Tag Archives: words

UPDATE: More on the Weirdness of the English Language

Posted on September 30, 2012 by

My post the other day on more oddities of English brought something to my email box that never fails to delight me: a note from a fan. He asked that when I reposted his email here I say it came … Continue reading →

Posted in blogginh, books, English Language, spelling, words, writers, writing | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

More on the Weirdness of the English Language

Posted on September 28, 2012 by

Vernaculata, Goddess of the Vernacular of the Peasantry, is at it again, keeping me awake at night pondering the weirdness of the English language. And it is weird; weird enough to make the savviest of editors (that would be me) … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, English Language, Uncategorized, words, writers, writing | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Vernaculata and Pluralto

Posted on August 31, 2012 by

My husband and I were driving along the road that follows our arroyo, then goes up farther into the hills before dropping in a mind-boggling series of switchbacks into the valley on the other side of the hills. In other … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, nature photography, Uncategorized, words, writers, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

On Spelling Bees and Ingluvies

Posted on June 8, 2012 by

I’ve always loved spelling bees. I loved when my 4th grade school teacher would announce we were having a bee, because I usually won them, and I always got to pick a book as a prize. And while I made … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, contests, spelling, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The Old Amish Rug

Posted on June 1, 2012 by

Six or seven years ago, I visited my friend Susan at her home in the picturesque Organic Valley region of Wisconsin. One of the things we did during my time there was visit an Amish family whose 15-year-old daughter wove … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, inspiration, loss of a pet, reading, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Measuring Rain–in Worms

Posted on April 18, 2012 by

I’m home from my trip to the Midwest, where I spent almost a week visiting family and friends, and celebrating my mom’s 90th birthday. While it was good visiting everyone, a large part of me ached for California, for Scott … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, environmental writing, memoir, nature photography, nature writing, photography, reading, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Black Friday Blog Hop: Giving Thanks

Posted on November 25, 2011 by

As a writer, I feel I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend. Too many things to recount here, really, so I am going to content myself with sharing my top five things I am grateful for, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, eBooks, novel writing, Uncategorized, writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

Are You Ready for NaNoWriMo?

Posted on October 25, 2011 by

NaNoWriMo is a week away, and judging from the chatter on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media venues, a lot of you are looking forward with eager anticipation to getting started on your Great American Novel. Congratulations to all of … Continue reading →

Posted in books, how to write, novel writing, writing, writing coach | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Ask the Editor: Try and; Might Could

Posted on September 30, 2011 by

Question: I’ve always been puzzled by people who say or write, “Try and do something.” Shouldn’t it be “Try to do something?” I think “try and” implies if you try something, it will definitely be done.  —Marilyn M. — I … Continue reading →

Posted in books, editor, how to write, novel writing, writers, writing, writing coach | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Farewell to Borders

Posted on September 17, 2011 by

Borders is closing its doors this weekend; they will wrap their final gift, close out the registers for the last time; the last customers will walk out the door clutching whatever treasures they may have found. The managers will turn … Continue reading →

Posted in books, bookstores, memoir | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments