ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE
-- Write so readers can understand what you’re saying
-- Create a keepsake book for your family
-- Go with the flow
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
WRITE TO BE UNDERSTOOD
Good writing can be as eloquent as you are capable of making it or as technical as you need. However, if you plan to write for the general public, you need to write simply. Instead of large words and long paragraphs, everything will need to be written in as few words as possible, with short sentences broken down into brief paragraphs.
In the first place, the average reading grade level of the person who will read your consumer magazine piece is at the seventh or eighth grade. Shocking, isn’t it? It’s not that your average reader is dumb. It’s simply that most people reading an article or book won’t stick with it unless sentences are short and to the point and the words are easy to understand. In other words, the average reader is somewhat lazy!
Don’t get in the habit of writing sentences that contain 30 words or more, especially if they can be easily broken down into two or three short sentences. Don’t use ten-dollar words when a ten-cent word will do. If you ever watched the TV show, Frazier, then you know how pretentious his and his brother Niles’ word choices and sentences were. That’s what readers will think if you use rambling sentences and unfamiliar words: pretentious and boring!
If you’re unsure about a more familiar word to use, check a thesaurus. No, this is not cheating. If you don’t use one, you’re cheating readers. When I worked for a publishing house, the first thing they handed me was a thesaurus.
If you’re unfamiliar with any of the suggested words, look them up in a dictionary.
Now that I’ve said all this, if you know that the reading level of your typical reader is college level, then you probably want to use some compound sentences and more educated words. When I first started writing I had a program on my computer that would tell me the grade level of the article I had just written I checked every article for a couple of years to make sure I wasn’t talking above or below my targeted readers’ skill level. Since I wrote for consumer publications and for professional business owners with graduate degrees, I found it very helpful. I wish I knew what the software was and if it is still available.
For professional clients or readers, you should write at the eleventh or twelfth grade level, but for the general public, seventh to eighth grade is best. Read the publication you want to write for and study sentence construction and word use. I’ve been told that Reader’s Digest articles are written at the seventh to eighth grade reading level, so it is a good publication to study. When writing for professionals, get a copy of a trade magazine for their profession and study the words and sentence structure used so you’ll have an idea of the level at which you need to write.
Being a professional writer means knowing how to write simply when needed, or how to up the level for higher educated readers.
One quandary for new writers is making their article fit the word count an editor has given them. It’s way too easy to come up short or to go way over the specified length. In the next issue I’ll write about how to cut words from your article to meet a publisher’s word count guidelines.
Good writing can be as eloquent as you are capable of making it or as technical as you need. However, if you plan to write for the general public, you need to write simply. Instead of large words and long paragraphs, everything will need to be written in as few words as possible, with short sentences broken down into brief paragraphs.
In the first place, the average reading grade level of the person who will read your consumer magazine piece is at the seventh or eighth grade. Shocking, isn’t it? It’s not that your average reader is dumb. It’s simply that most people reading an article or book won’t stick with it unless sentences are short and to the point and the words are easy to understand. In other words, the average reader is somewhat lazy!
Don’t get in the habit of writing sentences that contain 30 words or more, especially if they can be easily broken down into two or three short sentences. Don’t use ten-dollar words when a ten-cent word will do. If you ever watched the TV show, Frazier, then you know how pretentious his and his brother Niles’ word choices and sentences were. That’s what readers will think if you use rambling sentences and unfamiliar words: pretentious and boring!
If you’re unsure about a more familiar word to use, check a thesaurus. No, this is not cheating. If you don’t use one, you’re cheating readers. When I worked for a publishing house, the first thing they handed me was a thesaurus.
If you’re unfamiliar with any of the suggested words, look them up in a dictionary.
Now that I’ve said all this, if you know that the reading level of your typical reader is college level, then you probably want to use some compound sentences and more educated words. When I first started writing I had a program on my computer that would tell me the grade level of the article I had just written I checked every article for a couple of years to make sure I wasn’t talking above or below my targeted readers’ skill level. Since I wrote for consumer publications and for professional business owners with graduate degrees, I found it very helpful. I wish I knew what the software was and if it is still available.
For professional clients or readers, you should write at the eleventh or twelfth grade level, but for the general public, seventh to eighth grade is best. Read the publication you want to write for and study sentence construction and word use. I’ve been told that Reader’s Digest articles are written at the seventh to eighth grade reading level, so it is a good publication to study. When writing for professionals, get a copy of a trade magazine for their profession and study the words and sentence structure used so you’ll have an idea of the level at which you need to write.
Being a professional writer means knowing how to write simply when needed, or how to up the level for higher educated readers.
One quandary for new writers is making their article fit the word count an editor has given them. It’s way too easy to come up short or to go way over the specified length. In the next issue I’ll write about how to cut words from your article to meet a publisher’s word count guidelines.
CREATE A FAMILY KEEPSAKE BOOK
One of the finest endeavors writers can undertake is to put their talents to work creating something for their families. In some instances your family may not understand what you write, or they simply are not interested. A family keepsake book can become a cherished heirloom and it will give your family a deeper appreciation for what you do.
A family cookbook is always a popular gift. Gather favorite recipes from all of your relatives such as parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and siblings. If your family always celebrates holidays together, don’t forget to include the dish that’s always a hit every year.
