines as we <strong>vie</strong> for airspace on this transatlantic flight. My name is A.J. <strong>Moss </strong>one of the purchasing and product managers for a Canadian aerospace company. Upper management has decided to continue it's investigation into what seems a superior brass <strong>hex nut</strong> that was used in the fighter plane "the<strong> Gnat</strong>". <br />
I am thumbing through a flashy magazine and see that Akon has arrived in New Delhi for a concert. His song 'I'm coming<strong> ova'(sic)</strong> is gaining ground on the Indian pop charts. I think to myself "<strong>ya suck</strong>" and toss the mag back into the pocket in the seat. Time to think. Need a<strong> plan</strong> of action and a way to get the<strong> ideas</strong> in my head in line with what the company is looking for. I slip off to sleep with visions of India <strong>seeding </strong>my dreams. What seemed just a bit later I wake up in <strong>daze</strong>. My mind seems to be playing tricks on me. Maybe I should not have had that last gin and tonic... The pilot announces that we are preparing to land. How long did I sleep ? I get through customs and look for my regular driver Mr Mehra who was <strong>to</strong> meet me at the airport. Not seeing him there was raising the <strong>ire </strong>of my already foggy disposition. A man in a <strong>faded jute</strong> dhoti came over to me and said he was sent by Mr Mehra to pick me up in the auto rickshaw he pointed at. I did not <strong>know</strong> what to do. My mode of travel in India at the last trip was always in a regular cab. Certainly not in one of those rough rickshaws. Do I try to call a cab <strong>or</strong> do I trust this man Amir as he called himself. I step into the auto rickshaw. Traffic in this city is chaotic. Amir maneuvered around as best he could. All of a sudden we were side swiped by a cab ( of the like I should have been travelling in) I had a deep gash in my <strong>brow</strong>. Amir was frantic and had some of his friends take me to a <strong>healer</strong> a few blocks away. I had to duck my head to enter the door which had a <strong>tigers</strong> head carved on <strong>it.</strong> After my eye's adjusted to the dim light I looked in <strong>awe</strong> at all the beautiful Hindu <strong>art</strong> that covered the walls and ceiling. Sitting on a stool was this old shaman with dread locked hair down to his waist. He was wearing little but a small dhoti and garlands of flowers around his neck. Amir spoke to him in his dialect and the healer whose name I found out was Buti stood and looked at my bleeding head. After a few minutes of chanting he said he could <strong>rid</strong> me of the injury. Buti immediately started gathering an assortment of herbs powders and<strong> figs</strong> which he <strong>beat</strong> in a small tin bowl. He told me he would <strong>slather</strong> this potion on my brow with special prayers and all would be well in my life. As he worked on my brow he chanted. I left feeling much better and the gash on my head was barely visible. Amir quickly took me to the hotel where I rested as per shaman's orders. I was filled with wonder at this new old side of India that I had not experienced before. The next day was my meeting with Rhohit Shah the CEO of the plant. I'm not sure what happened to my head yesterday but it was exploding with grand schemes and my proposal was greeted with enthusiasm. A <strong>done</strong> deal was made. The bump on the head must have helped or was it something else... <br />
<strong></strong></div></div></td><td class="type"></td><td class="type"></td><td class="comments"><a class="link" href="http://rosemary-myword.blogspot.com/2011/08/scrabble-words.html#comments" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #3366cc;">1 comment</span></strong></a></td><td class="date"><span>8/4/11</span></td><td class="author" nowrap="nowrap"><span>by Rosemary</span></td><td class="link"><div class="deleteLink"><span><a class="link" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-delete.g?blogID=5944020006856027976&postID=5629378012159095592"><strong><span style="color: #3366cc;">Delete</span></strong></a></span></div></td></tr>
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</tbody></table>Rosemaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00548771456384925055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-67994972611823950802011-08-07T20:28:00.000-07:002011-08-07T20:28:33.288-07:00Scrabble Rousers!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7NemeDoomnAeBsBAeFTkcuISE2QC_ernULxYh0FJOk7d12qz1v2h9RL5Bljzr5HUYoL17zinyzy8Zotxr72VksLzcxbBasflJkZe6u0C34JyjNiAIi-PrCgrroX2EBOz-eewE_6HMUP0/s1600/Scrabble.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7NemeDoomnAeBsBAeFTkcuISE2QC_ernULxYh0FJOk7d12qz1v2h9RL5Bljzr5HUYoL17zinyzy8Zotxr72VksLzcxbBasflJkZe6u0C34JyjNiAIi-PrCgrroX2EBOz-eewE_6HMUP0/s320/Scrabble.JPG" width="320" /></a>What a great meeting, once again. A group of us - a bit of a motley crew, but we are loveable - met to affirm and encourage each other as writers. Hopefully everyone who came had a super time and we sure did miss our absent friends. We are slowly growing (welcome new members - Barbara, Caroline & Bev)and some are getting braver about sharing their work and pushing toward publication! Hooray...<br />
<br />
