FREE BOOK REVIEWS
They say, the mythical they, book reviews are the best way to promote a book, especially a self published or POD book. I can't state that for a fact, because all my endeavors to promote book sales have produced nothing, or so near nothing as to be doubtful. I thought having a few five star book reviews would do the trick, now someone says it takes a minimum of ten. I'd have to mortgage my house to do that. I understand that you can sell anything if you do enough advertising or pay someone a small war pension to do your promoting for you. I have a pension, but I need it to live on. Anyway, what I want to tell you is, there's a site out there in la la land that has come up with a list of reviewers who will review your book for FREE. It has been my experience that anything free isn't worth the paper it's written on. But then, I'm the original pessimist. However, this isn't completely free. You have to send them one of your books by mail, which is a pretty hefty expense for an old man living on a war pension but it sounds like a reasonable expense for this old skinflint. If I can't sell them, I might as well give them away. Anyway, check out this site, http://www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net/free-book-reviews.html it won't cost you anything to look. I've heard that one before, too.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
More adventures of a dyslexic writer
More adventures of a dyslexic writer
Sacred, scared, scarred, does everyone know what these words mean without looking them up? The are words a spell checker wouldn't catch. This dyslexic knows them too, when reading, by the context that is, and if the author used the correct word. A scared bear, standing alone, could mean it was a holly bear, a frightened bare, or a bier with a healed cut. After spending a half hour yesterday studying these words, and then going through my entire novel checking the occurrence of each one, I just now had to refer to the little list I made up. But then, I understand normal people have problems with these words too. What's a dyslexic writer to do?
Sacred, scared, scarred, does everyone know what these words mean without looking them up? The are words a spell checker wouldn't catch. This dyslexic knows them too, when reading, by the context that is, and if the author used the correct word. A scared bear, standing alone, could mean it was a holly bear, a frightened bare, or a bier with a healed cut. After spending a half hour yesterday studying these words, and then going through my entire novel checking the occurrence of each one, I just now had to refer to the little list I made up. But then, I understand normal people have problems with these words too. What's a dyslexic writer to do?
Thursday, September 17, 2009
SELF PUBLISHING
Is self publishing worth it.
I read everything I can on self publishing as long as it doesn't cost anything.
I just finished reading an add promoting a book on how to self publish. It took me forty-five minutes to read, an investment in time I seldom allow myself, especially when it sounds like one of those paid-for commercial shows on TV. They were selling a 140-page booklet for $40.00; of course good until midnight tonight at a one-time special discount price along with all the free extras, with an iron clad money-back guarantee if not completely satisfied. They even had a PS with another urgent chance to buy, and a PPS and a PPPS. I almost busted a gut. First, I've learned long ago to mistrust such hyper driven adds, I indulged myself this time hoping I might find a piece of candy somewhere amongst the hype. I didn't.
My point is, it seems to me the only people making money in self-publishing are the ones selling services etc, at an outrageous price I might add, to the self-publishers or building a mailing list to promote their own product. Everyone and their granny have something to offer with a guarantee of success if you buy their services or product before midnight.
I joined one site that boasted of several million hits a month, guaranteed to increase traffic to your web page. I jumped right on it. That was two months ago. The only traffic my two web pages and blog had was my increased checking to see if I had any traffic. That got me to thinking. That website that got millions of hits a month also had a million and a half members, mostly writers. They too, were checking their site numerous times a week or a month.There's no magic formula out there to make you an instant best seller. I don't think our chances of being a best seller are any different than going the traditional route. Best sellers came about by timing and the coming together of the right people. Or, if you're famous, or someone who has a large following or are a radio or television personality. Of course, your writing has a lot to do with it. I think? Having a great editor can also do wonders to most manuscripts. How many great writers are also great editors? Even Steven King has his books edited, but then he can afford it. Being published is not the ultimate.
I read everything I can on self publishing as long as it doesn't cost anything.
I just finished reading an add promoting a book on how to self publish. It took me forty-five minutes to read, an investment in time I seldom allow myself, especially when it sounds like one of those paid-for commercial shows on TV. They were selling a 140-page booklet for $40.00; of course good until midnight tonight at a one-time special discount price along with all the free extras, with an iron clad money-back guarantee if not completely satisfied. They even had a PS with another urgent chance to buy, and a PPS and a PPPS. I almost busted a gut. First, I've learned long ago to mistrust such hyper driven adds, I indulged myself this time hoping I might find a piece of candy somewhere amongst the hype. I didn't.