Another great gift is a remembrance of someone in the family who has passed away. A book on any beloved family member would be welcomed by those who want to keep precious memories alive. Even one about a favorite family pet would be welcomed and bring back warm memories for your siblings.
I created one about my younger sister who died from cancer before her grandchildren were in school, and one not even born yet. Since I had known her from birth until the day she died and spent many of those years under the same roof, I felt it was important that her children and grandchildren know who she was and the things she liked to do when she was young. I titled it “When Grammy Was a Little Girl.” I put three photos staggered across the front of when she was very young, when she was a teenager, and of shortly before she passed away—the way her children and grandchildren would remember seeing her towards the end. I had requests for additional copies for cousins, aunts and uncles who had loved her and wanted a remembrance to keep her close in their hearts.
A book can be typed into your computer using any good word processing program and then transferred into a page layout program. Put any photos you want onto your pages where you want them to appear. Minimal sizing and moving can be done here, but if photos need cropping you should do that in a photo edit program first. Design a cover that fits the book subject in your page layout program.
An alternative method if you lack design skills and don’t have a page layout program is to simply type each page and put photos into the word processing program. Under “page set-up,” go to “landscape,” and “two pages per sheet,” which will print out two pages on one sheet of 8.5 x 11” paper.
There are several issues you will face about setting up the pages correctly, including starting the first page on the right side of the layout, and how to place pages if you’re printing front and back.
Front to back printing:
On the copies that come from your home printer, the printing on one side will show through on the other side because you’re probably using paper that’s thinner than what a commercial copy company would use. So print those pages only on one side. Printing might also smudge if the page has to run twice through the printer.
Number your pages AFTER you’ve finished typing the book. That’s because you will need to do some shifting around if the sheets are going to be printed front and back. In the case of recipes, you’ll want to group the same types together. Also, if you’re printing on both sides, page one will have either have a blank page on the left, or it may have the last page on the back side depending on whether there are an even or odd number of printed pages. Remember that the book looks more professional with a blank page in front of the first printed page, but it can have the book’s title printed on it. Look at published examples to get an idea of how you want your book laid out. People were doing these things on typewriters before computers came out, so don’t stress out about it!
To get the pages placed correctly, you’ll have to type all of the pages and print them out, then tape or clip them together in the order you want them. Then you can figure out what number needs to be put on each page and how to go back and lay it out correctly on the computer for final printing. This can get very confusing, so talk to a printer beforehand to get instructions, or take the time to figure it out by looking at published examples. It’s really not that difficult once you get the hang of it.
One-sided printing:
If you are doing a cookbook and want to print only on one side of the paper, type each page and then COPY the same information on the right side of the page. That way you have two copies of the same text on each 8-1/2 inch by 11 inch page, so two books can be printed at the same time. Do the same with the cover and table of contents or index.
So if you need fifty books, you’ll only need twenty-five copies of each page. Each page will be cut in half by the printer, and then bound with wire or comb binding. This is the easiest way to do it and it saves money!
If there are fewer than sixty-four pages, you can have the books staple bound. In this case, type your recipe on the right side of the page only. Then you’ll want to have them printed front to back, but the copy showing through shouldn’t create a problem since the page behind each recipe will be blank. I think it’s helpful to have every other page blank since cooks might want to add their own notes about the recipes.
Assuming you are going to have the books printed on a copy machine, this is all you’ll need to do. You can do it all on your home printer (if you’re making only a few copies). You’ll have to make copies of every page, front to back. You’ll probably need to take them somewhere to get them stapled into the covers since it takes a longer than normal stapler to do the job.
If you’re having your book printed at a copy center, just tell them what cover stock and paper you want to use, and what type of binding. Spiral and comb bindings are great for cookbooks because the books will lie open for easy reading. The printer will have examples of paper and cover stock, plus bindings to show you.
Whatever type of binding you use, your cost will probably run around $5.00 each. Get estimates from several copy places before you have them printed. If you want to do a large cookbook and will have more than 100 copies made, contact Morris Cookbook Publishers to get their estimate as well as directions for formatting the book to fit their requirements (http://www.morriscookbooks.com.) There are also other professional cookbook printers who do the same type of work for reasonable prices but I haven’t had experience with them.
If you do all of the work yourself, you can probably get a project like this completed by Christmas if you get everything together before sitting down at the computer. If you plan to use Morris or another publisher, it will take longer because of their printing schedules.
I promise your gift recipients will love their thoughtfully created keepsake book. Best of all, this project will give you confidence to tackle a larger book project later.
One of the finest endeavors writers can undertake is to put their talents to work creating something for their families. In some instances your family may not understand what you write, or they simply are not interested. A family keepsake book can become a cherished heirloom and it will give your family a deeper appreciation for what you do.
A family cookbook is always a popular gift. Gather favorite recipes from all of your relatives such as parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and siblings. If your family always celebrates holidays together, don’t forget to include the dish that’s always a hit every year.
Another great gift is a remembrance of someone in the family who has passed away. A book on any beloved family member would be welcomed by those who want to keep precious memories alive. Even one about a favorite family pet would be welcomed and bring back warm memories for your siblings.