So the highlight of this past meeting was to listen to the fabulous creations of our Scrabble Rousers! Just to give a brief background - those who were at the June meeting played Scrabble. The resulting words were to be used in a story / song / poem / or in another creative manner and were then to be shared at the next meeting. I think we all enjoyed hearing what everyone had to offer. We are encouraging all Scrabble Rousers to post their creations here. Thanks Janet for starting us off (and thanks for including the list of words after your story!) Here's my offering:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>"That Kind of a Girl"</u></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> by Glynis M. Belec</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">It wouldn’t be the first time my crazy ideas got me into trouble. I thought perhaps if I were to get rid of the gray hair, slather on some Oil of Olay Perfect Skin Moisturizing makeup and don a pair of my old faded jeans, then I might just beat her at her own game. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I was barely fifty years old and I wasn’t that type of girl – mind, body or spirit. Besides I was not ready for this. I was able to zoom through any given day and daze the daylights out of anyone who crossed my path. My busyness validated my existence. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“Slow down!” my friends used to say. I guess they were in awe at my ability to leap tall buildings and plan my moments. Some told me that the way I worked if I would go mining for ore I would likely hit gold. I liked that. It gave me a sense of purpose!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeUTuycNHpL-KdgERj3sX97DdaLthn8f77TVw-Ay6GFJzIbwODEJppZU6kRqKo4A15xsfcz0KZ_-zEx7_6MV1oLgznTf9o129mWsBOCxv6U7EIgQxP5deKsZ5xGR14FVok1Yxm4bWBXdA/s1600/age+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeUTuycNHpL-KdgERj3sX97DdaLthn8f77TVw-Ay6GFJzIbwODEJppZU6kRqKo4A15xsfcz0KZ_-zEx7_6MV1oLgznTf9o129mWsBOCxv6U7EIgQxP5deKsZ5xGR14FVok1Yxm4bWBXdA/s1600/age+cream.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">But on that particular day, I heard she was coming and I was ready. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“Vie for my spot as lady of the hour, would you? I don’t think so, darling.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">My ire was in stark contrast to her calm presence, though, and it started to bother me a bit. My mind raced as if twenty tigers were in hot pursuit. What could I say? What should I do? I considered putting a hex on the whole thing but then I remembered that that would not be the Christian thing to do!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I mopped my sweaty brow, rubbing away some of the Oil of Olay mud. I looked at my hands. They felt like mushy figs. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Everyone stood there, just staring at this new kid on the block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might as well have been wearing a jute smock…I guess my once girlish figure seemed to suddenly swell into ripples resembling a spare tire or two. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">What was I thinking? Who was I kidding? <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“Ya’ [<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sic</i>] know,” I said sheepishly to anyone who cared to pay me any attention, “I guess my gig is up. I’m not fooling anyone with this façade, am I?” I felt like an insignificant gnat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Then someone touched my shoulder. He was a handsome one, even if he did spit out a pistachio nut shell before speaking to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“Hard to believe out of all her ova, God selected the perfect one.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I looked at him. He seemed sympathetic and gently ignored my kooky attempts at covering up the real me. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“Yes,” he continued, “the fine art of life is not in our hands.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pointed to the little bundle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I stared at the child. She tried to suck her tiny, perfect finger. I was done. I suddenly realized that getting older was just part of life. Gray hair is a sign of wisdom. Wrinkles are laugh lines. Something was seeding my senses. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">It was as if moss had been fogging up my vision. My brain cleared and I started to slip into the role that I was destined to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">This precious little child was my healer. At fifty years of age, it turns out that I was that kind of girl, after all. Grandmother – mind, body, and now…in spirit!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkatZ0KIQyGst1SGdTzW6ZS5ijXaHJA9lQNMlRBN_oVh_xxWgsT-OCjjSrgkLxhZgJUVEJ6r6RNYtIIhsoQnexxjjXBIa_Dn_KwlriHDIaT_aiY6ceQyBVOF9OZUluk164cKmknH4OoPr3/s1600/grandma2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkatZ0KIQyGst1SGdTzW6ZS5ijXaHJA9lQNMlRBN_oVh_xxWgsT-OCjjSrgkLxhZgJUVEJ6r6RNYtIIhsoQnexxjjXBIa_Dn_KwlriHDIaT_aiY6ceQyBVOF9OZUluk164cKmknH4OoPr3/s1600/grandma2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 18pt;"><br />
