Writer's Relief Available Online
One of the most annoying problems I’ve noticed in the past couple of years is that some writers put punctuation marks like commas and periods outside of quotation marks.
For instance, they’ll write: Mary said, “We’re going shopping as soon as I finish the laundry”.
Rules for grammar do change over time, and I've seen writers make this mistake so many times lately, I was beginning to wonder if I had missed the memo on new rules about placing punctuation marks outside the quote marks.
However, according to today’s Writer’s Relief newsflash, the most common grammar problem lies in placement of punctuation in relation to quotation marks. Here’s what they say, which by the way is exactly what we all learned in school:
The standard rule is to include periods and commas within the quotation marks.
Writer’s Relief offers monthly newsflashes that provide good, helpful information to those wanting to get published. Although it is supposedly sent monthly, I receive something from them weekly. You can sign up to receive the newsflashes at: Writer’s Relief, http://www.wrelief.com.
This month's focus is on print-on-demand publishers
This month they have a good article titled: The Ins and Outs of Self-Publishing. Although some of the terminology is odd and the information could have been more complete, I suggest that anyone who is interested in getting a book published, read this important article.
If you’re interested in getting your book published, I would also recommend checking out www.Booklocker.com to see what they offer to self-publishers. They provide a complete print-on-demand service, or writers can choose to use the services they want. For instance, if you have your own artwork or know someone who can create the bookcover design, that’s okay. Have your own editor? That’s okay, too.
Booklocker’s quality control is excellent, the prices are lower than most, and royalties are higher than other POD companies, plus the owners are very easy to work with. And they’re honest, something you don’t always find in this day and age. Writers own all rights to their work, and the contract between writer and Booklocker can be cancelled at any time if a better offer comes down the pike.
Sometimes a bestselling author on Booklocker’s list will receive a contract offer from a traditional publisher. Having had experience with a traditional, although small publisher, I’m not at all sure that I would ever accept an offer from a traditional publisher again, although to be honest, none have approached me on my two latest books because neither is a bestseller. Even if one approached me with a multi-million advance offer, no strings attached except that I produce the manuscript, I might not sign it, but frankly, since I’m not a celebrity and my books don't cover a celebrity or dish dirt on one, that’s not going to happen!
After doing all the work necessary to create a bestseller, why on earth would an author then turn it over to a traditional publisher so they can receive an 8-10 percent royalty when Booklocker pays 35 percent? True, traditional publishers have big advertising budgets and they can get placement on the shelves of major booksellers, but neither of those steps will guarantee that I’ll sell more books. My books are offered through the top bookstores, and anyone can walk in and order them and have them within 10 days. Maybe a few more books would sell if buyers saw them on display in a store, but who knows.
One troubling aspect of bookstore display can be seen at Barnes and Noble. If you’ve been in one of their stores lately, you’ve probably seen people using the store like a library. They take a book from the shelf and sit down to spend the day reading. Speed readers like me can whip through a 200-page book in a couple of hours. My question is, why would anyone pay for a book when they can read it for free?
Amazon, the major online bookstore force in the world, has my books listed on its site, but my page doesn't offer the option of browsing inside. For people who want to read a one- or two-chapter excerpt, they can do that at my page on Booklocker's site. But if they want to read the entire book, they can buy it.
If you decide to use a POD publisher to get your book published, make sure they offer your books through the biggest bookseller sites on the Internet—Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. You’ll be way ahead of the game. And make sure your book is listed in Ingram’s directory, which means it will be available to all booksellers and libraries. Then any one of them can order your book. I noticed that a library somewhere purchased several copies of my book, and can only assume they found it listed in Ingram’s catalog.
Print-on-demand publishing services are growing as more and more authors, even those with previous publishing house contracts, try their hand at self-publishing to make more money. And for newcomers, sometimes this is the only game in town except for completely striking out on their own and finding their own printer and paying upfront for printing costs, formatting their manuscript into book form, paying for the artwork, storing printed copies of their book, marketing and advertising, distributing, and all the other details of getting a book on the market.
Self-publishing has been around for years, and many top-earning authors began this way, but now it's been made a whole lot easier with P.O.D. publishers.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
GRAMMAR! G-R-R-R
Grammar! It’s what we all learned in school, but there were so many rules that it’s easy to forget some of them, especially years after we’ve graduated. And for those of us who haven’t written for a living or used written grammar in our everyday work, it becomes even harder to recall everything we learned.