I created one about my younger sister who died from cancer before her grandchildren were in school, and one not even born yet. Since I had known her from birth until the day she died and spent many of those years under the same roof, I felt it was important that her children and grandchildren know who she was and the things she liked to do when she was young. I titled it “When Grammy Was a Little Girl.” I put three photos staggered across the front of when she was very young, when she was a teenager, and of shortly before she passed away—the way her children and grandchildren would remember seeing her towards the end. I had requests for additional copies for cousins, aunts and uncles who had loved her and wanted a remembrance to keep her close in their hearts.
A book can be typed into your computer using any good word processing program and then transferred into a page layout program. Put any photos you want onto your pages where you want them to appear. Minimal sizing and moving can be done here, but if photos need cropping you should do that in a photo edit program first. Design a cover that fits the book subject in your page layout program.
An alternative method if you lack design skills and don’t have a page layout program is to simply type each page and put photos into the word processing program. Under “page set-up,” go to “landscape,” and “two pages per sheet,” which will print out two pages on one sheet of 8.5 x 11” paper.
There are several issues you will face about setting up the pages correctly, including starting the first page on the right side of the layout, and how to place pages if you’re printing front and back.
Front to back printing:
On the copies that come from your home printer, the printing on one side will show through on the other side because you’re probably using paper that’s thinner than what a commercial copy company would use. So print those pages only on one side. Printing might also smudge if the page has to run twice through the printer.
Number your pages AFTER you’ve finished typing the book. That’s because you will need to do some shifting around if the sheets are going to be printed front and back. In the case of recipes, you’ll want to group the same types together. Also, if you’re printing on both sides, page one will have either have a blank page on the left, or it may have the last page on the back side depending on whether there are an even or odd number of printed pages. Remember that the book looks more professional with a blank page in front of the first printed page, but it can have the book’s title printed on it. Look at published examples to get an idea of how you want your book laid out. People were doing these things on typewriters before computers came out, so don’t stress out about it!
To get the pages placed correctly, you’ll have to type all of the pages and print them out, then tape or clip them together in the order you want them. Then you can figure out what number needs to be put on each page and how to go back and lay it out correctly on the computer for final printing. This can get very confusing, so talk to a printer beforehand to get instructions, or take the time to figure it out by looking at published examples. It’s really not that difficult once you get the hang of it.
One-sided printing:
If you are doing a cookbook and want to print only on one side of the paper, type each page and then COPY the same information on the right side of the page. That way you have two copies of the same text on each 8-1/2 inch by 11 inch page, so two books can be printed at the same time. Do the same with the cover and table of contents or index.
So if you need fifty books, you’ll only need twenty-five copies of each page. Each page will be cut in half by the printer, and then bound with wire or comb binding. This is the easiest way to do it and it saves money!
If there are fewer than sixty-four pages, you can have the books staple bound. In this case, type your recipe on the right side of the page only. Then you’ll want to have them printed front to back, but the copy showing through shouldn’t create a problem since the page behind each recipe will be blank. I think it’s helpful to have every other page blank since cooks might want to add their own notes about the recipes.
Assuming you are going to have the books printed on a copy machine, this is all you’ll need to do. You can do it all on your home printer (if you’re making only a few copies). You’ll have to make copies of every page, front to back. You’ll probably need to take them somewhere to get them stapled into the covers since it takes a longer than normal stapler to do the job.
If you’re having your book printed at a copy center, just tell them what cover stock and paper you want to use, and what type of binding. Spiral and comb bindings are great for cookbooks because the books will lie open for easy reading. The printer will have examples of paper and cover stock, plus bindings to show you.
Whatever type of binding you use, your cost will probably run around $5.00 each. Get estimates from several copy places before you have them printed. If you want to do a large cookbook and will have more than 100 copies made, contact Morris Cookbook Publishers to get their estimate as well as directions for formatting the book to fit their requirements (http://www.morriscookbooks.com.) There are also other professional cookbook printers who do the same type of work for reasonable prices but I haven’t had experience with them.
If you do all of the work yourself, you can probably get a project like this completed by Christmas if you get everything together before sitting down at the computer. If you plan to use Morris or another publisher, it will take longer because of their printing schedules.
I promise your gift recipients will love their thoughtfully created keepsake book. Best of all, this project will give you confidence to tackle a larger book project later.
GO WITH THE FLOW
One of the most important rules we’ve learned since starting RVing is to be prepared to go with the flow.
For instance, we were planning to leave this Wednesday for Texas after a tire we had ordered came in. Well, the tire’s not in and we still need to get with some family before we leave. So, we’re now planning on getting a new tire on Thursday and then heading in the general direction we want to go. As I write this, we don’t know for sure which way we’ll head yet.
The latest dilemma started with our trip down from Cape Girardeau. At the last minute we called some friends along the way and made plans to spend the night in their town so we could visit. Then about twenty miles the other side of them, one of our tires blew out. The closest place to get it replaced under warranty was Little Rock.
So we spent the night in Wynne, Arkansas and then traveled to Little Rock next day on our spare. We’ve been waiting ever since for the new tire to come in!
Meanwhile, as the clock ticked off the hours we hadn’t decided what to do after leaving here. Should we go to the Houston area first, then head back north to near Ft. Worth to visit friends? Or should we go to Ft. Worth first? We decided to go south first, then head back north, but a phone call from a friend in Houston changed those plans.