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</div>Glynishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621548333351709607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-80615583364391840862011-08-06T07:02:00.000-07:002011-08-06T07:06:09.878-07:00Scrabble Words...My ideas are done…<br />I gaze in awe at the setting sun<br />Like faded tigers sprawled across the west<br />I slip my plan to He who knows me best<br /><br />Life can suck the dreamer dry<br />I had a bit of dream once, in my eye<br />Beat the drum low, with gathered brow<br />Dreams are the ire of dust, ya’ know…<br /><br />But He who plants the hills with ore<br />And paints His art across earth’s shore<br />His way is perfect, pure and just<br />He sees our dreams slather the dust<br /><br />His art now tints nut tree and moss<br />It glows with crimson, like the Cross<br />Where we can rid ourselves of guilt<br />Because of perfect blood He spilt…<br /><br />His way is upright and astute<br />He bends the will of iron or jute<br />I grasp His love in humble daze<br />A gnat cannot escape His gaze<br /><br />The ova of the devil’s hex<br />Seeks to torment me and vex<br />Me with the seeding of a lie<br />Good and evil seem to vie…<br /><br />…for fruit upon my trembling lips<br />Can a thistle tree bear figs? <br />Clouds of dark fore-boding zoom<br />To sic their evil lies of doom<br /><br />But then I lift my tortured eyes<br />To the Painter of the skies<br />His glory bathes a sin-cursed land<br />The Healer stretches forth His Hand…<br /><br />Janet<br /><br />Here is a list of required words to use..<br />1. faded <br />2. awe <br />3. daze <br />4. zoom <br />5. my <br />6. done <br />7. ideas <br />8. hex <br />9. slip <br />10. figs <br />11. vie <br />12. slather <br />13. it <br />14. healer <br />15. seeding <br />16. rid <br />17. bit <br />18. beat <br />19. tigers <br />20. sic <br />21. ire <br />22. plan <br />23. just <br />24. jute <br />25. ore <br />26. to <br />27. moss <br />28. ova <br />29. ya <br />30. suck <br />31. know <br />32. brow <br />33. gnat <br />34. art <br />35. nut<br /><br />If anyone reading here is interested in joining, check it out!!! Our next meeting is at the Studio Factor in Drayton on Sept. 9.There's is just one thing you need to be there....yourself!...oh, and one more thing about us...we are having WAY too much fun:)) Hope to see you there!Janet Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10126248666972072628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-27603185639989581292011-06-10T06:38:00.000-07:002011-06-10T06:38:24.912-07:00Meeting Tonight<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Just a Reminder...</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Tonight is our "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Scrabble Night</b></span>"!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Come out to share your talents and play a little scrabble! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">But there's a twist! (<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b>There's always a twist!</b></span></i>) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">You'll have to come out to see what the twist it!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://prawfsblawg.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/08/01/scrabble_board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://prawfsblawg.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/08/01/scrabble_board.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">When: 7:30pm</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Where: Studio Factor</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>See you there!</b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-3163125764254468142011-04-14T20:30:00.000-07:002011-04-14T20:33:19.481-07:00Finding Your Voice in a Noisy World(Notes adapted from my presentation at our April 8th Writer's Unite Meeting at The Studio Factor <span style="font-size: x-small;">by</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Glynis M. Belec</span>)<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhr4C8XxPxyMyPS0XtTVFVNcNI6p0UTwOHmtQQkmE1ubwYi3DIHPGFdiyduSRA7TCIGczShV-SZ9hxf3MQSLEluCaWYWJnpvXIS8-q6NMqJZirLc7akwXRdSFW5ayqmYAKI4IGV7l6tfU/s1600/voice2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTf5ZYYNTfMCgDeG8gYxwajOK7LIdxqCugCm7ieJZW9xpYlxyUAjxE217ZA2n85m5QBoC8o1eTDlnFOJhZoo8ArXwWeNE2acTkdWhcRncfJfngV27pfHAO5wNgSsrYvppRAh_bfzptvCge/s1600/voice.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTf5ZYYNTfMCgDeG8gYxwajOK7LIdxqCugCm7ieJZW9xpYlxyUAjxE217ZA2n85m5QBoC8o1eTDlnFOJhZoo8ArXwWeNE2acTkdWhcRncfJfngV27pfHAO5wNgSsrYvppRAh_bfzptvCge/s1600/voice.bmp" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What do we mean when we say a writer has a distinct voice? What does it mean to have a voice when you write?</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You already have a voice. It's beautiful, it's unique and it is distinctly yours. If someone reads your book or article or poetry, or hears your song, and recognizes who wrote it, often it is because of your distinct voice.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because you already have your own voice, your task is to bring it to the forefront and be who you are. </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enjoying someone’s style and being inspired by the voice of another writer is a good thing, but we should never try to copy. It just doesn’t work.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">like Erma Bombeck – I read her work a lot and I found that my most comfortable style was similar to hers. I call her voice - comfortable and inviting.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also like E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web - I call his writing gentle, descriptive writing.