My point is, it seems to me the only people making money in self-publishing are the ones selling services etc, at an outrageous price I might add, to the self-publishers or building a mailing list to promote their own product. Everyone and their granny have something to offer with a guarantee of success if you buy their services or product before midnight.
I joined one site that boasted of several million hits a month, guaranteed to increase traffic to your web page. I jumped right on it. That was two months ago. The only traffic my two web pages and blog had was my increased checking to see if I had any traffic. That got me to thinking. That website that got millions of hits a month also had a million and a half members, mostly writers. They too, were checking their site numerous times a week or a month.There's no magic formula out there to make you an instant best seller. I don't think our chances of being a best seller are any different than going the traditional route. Best sellers came about by timing and the coming together of the right people. Or, if you're famous, or someone who has a large following or are a radio or television personality. Of course, your writing has a lot to do with it. I think? Having a great editor can also do wonders to most manuscripts. How many great writers are also great editors? Even Steven King has his books edited, but then he can afford it. Being published is not the ultimate.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Articles on writing and dyslexia
Articles on dyslexia and writing
Check out this site, I came across it this morning on my daily adventures through La La Land. It's a free article dictionary site where you can submit or take out articles on just about any subject. As an example, I looked up writing and there are over 2300 articles on writing listed.
This is the main site, http://www.isnare.com/ ,
This takes you directly to articles on dyslexia, http://www.isnare.com/?aid=355662&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet ,
Tags, dyslexia, teaching dyslexic children, free articles, article dictionary, writing articles
Check out this site, I came across it this morning on my daily adventures through La La Land. It's a free article dictionary site where you can submit or take out articles on just about any subject. As an example, I looked up writing and there are over 2300 articles on writing listed.
This is the main site, http://www.isnare.com/ ,
This takes you directly to articles on dyslexia, http://www.isnare.com/?aid=355662&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet ,
Tags, dyslexia, teaching dyslexic children, free articles, article dictionary, writing articles
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Frustration
A dyslexic's frustration.
Frustration, a word I could not spell until recently. I guess it finally reached that magical number of times it takes beating it into my brain until it finally registers as another word conquered. (I just spent another frustrating eight minutes trying to spell conquer without a Q, such is the life of a dyslexic; write down, check spelling, choose word I think is the one I'm looking for, look up, wrong word, try another. Around the merry-go-round we go until I happen upon the word I want. I recognize it right off but must look up its definition to be sure). That is Frustration.
Sorry for the distraction, but it is a perfect example of why I chose frustration for the subject of this blog. Pick a random article on dyslexia and nine times out of ten, you will find frustration mentioned. It consumes a huge part of a dyslexic's life. Not that everyone doesn't experience frustration.
Frustration and all of its synonyms from annoyance to exasperation and from aggravation to pain, yes, look it up, pain is a synonym for frustration, and believe me, frustration can be painful. The older I get the more frustrated I become. You would think that after seventy years, your brain would absorb more than it does. Being that we only use ten percent of it. For crying out loud, what is the other ninety percent doing. I tell you, it's frustrating.
Frustration, a word I could not spell until recently. I guess it finally reached that magical number of times it takes beating it into my brain until it finally registers as another word conquered. (I just spent another frustrating eight minutes trying to spell conquer without a Q, such is the life of a dyslexic; write down, check spelling, choose word I think is the one I'm looking for, look up, wrong word, try another. Around the merry-go-round we go until I happen upon the word I want. I recognize it right off but must look up its definition to be sure). That is Frustration.
Sorry for the distraction, but it is a perfect example of why I chose frustration for the subject of this blog. Pick a random article on dyslexia and nine times out of ten, you will find frustration mentioned. It consumes a huge part of a dyslexic's life. Not that everyone doesn't experience frustration.