For instance, what is a participle, and what, for heaven’s sake, is a dangling participle? If grammar questions like these plague you when you sit down to write, you can sign up to receive daily grammar lessons plus archive past lessons at: http://www.dailygrammar.com/archive.shtml, This is a fascinating site worth checking out even if you think you remember everything you learned.
If you do remember all the rules, let me know your secret to perfect recall. I could certainly use a little help, even though I’ve made my living at this for more than 20 years.
Grammar! It’s what we all learned in school, but there were so many rules that it’s easy to forget some of them, especially years after we’ve graduated. And for those of us who haven’t written for a living or used written grammar in our everyday work, it becomes even harder to recall everything we learned.
For instance, what is a participle, and what, for heaven’s sake, is a dangling participle? If grammar questions like these plague you when you sit down to write, you can sign up to receive daily grammar lessons plus archive past lessons at: http://www.dailygrammar.com/archive.shtml, This is a fascinating site worth checking out even if you think you remember everything you learned.
If you do remember all the rules, let me know your secret to perfect recall. I could certainly use a little help, even though I’ve made my living at this for more than 20 years.
RV Parks that deliver
A few weeks ago I wrote about one of the worst RV parks we have stayed in, and I promised to also write about the really good ones that we encounter. This past trip we had many opportunities to stay in RV parks in California, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, although some were on military installations and one was connected to the Camplex in Gillette, Wyoming. They were fine places to stay, especially the FamCamp at the Air Force Academy, but the military installations are not usually open to anyone who isn’t an active duty member of the military or retired.
After leaving the crowded parking lot-style and perfectly horrible RV park in Spokane, we next went to Anaconda, Montana. Fairmont RV Resort is a large park with widely spaced sites, making it great place to stay. Outside the park on one side were horses in a pasture; on another side, a resort. We belong to Passport America, which gives us half-price camping at many RV parks throughout the country, and that’s how we found this park several years ago. The valley where it is located is surrounded by snow-covered mountains (at least in June), the air is fresh, and the deep blue sky seems endless past the mountains.
Our next really great RV parks were located in New Mexico, just off I-25 and I-40. In Las Vegas, N.M. we decided to stay at a state park since the one commercial park was unappealing, and that’s being kind. We headed to Storey Lake State Park just a mile or so further down the road, where we found great pull-through sites with covered picnic casitas overlooking a blue lake. These get reserved early, so overnighters might have to stay in a back-in site, plus it appeared that people who didn’t even own tents could reserve the casitas and sleep in them. We were plucky enough to ask about the pull-thrus after being assigned to a back-in site, and lucky that there was one available for one night, which was all we needed. Storey Lake State Park would make a really fine destination for those wanting to spend a week or so where they can also enjoy their boat, and it’s conveniently located just outside of town.
Then there was Gallup, New Mexico, where we had been forced to stay in a dirt pullout off the freeway a few years ago because no RV parks were listed in our directory. But this time we made reservations at U.S.A. RV Park, and we were pleasantly surprised. The park looks fairly new and is clean and spacious. We had a pull-through site near the office and entertainment area, and were handed a menu for our evening meal when we checked in. The offerings mostly consisted of barbeque sandwiches and hamburgers, but they were deliciously prepared by a young man who is a culinary student, and prices were very reasonable. They also served breakfast, but we passed on that. I’m sure it was also wonderful. Hey, I love a place where good food can be had within walking (or waddling) distance.
Neither of the parks in New Mexico were Passport America or otherwise discounted parks. Apparently, few parks in New Mexico feel it necessary to offer discounts, but for a few that offer an Escapees membership discount, which is usually 10-15 percent.
I shouldn’t forget the RV parks we stayed in on our way through California, Oregon and Washington. We went a few miles out of our way on the first night on the road, and because of a low tire that had to be changed (by emergency road service), it got dark before we arrived at Twin Lakes RV Park in Newberry Springs, CA. The park was down a narrow road off I-40 (also, access off I-15), and after first missing it, we managed to get the RV (after taking the car off the dolly) turned around and headed back. Inside were dirt roads and it was impossible to tell what condition the park was in, but we felt sure it was safe. Were we ever surprised when we woke up the next morning to find a small lake outside our window with ducks placidly floating back and forth? The park was a little rundown, but that mattered little after we spent some time watching the ducks with our very happy and excited cat. This was also one of the Passport America parks, so the price was way less than we would have paid anywhere else, and that made it worth the few extra miles.