We also hadn’t decided whether to go to Southern Arizona, Phoenix or Verde Valley, but that same friend may have answered that dilemma for us. She asked if she could hitch a ride to Phoenix with us.
So as of right now we think we’re heading to Ft. Worth first, then to Houston area where we may spend a few weeks before heading west. Then we may stay in the Phoenix area, or we might park the motorhome south of there and take our friend to Phoenix in the car.
We’re flexible because we’ve learned not to obsess about planning every detail. The first year we traveled my very good friend in Washington came down with cancer, then my sister in Arkansas. Suddenly we couldn’t focus on traveling for pleasure. We shuttled back and forth between Washington, Arizona and Arkansas in a desperate attempt to support our loved ones who needed us.
Then a sudden illness for me and an operation at the same time for my husband caused us to have to stop in our tracks. We didn’t have a choice.
How wonderful that we owned an RV that could transport us, or house us wherever we needed to be. It still keeps us flexible so we can go where we want or where we’re needed. We never plan ahead much anymore. And we don’t obsess about itineraries. We simply go with the flow . . .
Aah the flexibility of changing course in midstream!
One of the most important rules we’ve learned since starting RVing is to be prepared to go with the flow.
For instance, we were planning to leave this Wednesday for Texas after a tire we had ordered came in. Well, the tire’s not in and we still need to get with some family before we leave. So, we’re now planning on getting a new tire on Thursday and then heading in the general direction we want to go. As I write this, we don’t know for sure which way we’ll head yet.
The latest dilemma started with our trip down from Cape Girardeau. At the last minute we called some friends along the way and made plans to spend the night in their town so we could visit. Then about twenty miles the other side of them, one of our tires blew out. The closest place to get it replaced under warranty was Little Rock.
So we spent the night in Wynne, Arkansas and then traveled to Little Rock next day on our spare. We’ve been waiting ever since for the new tire to come in!
Meanwhile, as the clock ticked off the hours we hadn’t decided what to do after leaving here. Should we go to the Houston area first, then head back north to near Ft. Worth to visit friends? Or should we go to Ft. Worth first? We decided to go south first, then head back north, but a phone call from a friend in Houston changed those plans.
We also hadn’t decided whether to go to Southern Arizona, Phoenix or Verde Valley, but that same friend may have answered that dilemma for us. She asked if she could hitch a ride to Phoenix with us.
So as of right now we think we’re heading to Ft. Worth first, then to Houston area where we may spend a few weeks before heading west. Then we may stay in the Phoenix area, or we might park the motorhome south of there and take our friend to Phoenix in the car.
We’re flexible because we’ve learned not to obsess about planning every detail. The first year we traveled my very good friend in Washington came down with cancer, then my sister in Arkansas. Suddenly we couldn’t focus on traveling for pleasure. We shuttled back and forth between Washington, Arizona and Arkansas in a desperate attempt to support our loved ones who needed us.
Then a sudden illness for me and an operation at the same time for my husband caused us to have to stop in our tracks. We didn’t have a choice.
How wonderful that we owned an RV that could transport us, or house us wherever we needed to be. It still keeps us flexible so we can go where we want or where we’re needed. We never plan ahead much anymore. And we don’t obsess about itineraries. We simply go with the flow . . .
Aah the flexibility of changing course in midstream!
Monday, October 16, 2006
FALL ARRIVES IN MISSOURI
The colors of fall are beginning to show up all around the countryside, especially in the colorful displays of pumpkins and mums. The trees are still green, but now have tinges of red and yellow.
The hills of Missouri and Arkansas always hold plenty of fall festivals each year, and we love hitting as many as possible, including the Octoberfest outside of Cape Girardeau which took place this past weekend.
For a small town, the Cape has lots of historical sites to interest and entertain visitors. Downtown is particularly charming because of the murals on the seawall (which would otherwise an ugly concrete monstrosity that blocks views of the Mississippi River) as well as on many of the buildings around town.
North of town is an area where Eastern Native Americans spent frigid winters on their march to Oklahoma in 1837, 1838 and 1839. They traveled by wagon and horseback, but many were forced to walk the entire route. A trip to The Trail of Tears State Park is a beautiful and educational spot to learn more about this unfortunate piece of our country's history.
Our visit to Cape Girardeau produced this image of me through the lense of a Taliedoscope. (I hope I have the name of this correct!) Unlike a kaliedoscope, this instrument reflects the scenery through the end where you would normally find colored designs. In this case, the only scenery was me, blocking the view out the doorway.
We found it necessary to spend another day in the area because of heavy rain. It started about midnight and before it's done, the area expects to receive at least three inches. We're parked next to a pond that has been known to flood, so we're holding our breath and planning to get out as soon as the downpour lets up. We'll head south, but even that area is getting tons of rain today!
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
TRAVELING TOPICS
Writing on the road
Another trip, and more challenges to meeting my writing goals. However, even I realize that I could have done better!
Those old temptations have certainly lured me away from writing during the past two weeks. First there were the days we traveled, and this time we spent longer days on the road. There just aren’t that many places to spend the night along I-40 that meet our requirements (quiet, clean, on-site managers). So by the time we settled in each evening, it was time to cook and eat, relax for a couple of hours, then get some sleep.