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I call Robert Munsch’s – dramatic, loud writing. </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4lA3ubc-HVReVfOWhZeQoUsPjbSVmTbQ8z18UOeqcywOZzRys8oX4CAuRPsVjDuz4oUaYoL5LjHB92YcuGm3JZ5FLdQvM3SCAWiqDYdAPfwMzTnGnflUIbx26PeXxhBIbSUPIauQS9Fh/s1600/voice2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4lA3ubc-HVReVfOWhZeQoUsPjbSVmTbQ8z18UOeqcywOZzRys8oX4CAuRPsVjDuz4oUaYoL5LjHB92YcuGm3JZ5FLdQvM3SCAWiqDYdAPfwMzTnGnflUIbx26PeXxhBIbSUPIauQS9Fh/s320/voice2.jpg" width="80" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are so many different voices in writing. Remember we spoke about Louis L’Amour - the western writer? Think how his voice is vastly different than Stephen King's.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Emily Post, if you remember, has more old style, refined writing. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember Ann Voskamp’s new book – 1000 Gifts? She is a vulnerable and generous writer. Her voice implores the reader to share her pain and her purpose.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Style and voice are important when writing. They both </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">help define you as a writer and they </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">set you apart from other authors.</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Beginning writers d</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">on’t necessarily have a defined voice when first starting out.</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Here are some ideas and suggestions for discovering the difference between <strong>Voice</strong> and <strong>Style</strong> and ways to find your <strong>Voice</strong> and define your <strong>Style</strong>:</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Write for a while – hard work and self-discovery – in my case lots of prayer, too! God what do you want me to do with my writing?</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Voice is born from a lot of words and a lot of work – rejection, refining, rewriting = reward!</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“The voice is the cadence and lyricism with which you narrate and write dialogue, particularly when it comes to speaking through the eyes of a particular character.”</span></em></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">voice</i></b> is the word choice and method of speaking and thinking as demonstrated by characters</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">style</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> is when you are talking about the way in which he writes his books </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Style is watching your use of adjectives and doing a few flashy things with alliteration. </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QSDqOotpH025EcJmaLQ9Yh3w8c_vLqA4tlEMOGgc-z_I3gqeJo3YRgRoOeF3M9Q0LgtWFsrHN_B3jf_WJ5AogCFEIpoHLtA-Kdx4QLk6xOSU6EmXg39o8mfSLthJ8rZ1LD0nc2ORflWZ/s1600/voice3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QSDqOotpH025EcJmaLQ9Yh3w8c_vLqA4tlEMOGgc-z_I3gqeJo3YRgRoOeF3M9Q0LgtWFsrHN_B3jf_WJ5AogCFEIpoHLtA-Kdx4QLk6xOSU6EmXg39o8mfSLthJ8rZ1LD0nc2ORflWZ/s1600/voice3.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Style without voice is hollow</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Voice is style, plus theme, plus personal observations, plus passion, plus belief, plus desire</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For example, do you write in short, concise paragraphs or long, wordy sentences? </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you use multiple viewpoints in creative writing or just one? A writer's style can be characterized by something as seemingly insignificant as punctuation or as obvious as point of view, but each writer's voice is unique.</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #990000;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">“Voice is bleeding onto the page, and it can be a powerful, frightening, naked experience…”</span></span></em></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- Voice = what the reader hears </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Style = what the reader sees</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">both style and voice come naturally to some creative writers</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">other times, it has to be developed</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Publishers are always looking for fresh voices and styles that speak to the reader and set the book apart</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What do we think about when we think of Agatha Christie for example? Jane Goodall? The Junie B. Jones series? Veggie Tales? Amelia Bedelia? O Henry? </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nowadays we not only need to sell our books we need to sell ourselves as writers – doesn’t mean selling our soul to the devil or compromising. </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rather it means you are selling your unique perspective on life, your own beliefs, fears, hopes and dreams, your memories of childhood tribulation and triumphs and adult achievements and failures . . . your universe</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This all comes out in your voice</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anybody can sit down and write a story or a book</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just means applying derriere to chair and typing out three or four or ten pages a day until the thing is done</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">not every book is saleable</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not every saleable book will find an audience</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">not every book that finds an audience will be able to bring the readers back for more of what you are saying or selling.