We also stayed at Mountain Gate RV Park north of Redding and just off I-5. We had stayed there before, so knew it would be beautiful—especially in the spring. This is where our right front wheel on the car slipped over the front of the car dolly as we headed downhill and made a sharp turn. No problem for the hosts there. They hauled out two hydraulic jacks, and with the aid of our pitiful car jack, the car was soon back where it belonged and we had no further problems.
Our next stop was in Sutherlin, Oregon, where we usually stay at the Escapees park, which is absolutely beautiful. This time, since we were only stopping overnight, we turned left off I-5 and drove about one-half mile to the Hi-Way Haven RV Park. We had stayed there overnight before, so knew that it was neat and clean, and just an overall nice park. We also knew about the outdoor movie screen, which had been left in place after it was turned into an RV park. What we didn’t know was that on weekend nights when the weather is nice, you can sit right in your RV and watch the feature movie that the park runs. We were there on the wrong night, but had there been a movie, we were parked directly below the screen and would have had front-row seats. So if you’re pining to watch a movie at an old-fashioned drive-in theater and you also need a pull-through RV site for one night, this is a great place to stay.
I’m pretty sure we spent one or two other nights on the road, but apparently the places we stayed were forgettable. We ended up in Tacoma, Washington at one of our favorite places to stay since it is lakefront and only one-half mile down the shore from where we used to live. It is also located on a military installation, so isn’t open to the general public. Three military installations operate FamCamps in this one area just south of Tacoma, luckily for us—because there are no other RV parks in the immediate area—and that’s exactly where we needed to be.
If you are eligible to stay in military parks, contact me for more information on military FamCamps or you can purchase a directory to all FamCamps across the country at base exchanges. The parks are not necessarily inexpensive, but sometimes they’re the only game in town. And sometimes they offer great views overlooking water or are located in pristine wooded areas.
If you’re interested in Passport America’s discounted program, their Website is at: www.passportamerica.com. Our first three nights on the road back in 2003 saved us the membership price. It’s so worth the cost!
A few weeks ago I wrote about one of the worst RV parks we have stayed in, and I promised to also write about the really good ones that we encounter. This past trip we had many opportunities to stay in RV parks in California, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, although some were on military installations and one was connected to the Camplex in Gillette, Wyoming. They were fine places to stay, especially the FamCamp at the Air Force Academy, but the military installations are not usually open to anyone who isn’t an active duty member of the military or retired.
After leaving the crowded parking lot-style and perfectly horrible RV park in Spokane, we next went to Anaconda, Montana. Fairmont RV Resort is a large park with widely spaced sites, making it great place to stay. Outside the park on one side were horses in a pasture; on another side, a resort. We belong to Passport America, which gives us half-price camping at many RV parks throughout the country, and that’s how we found this park several years ago. The valley where it is located is surrounded by snow-covered mountains (at least in June), the air is fresh, and the deep blue sky seems endless past the mountains.
Our next really great RV parks were located in New Mexico, just off I-25 and I-40. In Las Vegas, N.M. we decided to stay at a state park since the one commercial park was unappealing, and that’s being kind. We headed to Storey Lake State Park just a mile or so further down the road, where we found great pull-through sites with covered picnic casitas overlooking a blue lake. These get reserved early, so overnighters might have to stay in a back-in site, plus it appeared that people who didn’t even own tents could reserve the casitas and sleep in them. We were plucky enough to ask about the pull-thrus after being assigned to a back-in site, and lucky that there was one available for one night, which was all we needed. Storey Lake State Park would make a really fine destination for those wanting to spend a week or so where they can also enjoy their boat, and it’s conveniently located just outside of town.