Then when we finally arrived in Arkansas, we had family to visit. We also have friends there, but I didn’t have time to contact them this time. I had scheduled a family reunion, which took even more of my time. We also spent one afternoon visiting one of the top tourist destinations in Little Rock. We toured the Clinton Library, and wished we had left a full day open for the tour. It is a beautiful, energy efficient building in a gorgeous setting right next to the Arkansas River. One end of it juts out over the river, and it’s next to an old, abandoned railroad bridge that will someday be turned into a pedestrian bridge across the river.
Both Little Rock and North Little Rock have walking and biking trails that extend for several miles along each side of the river. Now a brand new pedestrian and biking bridge has been built west of town that is the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. We walked on part of it and took a couple of photos, but it was a little windy, which didn’t make a walk all the way across the river very appealing.
On Monday we left for Cape Girardeau, MO, about 300 miles north and east of Little Rock. We’ve settled in for a few days and hope to do some sightseeing here, but in the meantime I realized I needed to get this newsletter done.
So if I can’t seem to write while I travel, does that mean you won’t be able to, either. No. There will always be times when writing has to take a back seat to other responsibilities. However, it’s important to keep writing goals in mind and plan to escape for a few days to a location where you can focus. That’s what I’m doing right now.
Our nephew and his wife flew here from Massachusetts for a fly-in and we’ll spend some time with them, but he’s responsible for putting on the fly-in, so that leaves more free time for us. We’ll be traveling again in a few days, so I’ll try to write as much and as often as possible. I’ll work on my novel and my blog site www.freelancewriter.booklocker.com. Then maybe I can take a few days off to visit friends when we pass through central Arkansas again.
Writing is the way I make my living, and living is what I do. I try to create plenty of time for both, and strike a balance between the two. It isn't always easy . . .
Writing on the road
Another trip, and more challenges to meeting my writing goals. However, even I realize that I could have done better!
Those old temptations have certainly lured me away from writing during the past two weeks. First there were the days we traveled, and this time we spent longer days on the road. There just aren’t that many places to spend the night along I-40 that meet our requirements (quiet, clean, on-site managers). So by the time we settled in each evening, it was time to cook and eat, relax for a couple of hours, then get some sleep.
Then when we finally arrived in Arkansas, we had family to visit. We also have friends there, but I didn’t have time to contact them this time. I had scheduled a family reunion, which took even more of my time. We also spent one afternoon visiting one of the top tourist destinations in Little Rock. We toured the Clinton Library, and wished we had left a full day open for the tour. It is a beautiful, energy efficient building in a gorgeous setting right next to the Arkansas River. One end of it juts out over the river, and it’s next to an old, abandoned railroad bridge that will someday be turned into a pedestrian bridge across the river.
Both Little Rock and North Little Rock have walking and biking trails that extend for several miles along each side of the river. Now a brand new pedestrian and biking bridge has been built west of town that is the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. We walked on part of it and took a couple of photos, but it was a little windy, which didn’t make a walk all the way across the river very appealing.
On Monday we left for Cape Girardeau, MO, about 300 miles north and east of Little Rock. We’ve settled in for a few days and hope to do some sightseeing here, but in the meantime I realized I needed to get this newsletter done.
So if I can’t seem to write while I travel, does that mean you won’t be able to, either. No. There will always be times when writing has to take a back seat to other responsibilities. However, it’s important to keep writing goals in mind and plan to escape for a few days to a location where you can focus. That’s what I’m doing right now.
Our nephew and his wife flew here from Massachusetts for a fly-in and we’ll spend some time with them, but he’s responsible for putting on the fly-in, so that leaves more free time for us. We’ll be traveling again in a few days, so I’ll try to write as much and as often as possible. I’ll work on my novel and my blog site www.freelancewriter.booklocker.com. Then maybe I can take a few days off to visit friends when we pass through central Arkansas again.
Writing is the way I make my living, and living is what I do. I try to create plenty of time for both, and strike a balance between the two. It isn't always easy . . .
WRITING TOPICS
Gift buying time approaches again
Think books, especially for the writers on your list
While we’re still getting the kids ready for Halloween and haven’t even begun to think about Thanksgiving, stores are already putting out Christmas decorations. Yes, it’s that time again, and retailers are pushing all types of useless goodies for you to buy for your friends and relatives. You know the types of gifts that are opened and then quickly forgotten? New commercials for perfumes and colognes are already on the airwaves. Okay, I admit I’m not a fan or either, but I can think of a lot of items I’d rather buy for others, too.
Books make a great gift for almost anyone on your list. Who doesn’t like to read? Okay, there are some people who are content to sit in front of the TV every day and night for hours on end, and claim to never read. Still, books are a welcome addition to most people’s lives. They entertain, and enrich lives by informing, encouraging curiosity and firing the imagination.
Mothers tend to become more difficult to buy for as they grow older. They’ve already received enough cologne to float a battleship and enough jewelry to make a serious dent in the precious metals market. Also robes, lingerie, blouses, purses, and sweaters in sizes too small or large fill their closets to overflowing.