</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You do that by offering readers something they can't get anywhere else </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YOU!</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you develop your voice you are putting yourself on the page</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How Do We Develop Our Voice?</span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A) Read!</span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You cannot be a successful writer if you don't read. </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All writers read, and all good writers read a lot. </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Read fiction, nonfiction, read in the genre you love, read outside of it. </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Read WAY outside of it. (I have trouble here)</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The more you read, the more you will acquire instinct about what works for you, </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and an equally compelling instinct for what doesn't </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">discover how stories are put together</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">get a feel for how good novels are paced and plotted and how bad ones fall apart</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">start developing a hunger to write specific stories, because you'll come across areas where nobody is writing the kind of books you want to read.</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">B.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Write everything. </span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Try your hand at non-fiction</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write romantic scenes</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put together a western character and run him through a fight scenario</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxJ6fjAi3UBNMvSPcvZur6nJeQzE9FBlsQeP9HHiSd4WleXNLgxuoEXCDqMVloP13BFrsR8IVLxalvlpW3c-sSAZMaW-k5fQOW9ExXoeKxkfAl7eB4TpENEsixfnIVkdftsjSVHRAi4EG/s1600/writer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxJ6fjAi3UBNMvSPcvZur6nJeQzE9FBlsQeP9HHiSd4WleXNLgxuoEXCDqMVloP13BFrsR8IVLxalvlpW3c-sSAZMaW-k5fQOW9ExXoeKxkfAl7eB4TpENEsixfnIVkdftsjSVHRAi4EG/s1600/writer2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Try fantasy</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">try SF</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>try romance</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">write a sonnet, and some haiku, and a few limericks. </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember the first rule of writing: <span style="color: #990000;"><em>Nothing you write is wasted</em>. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">you will have learned from the experience even though it isn’t sent out or used anywhere</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might produce your first saleable work completely outside of your previous area of specialization. </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">C)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Play games </span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Make endless lists or get hold of a book or online that has story starters and play around with them. </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Change the endings of some of your favourite books </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Use a ‘what if’ component</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Story webs or target writing</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Scrabble game </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you're first looking for your voice, you need to experiment a little </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some of what you write might not be too good.</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some of it will shock you with how good you really are and how well you can write</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the only way you'll get any of the good stuff is if you allow yourself to put whatever comes into your head down on the page without worrying about marketing your work right away</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some people need to have the internal editor switched on (I know I do)</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- Others will find they like to free write and edit later</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Write from passion</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you don't care about the things you're writing about, you will never discover your true voice</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your voice does not exist when you're trying to write a book in a genre you don’t like</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quick money won’t happen here</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Voice doesn’t happen or exist in the thin and cheap places of your heart or the shallow end of your soul</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Voice lives in the deep waters and the dark places of your soul, </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdxMe0xHTTuG1IAgw88dc6O1BljSPY1va922qqYv-9DAP8Rer6CTCvaNIppT_M121yS6Gn07TP6O9D3HQBaoEGHtjW05951_n4CiAbvHrzavaaytL38pFb7bqiMaGUZm_inWXB-G_oLQA/s1600/woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdxMe0xHTTuG1IAgw88dc6O1BljSPY1va922qqYv-9DAP8Rer6CTCvaNIppT_M121yS6Gn07TP6O9D3HQBaoEGHtjW05951_n4CiAbvHrzavaaytL38pFb7bqiMaGUZm_inWXB-G_oLQA/s1600/woman.