Frustration and all of its synonyms from annoyance to exasperation and from aggravation to pain, yes, look it up, pain is a synonym for frustration, and believe me, frustration can be painful. The older I get the more frustrated I become. You would think that after seventy years, your brain would absorb more than it does. Being that we only use ten percent of it. For crying out loud, what is the other ninety percent doing. I tell you, it's frustrating.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Dyslexia, definition
Dyslexia Defined
This is the clearest definition of dyslexia I've ever come across. If you are interested in reading the whole article go here, http://www.ihealthdirectory.com/dyslexia/
Excerpt from ihealthdirectiry
Dyslexia’s definition according to the National Institute of Health is that dyslexia is a learning disability which causes a child to have problems in their ability to read, write and spell according to their intellectual abilities. It is one of the most common learning disorders that affects children today and it stays with someone their whole life. Dyslexia can range from mild to severe. Treatment for dyslexia can be very successful if found and treated early in the child’s life.
Children who have dyslexia have problems with reading, writing and spelling due to the fact that their brain cannot translate information properly. The brain is unable to properly translate the images that it either sees or hears into something that is understandable for the child. However, children who have dyslexia have average intelligence. Mental retardation or brain damage are not related to this problem.
This is the clearest definition of dyslexia I've ever come across. If you are interested in reading the whole article go here, http://www.ihealthdirectory.com/dyslexia/
Excerpt from ihealthdirectiry
Dyslexia’s definition according to the National Institute of Health is that dyslexia is a learning disability which causes a child to have problems in their ability to read, write and spell according to their intellectual abilities. It is one of the most common learning disorders that affects children today and it stays with someone their whole life. Dyslexia can range from mild to severe. Treatment for dyslexia can be very successful if found and treated early in the child’s life.
Children who have dyslexia have problems with reading, writing and spelling due to the fact that their brain cannot translate information properly. The brain is unable to properly translate the images that it either sees or hears into something that is understandable for the child. However, children who have dyslexia have average intelligence. Mental retardation or brain damage are not related to this problem.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The power of deduction
The power of deduction
Don't you just hate it when you come across an unknown word and when you look it up, you come away more confused than ever. Or you look up a word that is defined using a dozen other words that are more foreign than the first.
Case in point, this morning I came across sextile. I was excited because it sounded juicy and it was part of my Horoscope. Here is what I found. It starts out with the relationship between two planets, sounds kind of quirky to me but Venus, the Love Goddess, was one of them. And it ends up talking about energetic and enthusiastic natives making advances. More interesting. My intuition was right, it did have something to do with sex, sextile is the product of a successful union. Who said this dyslexic was dumb?
Sextile, from Wikipedia
In astrology a sextile is an astrological aspect that is made when two planets or other celestial bodies are 60 degrees apart. A sextile is considered to be highly benefic, being the sixth harmonic (360 / 6 = 60) of the 360 degree zodiac. Because the sextile is the sixth harmonic of the circle, it takes on many of the qualities of the planet Venus, therefore bringing many opportunities to the native.
It is similar to a trine in that it can bring out or accentuate the good characteristics in a suitable subject, although their influence is not quite as strong as a trine. It is one of the moderately powerful aspects.
An example of an aspect would be the Sun in 10 degrees Aquarius forming a sextile to Mars in 10 degrees Aries. In such an instance the native might have a great deal of energy and enthusiasm that he could use to make friends and advance himself.
Don't you just hate it when you come across an unknown word and when you look it up, you come away more confused than ever. Or you look up a word that is defined using a dozen other words that are more foreign than the first.
Case in point, this morning I came across sextile. I was excited because it sounded juicy and it was part of my Horoscope. Here is what I found. It starts out with the relationship between two planets, sounds kind of quirky to me but Venus, the Love Goddess, was one of them. And it ends up talking about energetic and enthusiastic natives making advances. More interesting. My intuition was right, it did have something to do with sex, sextile is the product of a successful union. Who said this dyslexic was dumb?
Sextile, from Wikipedia
In astrology a sextile is an astrological aspect that is made when two planets or other celestial bodies are 60 degrees apart. A sextile is considered to be highly benefic, being the sixth harmonic (360 / 6 = 60) of the 360 degree zodiac. Because the sextile is the sixth harmonic of the circle, it takes on many of the qualities of the planet Venus, therefore bringing many opportunities to the native.
It is similar to a trine in that it can bring out or accentuate the good characteristics in a suitable subject, although their influence is not quite as strong as a trine. It is one of the moderately powerful aspects.