Then there was Gallup, New Mexico, where we had been forced to stay in a dirt pullout off the freeway a few years ago because no RV parks were listed in our directory. But this time we made reservations at U.S.A. RV Park, and we were pleasantly surprised. The park looks fairly new and is clean and spacious. We had a pull-through site near the office and entertainment area, and were handed a menu for our evening meal when we checked in. The offerings mostly consisted of barbeque sandwiches and hamburgers, but they were deliciously prepared by a young man who is a culinary student, and prices were very reasonable. They also served breakfast, but we passed on that. I’m sure it was also wonderful. Hey, I love a place where good food can be had within walking (or waddling) distance.
Neither of the parks in New Mexico were Passport America or otherwise discounted parks. Apparently, few parks in New Mexico feel it necessary to offer discounts, but for a few that offer an Escapees membership discount, which is usually 10-15 percent.
I shouldn’t forget the RV parks we stayed in on our way through California, Oregon and Washington. We went a few miles out of our way on the first night on the road, and because of a low tire that had to be changed (by emergency road service), it got dark before we arrived at Twin Lakes RV Park in Newberry Springs, CA. The park was down a narrow road off I-40 (also, access off I-15), and after first missing it, we managed to get the RV (after taking the car off the dolly) turned around and headed back. Inside were dirt roads and it was impossible to tell what condition the park was in, but we felt sure it was safe. Were we ever surprised when we woke up the next morning to find a small lake outside our window with ducks placidly floating back and forth? The park was a little rundown, but that mattered little after we spent some time watching the ducks with our very happy and excited cat. This was also one of the Passport America parks, so the price was way less than we would have paid anywhere else, and that made it worth the few extra miles.
We also stayed at Mountain Gate RV Park north of Redding and just off I-5. We had stayed there before, so knew it would be beautiful—especially in the spring. This is where our right front wheel on the car slipped over the front of the car dolly as we headed downhill and made a sharp turn. No problem for the hosts there. They hauled out two hydraulic jacks, and with the aid of our pitiful car jack, the car was soon back where it belonged and we had no further problems.
Our next stop was in Sutherlin, Oregon, where we usually stay at the Escapees park, which is absolutely beautiful. This time, since we were only stopping overnight, we turned left off I-5 and drove about one-half mile to the Hi-Way Haven RV Park. We had stayed there overnight before, so knew that it was neat and clean, and just an overall nice park. We also knew about the outdoor movie screen, which had been left in place after it was turned into an RV park. What we didn’t know was that on weekend nights when the weather is nice, you can sit right in your RV and watch the feature movie that the park runs. We were there on the wrong night, but had there been a movie, we were parked directly below the screen and would have had front-row seats. So if you’re pining to watch a movie at an old-fashioned drive-in theater and you also need a pull-through RV site for one night, this is a great place to stay.
I’m pretty sure we spent one or two other nights on the road, but apparently the places we stayed were forgettable. We ended up in Tacoma, Washington at one of our favorite places to stay since it is lakefront and only one-half mile down the shore from where we used to live. It is also located on a military installation, so isn’t open to the general public. Three military installations operate FamCamps in this one area just south of Tacoma, luckily for us—because there are no other RV parks in the immediate area—and that’s exactly where we needed to be.
If you are eligible to stay in military parks, contact me for more information on military FamCamps or you can purchase a directory to all FamCamps across the country at base exchanges. The parks are not necessarily inexpensive, but sometimes they’re the only game in town. And sometimes they offer great views overlooking water or are located in pristine wooded areas.
If you’re interested in Passport America’s discounted program, their Website is at: www.passportamerica.com. Our first three nights on the road back in 2003 saved us the membership price. It’s so worth the cost!
Monday, August 04, 2008
Help Organizations Honor Their History
Based on chapter from the book, Portable Writing by Kay Kennedy
If you have a case of the summer doldrums, there is something you can do right now that will earn enough money for next summer’s RV or plane trip. Usually when any business, civic or business organization, school, church, college fraternity or sorority, or local government gets ready to celebrate a major anniversary, such as the 25th, 50th, 100th, or higher, they want a history of their organization compiled to mark the occasion. And they’re going to need a writer to pull the facts together.
One way to find out about upcoming celebrations is to talk to people who belong to those organizations. Ask them when it was founded, and if a big anniversary is coming up, get the name of a contact person and find out if they have made plans for a written history book to honor their past.