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">will only venture out when you make sure you've given it space to move and room to breathe</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">complacency is your worst enemy</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">plodding along without thinking or challenging yourself</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 18pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- Think about things that you have read and why they moved you, touched you, made you laugh, made you cry - changed your life</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">You are probably thinking about the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">voice</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> of the writer <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan no-line-numbers; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">- Now it's your turn...go find your voice! </span></span></span></div>Glynishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621548333351709607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-50827499734834929742011-04-08T12:08:00.000-07:002011-04-08T12:08:33.317-07:00Meeting Tonight<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Just a reminder about tonight's meeting at the Studio Factor...7:30pm...be there for some good fellowship, fun and food!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Hope to see you there!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfDeWLBsP43pifzIF2qICOt_N9hokT9H-c_cq81EIIgyY9ag1P-vGqbKAXUe4SksgMQgQv2GmIPctD_jywb7ajPclQRE-ZXOyk49CAco7-Xa6ZdxQQMW3ZbuDVyopzyU6Eel80N5DsHJs/s1600/DSCF1094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfDeWLBsP43pifzIF2qICOt_N9hokT9H-c_cq81EIIgyY9ag1P-vGqbKAXUe4SksgMQgQv2GmIPctD_jywb7ajPclQRE-ZXOyk49CAco7-Xa6ZdxQQMW3ZbuDVyopzyU6Eel80N5DsHJs/s1600/DSCF1094.JPG" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886229939379997151.post-12945502122513865372011-03-20T19:06:00.000-07:002011-03-20T19:06:53.990-07:00Grammar Goofs - Part 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVAsVPZuIH5yF6lqGG5gMI1-K8NKl7A7MwB6dxsJ82TwobYW4zcT2IKM22F4WV8ICRXKqViPNtQP4SRZPLk37OID3JUt-_cwUe9px0IuXXPhK7blH9WofYff_kK4q6QH6k3u3aR5R2NR6/s1600/Pink+Panther.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVAsVPZuIH5yF6lqGG5gMI1-K8NKl7A7MwB6dxsJ82TwobYW4zcT2IKM22F4WV8ICRXKqViPNtQP4SRZPLk37OID3JUt-_cwUe9px0IuXXPhK7blH9WofYff_kK4q6QH6k3u3aR5R2NR6/s200/Pink+Panther.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>1. Using the verbs lay and lie correctly is a big challenge</strong></span>. How do you use lay and lie correctly? Lay means to put or place something or someone down. Because lay is a transitive verb, a direct object will come after it. A direct object receives the action of the verb. Here is an example: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the commercial, Mom laid her sleeping daughter on the bed and covered her with a quilt. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lie, on the other hand, means to rest or recline. Lie is an intransitive verb, so no direct object will follow. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The couch cushion always looks wrinkled because Sophie, Susan's German Shepherd, lies there every chance he gets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Lay</span></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>means to put or place something down<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lay(s)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>laid<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>laid </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Lie</strong></span> means to rest or recline<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lie(s)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lay<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lain </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Alright </span></strong>- no such word; use <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>all right</strong></span> instead.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Then/Than</strong></span> - Than is a comparison; Then means a little time or accordingly</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Affect/Effect -</strong></span> Affect is a verb that means to influence. Effect is a noun meaning 'result.'</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Running affects your heart rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Running has a great effect on the body.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJvDQkfAKui5BPkc7ryDwxlQovOApEpout9f1o3s7Smr0OUtPyb0-GzTHAfVuLuNfwprx_Pi2fGfKSVepL2NNqXVq-RX10LFcQ0elbvRZmuZIYE6oO1QsK-QkRONxFVQuf1RqOy1Cf7IV/s1600/affect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJvDQkfAKui5BPkc7ryDwxlQovOApEpout9f1o3s7Smr0OUtPyb0-GzTHAfVuLuNfwprx_Pi2fGfKSVepL2NNqXVq-RX10LFcQ0elbvRZmuZIYE6oO1QsK-QkRONxFVQuf1RqOy1Cf7IV/s1600/affect.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">More to follow...</span></div>Glynishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621548333351709607noreply@blogger.com1