One Christmas I decided to buy a selection of books for my mother that I knew she would enjoy, along with some comfy slippers. So I picked out several books on a variety of subjects, including fiction and nonfiction, and boxed them together with the slippers. She was thrilled! She had something to fill her hours, which would have otherwise been spent watching uninspired TV shows. She remembered that gift for years afterward, something that couldn’t be said for the fancy robe my sister and I purchased for her when we were teens, or the costume jewelry that was our favorite gift to give when we were young.
I recently sent a book that was written and autographed by an Arizona writer to my five-year-old great-niece. It was about bedtime for desert baby animals and had a photo of the author and the illustrator in the back. My niece tells me little Maddi shows that book to everyone and points out the pictures of the writer who signed it, and the artist who drew all the cute pictures of animals. It’s become her favorite bedtime story.
Books have a way of opening up the world to adults and youngsters, alike. I can remember favorite books from when I was a child. So if you’re in a quandary about what to buy for those special people on your gift list, think about their interests and find a book on a subject that they love. They’ll long remember your thoughtfulness and appreciate the thought you put into choosing a gift especially for them.
If you know any aspiring writers, young or old, why not give them a copy of Portable Writing for Christmas. Or maybe you’d want to buy a group of writing books that will help them get started on their writing adventure. They’ll always remember that you’re the one who opened the doors for them, and encouraged them to take the leap. It’s amazing what books can do.
Another idea for this holiday season is to create a book about a beloved family member, including a favorite pet for someone special. I'll tell you how to put one of these together using your computer in the November issue. It doesn't take a lot of time if you start organizing your thoughts and getting photos, notes, etc. together now.
Gift buying time approaches again
Think books, especially for the writers on your list
While we’re still getting the kids ready for Halloween and haven’t even begun to think about Thanksgiving, stores are already putting out Christmas decorations. Yes, it’s that time again, and retailers are pushing all types of useless goodies for you to buy for your friends and relatives. You know the types of gifts that are opened and then quickly forgotten? New commercials for perfumes and colognes are already on the airwaves. Okay, I admit I’m not a fan or either, but I can think of a lot of items I’d rather buy for others, too.
Books make a great gift for almost anyone on your list. Who doesn’t like to read? Okay, there are some people who are content to sit in front of the TV every day and night for hours on end, and claim to never read. Still, books are a welcome addition to most people’s lives. They entertain, and enrich lives by informing, encouraging curiosity and firing the imagination.
Mothers tend to become more difficult to buy for as they grow older. They’ve already received enough cologne to float a battleship and enough jewelry to make a serious dent in the precious metals market. Also robes, lingerie, blouses, purses, and sweaters in sizes too small or large fill their closets to overflowing.
One Christmas I decided to buy a selection of books for my mother that I knew she would enjoy, along with some comfy slippers. So I picked out several books on a variety of subjects, including fiction and nonfiction, and boxed them together with the slippers. She was thrilled! She had something to fill her hours, which would have otherwise been spent watching uninspired TV shows. She remembered that gift for years afterward, something that couldn’t be said for the fancy robe my sister and I purchased for her when we were teens, or the costume jewelry that was our favorite gift to give when we were young.
I recently sent a book that was written and autographed by an Arizona writer to my five-year-old great-niece. It was about bedtime for desert baby animals and had a photo of the author and the illustrator in the back. My niece tells me little Maddi shows that book to everyone and points out the pictures of the writer who signed it, and the artist who drew all the cute pictures of animals. It’s become her favorite bedtime story.
Books have a way of opening up the world to adults and youngsters, alike. I can remember favorite books from when I was a child. So if you’re in a quandary about what to buy for those special people on your gift list, think about their interests and find a book on a subject that they love. They’ll long remember your thoughtfulness and appreciate the thought you put into choosing a gift especially for them.
If you know any aspiring writers, young or old, why not give them a copy of Portable Writing for Christmas. Or maybe you’d want to buy a group of writing books that will help them get started on their writing adventure. They’ll always remember that you’re the one who opened the doors for them, and encouraged them to take the leap. It’s amazing what books can do.
Another idea for this holiday season is to create a book about a beloved family member, including a favorite pet for someone special. I'll tell you how to put one of these together using your computer in the November issue. It doesn't take a lot of time if you start organizing your thoughts and getting photos, notes, etc. together now.
On the road . . . Backroads of Northern Arizona
Nostalgic times in Winslow
Traveling along I-40, it’s just a short hop off the freeway to downtown Winslow, AZ, but before the Interstate was built, this was one of the top watering spots along Route 66. Those of you who are old enough probably remember the TV series about Route 66 which featured places and adventures along the road with Buzz and Todd, who traveled “The Mother Road” in a Corvette.
I never missed an episode, mainly because even back then I wanted to become acquainted with the places I could visit once I got a driver’s license and vehicle. I definitely wanted to someday get my kicks on Route 66, and amazingly, it wasn’t that many years later until I did.
You may also remember the sixties Eagles hit, “Take it Easy,” which reminisced about standing on the corner in Winslow watching a girl in a flatbed Ford driving by.
Some of the old towns along Route 66 have gotten dolled up to commemorate their former glory days, and to tempt present day tourists off the Interstate. Winslow is one of the better examples of bringing those memories to life. On one corner of the main route is a mural on the wall of a business—a painted depiction of a window reflecting back a girl in a vintage Ford driving by while a statue of a young man with a guitar stands on the corner and watches. It’s an excellent commemoration of the Eagles song and a wonderful backdrop for photo shots.