Another way is to go to the library and look up the history of your region. Try old newspapers from way back. Look for nearby townships, churches, businesses, organizations, etc. that were founded about 23-24, 48-49 or 98-99 years ago, then check current telephone books to see if they are still operating. Next, try to find out the name of a contact person, or call the organization and ask for the name of someone who might be in charge of planning an anniversary celebration.
Still another way is to watch the daily newspaper, either the society pages (if your newspaper still carries them) or the business section, for any news about upcoming plans for an official observance or reunion to celebrate a landmark anniversary.
And quite possibly, you belong to a group that has a big anniversary coming up. It could be anything from a local preservation group for a museum, church, school, library, scenic railroad, or fairgrounds to the local chapter of the Elks Club. Think of all the groups you belong to and ask your friends and family about organizations they belong to. Somewhere among your acquaintances and the newspapers you research, you will surely locate one group that has an upcoming anniversary.
Once you have a contact person at such an organization, call them and ask if their organization has discussed having a history of their group compiled into a commemorative book. If they say no, or they haven’t heard of anything, ask if there is someone you can contact who might know, or who might be in charge of collecting and maintaining historical documents. The person most likely to know about such things would be the head of the organization, but it could be someone in charge of volunteer activities or even a secretary who has been put in charge of keeping historical files.
Pitch your idea to the person in charge on the telephone and offer to write a letter outlining your ideas. That way, they will have something in writing and can also see that you have the writing skills necessary to undertake the job. If you’ve ever put together any book or any kind, offer to make an appointment to show your examples and to discuss the project further. And you’ll discuss what type of book they would like to see: whether it will be a large, souvenir hardcover book or a smaller, paperback copy, or even a pamphlet, and whether photos will be included, and then if there will be any color photos.
When you find a group that wants to have a book compiled, present them with a contract (a copy of one can be found in my book, Portable Writing). Get at least a 1/3 deposit on the total amount up front, with another 1/3 due when manuscript is completed, then the final 1/3 due when the book goes to the printer.
You’ll want to have access to their records and any historical photos. You will also probably want to interview people still living who had a part in the founding and former employees familiar with the history and operation of the organization. If founding members are still alive, interview them to learn their original ideas and plans for their organization, and how they view its growth.
You will need to wade through founding papers, board meeting minutes, marketing materials and articles that might have appeared in local newspapers or magazines over the years. Document how the company or organization has grown.
Then put the story together, and get approval from the person in charge at several points along the way to make sure you are on track with their concept. Also show them the final proof, and have them proofread and approve it with their signature affixed before you proceed any further.
This type of project might take a year or a month to complete, depending on the size of the organization and the type of final presentation wanted, but it is possible to work on two or three of these projects at one time, especially if one or two are small pamphlets and booklets and one is a large-scale book. And remember, every one of the projects you complete, including the small pamphlets, can lead to bigger, more profitable projects in the future.
Based on chapter from the book, Portable Writing by Kay Kennedy
If you have a case of the summer doldrums, there is something you can do right now that will earn enough money for next summer’s RV or plane trip. Usually when any business, civic or business organization, school, church, college fraternity or sorority, or local government gets ready to celebrate a major anniversary, such as the 25th, 50th, 100th, or higher, they want a history of their organization compiled to mark the occasion. And they’re going to need a writer to pull the facts together.
One way to find out about upcoming celebrations is to talk to people who belong to those organizations. Ask them when it was founded, and if a big anniversary is coming up, get the name of a contact person and find out if they have made plans for a written history book to honor their past.
Another way is to go to the library and look up the history of your region. Try old newspapers from way back. Look for nearby townships, churches, businesses, organizations, etc. that were founded about 23-24, 48-49 or 98-99 years ago, then check current telephone books to see if they are still operating. Next, try to find out the name of a contact person, or call the organization and ask for the name of someone who might be in charge of planning an anniversary celebration.
Still another way is to watch the daily newspaper, either the society pages (if your newspaper still carries them) or the business section, for any news about upcoming plans for an official observance or reunion to celebrate a landmark anniversary.
And quite possibly, you belong to a group that has a big anniversary coming up. It could be anything from a local preservation group for a museum, church, school, library, scenic railroad, or fairgrounds to the local chapter of the Elks Club. Think of all the groups you belong to and ask your friends and family about organizations they belong to. Somewhere among your acquaintances and the newspapers you research, you will surely locate one group that has an upcoming anniversary.