Another Winslow tradition is the former Harvey House hotel, La Posada. It is being restored to its glory days and is a beautiful 1930s example of the work of Architect Mary Colter and of the former, famous hotels which Fred Harvey built along the route in the West to serve weary travelers.
Much of the roadway of Route 66 still exists and in many places, parallels I-40. If you want to take a scenic trip on two-lanes, get off the freeway and explore towns like Winslow, Flagstaff, Williams and Kingman. Their main thoroughfares are the original Route 66.
For a trip that will bring back memories of wonderful long-ago roadtrips, whether they were along Route 66 or some other two-lane highway, you'll find much of the past still present along this fabled road. Even if you're too young to remember traveling on anything but a freeway, there's something sweet and nostalgic about these relics of the past that conjures up warm feelings of a slower time and pace. Take a trip down Route 66 for some of the same views and adventure that your parents and grandparents enjoyed when they made this trip back in the fifties with their parents.
Nostalgic times in Winslow
Traveling along I-40, it’s just a short hop off the freeway to downtown Winslow, AZ, but before the Interstate was built, this was one of the top watering spots along Route 66. Those of you who are old enough probably remember the TV series about Route 66 which featured places and adventures along the road with Buzz and Todd, who traveled “The Mother Road” in a Corvette.
I never missed an episode, mainly because even back then I wanted to become acquainted with the places I could visit once I got a driver’s license and vehicle. I definitely wanted to someday get my kicks on Route 66, and amazingly, it wasn’t that many years later until I did.
You may also remember the sixties Eagles hit, “Take it Easy,” which reminisced about standing on the corner in Winslow watching a girl in a flatbed Ford driving by.
Some of the old towns along Route 66 have gotten dolled up to commemorate their former glory days, and to tempt present day tourists off the Interstate. Winslow is one of the better examples of bringing those memories to life. On one corner of the main route is a mural on the wall of a business—a painted depiction of a window reflecting back a girl in a vintage Ford driving by while a statue of a young man with a guitar stands on the corner and watches. It’s an excellent commemoration of the Eagles song and a wonderful backdrop for photo shots.
Another Winslow tradition is the former Harvey House hotel, La Posada. It is being restored to its glory days and is a beautiful 1930s example of the work of Architect Mary Colter and of the former, famous hotels which Fred Harvey built along the route in the West to serve weary travelers.
Much of the roadway of Route 66 still exists and in many places, parallels I-40. If you want to take a scenic trip on two-lanes, get off the freeway and explore towns like Winslow, Flagstaff, Williams and Kingman. Their main thoroughfares are the original Route 66.
For a trip that will bring back memories of wonderful long-ago roadtrips, whether they were along Route 66 or some other two-lane highway, you'll find much of the past still present along this fabled road. Even if you're too young to remember traveling on anything but a freeway, there's something sweet and nostalgic about these relics of the past that conjures up warm feelings of a slower time and pace. Take a trip down Route 66 for some of the same views and adventure that your parents and grandparents enjoyed when they made this trip back in the fifties with their parents.
An editorial from Kay
The truth should always rule for writers
No matter what their race, religion, interests or political bent, everyone has an opinion about all of these issues. Race relations are fresh on my mind because returning to Arkansas has reminded me that my 50th high school reunion is coming up in a couple of years. Yikes!
Why would I be thinking about race as an issue? And how does that relate to truth in writing? Well, I was a 1958 graduate of Little Rock Central High School—you know—the one that turned into an international news story when nine black students entered a previously all-white high school for the first time. I have lots of memories of soldiers standing in the hallways holding rifles and bayonets while we students tried to concentrate on learning and enjoying the year.
The anniversary is a hot topic again, but the vast majority of the 2000 plus students who weren’t black, or who didn’t provoke fights or make stupid racist remarks to the press, are being left out of the discussion once more. It is as if our pain and fear didn’t count—or even exist—yet we all lived with daily fear fueled by the press, and bomb threats that regularly sent us scurrying from the building.
Looking back, I was planning on being a news reporter when I graduated from high school and college, but the events that year changed my mind and life. No longer did I want to be associated with a profession that didn’t report the news accurately, but instead sensationalized often fabricated stories. All nine of the black students were depicted as victims while all of the white ones were shown as scurrilous pigs rioting hurling insults at (unseen) blacks. Yes, I admit it wasn’t pretty for those black students who were marched into an all-white school that September morning. They must have been shaking in their shoes and scared beyond belief.
Most of we white students were sympathetic towards them, but most of us were also selfish teenagers who thought the world revolved around us, and all we wanted was to attend school and graduate. We didn’t want trouble, and we definitely didn’t relish the world’s attention.
The truth was we were all scared out of our wits. The day that ended my career dreams was the evening my sister and I were watching the national evening news with our mother, and suddenly we appeared on screen, and these are the exact words as I remember them: “watching rioting and violence against a negro.” What???
We were stunned! We were actually waiting for our ride under the same tree we stood under every afternoon, as were a few dozen other students. Nothing was happening except teenagers swapping news about the day’s activities. It was the stuff we did every afternoon after school.
That was the event that sent me over the edge. No longer did I admire the press, or even respect it. In fact, I also lost all respect for the adults who had created the problems in the first place—the ones who were fighting integration and making life miserable for both the black students and us. The ones who were supposed to protect us all—black and white, alike.
It took me a long time before I could pick up a pen and write again because I could no longer visualize my place in the journalism profession. It wasn’t until the mid-eighties that I suddenly realized I could work as an independent journalist, writing only for magazines and newspapers that I respected.
Sometimes situations in life force faulty decisions, but in reality, we’re all in charge of our own futures. Yes, I was young and impressionable, and I could blame the events of that year for a lot of things besides my decision to not work as a news reporter. I tended to view things negatively back then. However, I now recognize the positive effects that year had on my life—such as giving me empathy for others who are less fortunate, and fueling a determination to not be influenced by what I see and hear reported as “gospel truth.”
The established press still reeks of everything from slanting reality to downright lying to the public that trusts it. But now I know that, and I hope those of you reading this will always remember to not accept facts from TV or newspapers as truthful or complete. Instead, always go to the sources you’re writing about and ask questions until you’re satisfied that what you write is as factual as possible.
This should be your mantra whether you’re writing a piece on a tourist destination or a profile of a well-known politician or celebrity. All news is important to someone. Make sure you aren’t the one responsible for deceiving readers, no matter how unintentionally you might do it.
The words of my high school journalism teacher, Miss Middlebrook concerning reporting the news still echo in my ears: “Get it, get it right, and get it right the first time!” Wise words to remember, don’t you think?
The truth should always rule for writers
No matter what their race, religion, interests or political bent, everyone has an opinion about all of these issues. Race relations are fresh on my mind because returning to Arkansas has reminded me that my 50th high school reunion is coming up in a couple of years. Yikes!
Why would I be thinking about race as an issue? And how does that relate to truth in writing? Well, I was a 1958 graduate of Little Rock Central High School—you know—the one that turned into an international news story when nine black students entered a previously all-white high school for the first time. I have lots of memories of soldiers standing in the hallways holding rifles and bayonets while we students tried to concentrate on learning and enjoying the year.
The anniversary is a hot topic again, but the vast majority of the 2000 plus students who weren’t black, or who didn’t provoke fights or make stupid racist remarks to the press, are being left out of the discussion once more. It is as if our pain and fear didn’t count—or even exist—yet we all lived with daily fear fueled by the press, and bomb threats that regularly sent us scurrying from the building.
Looking back, I was planning on being a news reporter when I graduated from high school and college, but the events that year changed my mind and life. No longer did I want to be associated with a profession that didn’t report the news accurately, but instead sensationalized often fabricated stories. All nine of the black students were depicted as victims while all of the white ones were shown as scurrilous pigs rioting hurling insults at (unseen) blacks. Yes, I admit it wasn’t pretty for those black students who were marched into an all-white school that September morning. They must have been shaking in their shoes and scared beyond belief.
Most of we white students were sympathetic towards them, but most of us were also selfish teenagers who thought the world revolved around us, and all we wanted was to attend school and graduate. We didn’t want trouble, and we definitely didn’t relish the world’s attention.
The truth was we were all scared out of our wits. The day that ended my career dreams was the evening my sister and I were watching the national evening news with our mother, and suddenly we appeared on screen, and these are the exact words as I remember them: “watching rioting and violence against a negro.” What???
We were stunned! We were actually waiting for our ride under the same tree we stood under every afternoon, as were a few dozen other students. Nothing was happening except teenagers swapping news about the day’s activities. It was the stuff we did every afternoon after school.
That was the event that sent me over the edge. No longer did I admire the press, or even respect it. In fact, I also lost all respect for the adults who had created the problems in the first place—the ones who were fighting integration and making life miserable for both the black students and us. The ones who were supposed to protect us all—black and white, alike.
It took me a long time before I could pick up a pen and write again because I could no longer visualize my place in the journalism profession. It wasn’t until the mid-eighties that I suddenly realized I could work as an independent journalist, writing only for magazines and newspapers that I respected.
Sometimes situations in life force faulty decisions, but in reality, we’re all in charge of our own futures. Yes, I was young and impressionable, and I could blame the events of that year for a lot of things besides my decision to not work as a news reporter. I tended to view things negatively back then. However, I now recognize the positive effects that year had on my life—such as giving me empathy for others who are less fortunate, and fueling a determination to not be influenced by what I see and hear reported as “gospel truth.”
The established press still reeks of everything from slanting reality to downright lying to the public that trusts it. But now I know that, and I hope those of you reading this will always remember to not accept facts from TV or newspapers as truthful or complete. Instead, always go to the sources you’re writing about and ask questions until you’re satisfied that what you write is as factual as possible.
This should be your mantra whether you’re writing a piece on a tourist destination or a profile of a well-known politician or celebrity. All news is important to someone. Make sure you aren’t the one responsible for deceiving readers, no matter how unintentionally you might do it.
The words of my high school journalism teacher, Miss Middlebrook concerning reporting the news still echo in my ears: “Get it, get it right, and get it right the first time!” Wise words to remember, don’t you think?
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