Once you have a contact person at such an organization, call them and ask if their organization has discussed having a history of their group compiled into a commemorative book. If they say no, or they haven’t heard of anything, ask if there is someone you can contact who might know, or who might be in charge of collecting and maintaining historical documents. The person most likely to know about such things would be the head of the organization, but it could be someone in charge of volunteer activities or even a secretary who has been put in charge of keeping historical files.
Pitch your idea to the person in charge on the telephone and offer to write a letter outlining your ideas. That way, they will have something in writing and can also see that you have the writing skills necessary to undertake the job. If you’ve ever put together any book or any kind, offer to make an appointment to show your examples and to discuss the project further. And you’ll discuss what type of book they would like to see: whether it will be a large, souvenir hardcover book or a smaller, paperback copy, or even a pamphlet, and whether photos will be included, and then if there will be any color photos.
When you find a group that wants to have a book compiled, present them with a contract (a copy of one can be found in my book, Portable Writing). Get at least a 1/3 deposit on the total amount up front, with another 1/3 due when manuscript is completed, then the final 1/3 due when the book goes to the printer.
You’ll want to have access to their records and any historical photos. You will also probably want to interview people still living who had a part in the founding and former employees familiar with the history and operation of the organization. If founding members are still alive, interview them to learn their original ideas and plans for their organization, and how they view its growth.
You will need to wade through founding papers, board meeting minutes, marketing materials and articles that might have appeared in local newspapers or magazines over the years. Document how the company or organization has grown.
Then put the story together, and get approval from the person in charge at several points along the way to make sure you are on track with their concept. Also show them the final proof, and have them proofread and approve it with their signature affixed before you proceed any further.
This type of project might take a year or a month to complete, depending on the size of the organization and the type of final presentation wanted, but it is possible to work on two or three of these projects at one time, especially if one or two are small pamphlets and booklets and one is a large-scale book. And remember, every one of the projects you complete, including the small pamphlets, can lead to bigger, more profitable projects in the future.
Wanna’ Write? Check Out This Article on Taking a Chance
I want to direct you to a July 30 article titled: “Take a Chance,” by Doreen Rosevald in WritersWeekly, http://writersweekly.com/success_stories/004834_07302008.html, to find out what she has learned that might be useful to other writers. She was a farmer’s wife with two babies who dared to take a chance and ended up with her own newspaper column, and much more. Her experience was much like mine when I approached a newspaper publisher at a networking meeting and was offered a regular column plus getting feature articles on a variety of business topics published.
Getting into writing is really that easy! And if you don’t succeed the first time, or it doesn’t work out as you expected, try again. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. What’s the worst that can happen? The word "No"? We’ve all heard that word before, some of us over and over again, so what’s another "No" if you desperately want to write and be published? Just another tiny speed bump on the parking lot of a typical writer’s life.
On the other hand, take a chance and you might just find that there really is a paying outlet for your writing. Shucks, you could very easily become rich and famous.
I want to direct you to a July 30 article titled: “Take a Chance,” by Doreen Rosevald in WritersWeekly, http://writersweekly.com/success_stories/004834_07302008.html, to find out what she has learned that might be useful to other writers. She was a farmer’s wife with two babies who dared to take a chance and ended up with her own newspaper column, and much more. Her experience was much like mine when I approached a newspaper publisher at a networking meeting and was offered a regular column plus getting feature articles on a variety of business topics published.
Getting into writing is really that easy! And if you don’t succeed the first time, or it doesn’t work out as you expected, try again. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. What’s the worst that can happen? The word "No"? We’ve all heard that word before, some of us over and over again, so what’s another "No" if you desperately want to write and be published? Just another tiny speed bump on the parking lot of a typical writer’s life.
On the other hand, take a chance and you might just find that there really is a paying outlet for your writing. Shucks, you could very easily become rich and famous.
Gas too high? Find vacation treasures near home
The summer doldrums have ambushed me! We’ve had hot weather here, but not that hot, and the summer monsoons are back, which means we get some really nice afternoons and evenings to get outside and walk around the park, enjoying the fresh scent of rain. Best of all, many nights we can sleep without air conditioning. As a result, I’ve been too busy enjoying nature to remember the other important things in my life like writing.
August is one of the most popular months for families to go on vacation as summer activities start to wind down. In the South where I was born, it is hot and muggy and everyone hides from the heat inside their air conditioned homes or at a favorite lakeside beach. In New England, where we have family and where we spent a summer in the mid-nineties, everyone seems to own a lakeside retreat or rent a camping spot for the summer where they spend all of their free time enjoying the woods, lakes, or ocean beaches. In Washington, where we spent so many years, it might be cool and wet, but usually it is warm and sunny throughout the month of August, so everyone takes part in activities like hiking, boating and going to the beach—activities that many avoid during the many months of overcast skies and rain.
In California, where we spent a lot of years, activities tend to revolve around the kids’ schedules. If they’re out of school, it’s a great time to drive up to the mountains, which are only a few hours drive from most urban centers in the state. The same for the beaches, which are within reach of most people living in California. Now the metro-link trains in Southern California can whisk families living inland to the beaches cheaply and quickly. Then there’s Hawaii, where we lived for three years when we were young and where America goes to enjoy the beaches and a somewhat foreign culture within our own United States.
We have been lucky enough to have lived in some of the greatest places in the States, and to have traveled to most of the others since we started RVing. And one thing we’ve discovered everywhere we went, with the exception of the lower deserts in the Southwest, is that summer is the time to throw aside the daily grind of life and get outdoors. Even people who are used to the heat in places like Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma get out and garden, take a bike ride, or hike in the early morning hours before the day heats up. And luckily most of them have sky islands nearby where they can escape to and enjoy the cooling winds and rains of the monsoons.
This summer, gas prices are keeping many people from traveling great distances, but there are lots of wonderful places in this great country that have nearby tourist attractions or beaches or mountains that don’t require a lot of gas to get to. I hope you are all enjoying the relaxing activities that summer offers in your area.
No matter what your plans for this last great summer month, travel safely.
The summer doldrums have ambushed me! We’ve had hot weather here, but not that hot, and the summer monsoons are back, which means we get some really nice afternoons and evenings to get outside and walk around the park, enjoying the fresh scent of rain. Best of all, many nights we can sleep without air conditioning. As a result, I’ve been too busy enjoying nature to remember the other important things in my life like writing.
August is one of the most popular months for families to go on vacation as summer activities start to wind down. In the South where I was born, it is hot and muggy and everyone hides from the heat inside their air conditioned homes or at a favorite lakeside beach. In New England, where we have family and where we spent a summer in the mid-nineties, everyone seems to own a lakeside retreat or rent a camping spot for the summer where they spend all of their free time enjoying the woods, lakes, or ocean beaches. In Washington, where we spent so many years, it might be cool and wet, but usually it is warm and sunny throughout the month of August, so everyone takes part in activities like hiking, boating and going to the beach—activities that many avoid during the many months of overcast skies and rain.
In California, where we spent a lot of years, activities tend to revolve around the kids’ schedules. If they’re out of school, it’s a great time to drive up to the mountains, which are only a few hours drive from most urban centers in the state. The same for the beaches, which are within reach of most people living in California. Now the metro-link trains in Southern California can whisk families living inland to the beaches cheaply and quickly. Then there’s Hawaii, where we lived for three years when we were young and where America goes to enjoy the beaches and a somewhat foreign culture within our own United States.
We have been lucky enough to have lived in some of the greatest places in the States, and to have traveled to most of the others since we started RVing. And one thing we’ve discovered everywhere we went, with the exception of the lower deserts in the Southwest, is that summer is the time to throw aside the daily grind of life and get outdoors. Even people who are used to the heat in places like Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma get out and garden, take a bike ride, or hike in the early morning hours before the day heats up. And luckily most of them have sky islands nearby where they can escape to and enjoy the cooling winds and rains of the monsoons.
This summer, gas prices are keeping many people from traveling great distances, but there are lots of wonderful places in this great country that have nearby tourist attractions or beaches or mountains that don’t require a lot of gas to get to. I hope you are all enjoying the relaxing activities that summer offers in your area.
No matter what your plans for this last great summer month, travel safely.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