An example of an aspect would be the Sun in 10 degrees Aquarius forming a sextile to Mars in 10 degrees Aries. In such an instance the native might have a great deal of energy and enthusiasm that he could use to make friends and advance himself.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Communicating With Words
Communicating With Words
I woke up this morning thinking about words and writing. That's not so unusual, I am a dyslexic and I am a writer, even though I haven't done much of it lately, writing that is, so thinking about writing is pretty much what I do 99.9% of the time. Thinking about words, I do 100% of the time. Writing is a form of communication, a way of getting others to understand you. So what's the big deal on how we do it. And, what is a misplaced modifier, does it make any difference? We laugh at them sometimes because they are funny, but still, we understand what the writer meant. So what the hey or h--- is the big deal. Did you not understand what I meant by h---? Everyone knows what the F word is and what the N word and many other words expressed by a single letter or a multiple letter string. They represent a forbidden word or phrase that is not to be uttered or read. Yet we know exactly what they mean. They register in our brain just as clearly as if written or said fully. I remember the first movie that came out with the F word. One character repeated it many times. Of course, they blanked it out, but everyone knew what he said, and it was funny as h---.
Today, texting is a popular form of communicating, something that looks Greek to me. These kids thumb it in with lightening speed and with that same speed, they read and understand it. Communication established. So, if what you write is understood by others, no matter how it is written, you have achieved your objective. When you say, "yo, M F-ing SOB," everyone knows what it means. It only looks better than the actual full spelling of the words. For me, I say "Dam the aesthetics, full spelling ahead.
Tags:
I woke up this morning thinking about words and writing. That's not so unusual, I am a dyslexic and I am a writer, even though I haven't done much of it lately, writing that is, so thinking about writing is pretty much what I do 99.9% of the time. Thinking about words, I do 100% of the time. Writing is a form of communication, a way of getting others to understand you. So what's the big deal on how we do it. And, what is a misplaced modifier, does it make any difference? We laugh at them sometimes because they are funny, but still, we understand what the writer meant. So what the hey or h--- is the big deal. Did you not understand what I meant by h---? Everyone knows what the F word is and what the N word and many other words expressed by a single letter or a multiple letter string. They represent a forbidden word or phrase that is not to be uttered or read. Yet we know exactly what they mean. They register in our brain just as clearly as if written or said fully. I remember the first movie that came out with the F word. One character repeated it many times. Of course, they blanked it out, but everyone knew what he said, and it was funny as h---.
Today, texting is a popular form of communicating, something that looks Greek to me. These kids thumb it in with lightening speed and with that same speed, they read and understand it. Communication established. So, if what you write is understood by others, no matter how it is written, you have achieved your objective. When you say, "yo, M F-ing SOB," everyone knows what it means. It only looks better than the actual full spelling of the words. For me, I say "Dam the aesthetics, full spelling ahead.
Tags:
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A Look into a Generation Past
A Look into a Generation Past.
August 10, 2009
By, Trudi Stout, Panama City Beach FL. My lovely niece and first customer of my novel: Runt, Memories of a Dyslexic Bastard
I really got caught up in your book!!! I loved it, once I got past your colorful language, lol!!! The story line was great I was seeing life a generation before me like I was there! I would like to read more of this era from you! I felt as though I was escaping to the woods and the creeks along with Runt! The scenes of the school room were fascinating to me as well!
Thank you Trudi. Your next book is on me.
August 10, 2009
By, Trudi Stout, Panama City Beach FL. My lovely niece and first customer of my novel: Runt, Memories of a Dyslexic Bastard
I really got caught up in your book!!! I loved it, once I got past your colorful language, lol!!! The story line was great I was seeing life a generation before me like I was there! I would like to read more of this era from you! I felt as though I was escaping to the woods and the creeks along with Runt! The scenes of the school room were fascinating to me as well!
Thank you Trudi. Your next book is on me.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
CHARACTERISTICS OF DYSLEXIA
Thirty-seven common characteristics of Dyslexia:
Here are the first sixteen. I'll post the remainder later.
Most dyslexics will exhibit about ten of the following traits and behaviors. These characteristics can vary from day-to-day or minute-to-minute. The most consistent thing about dyslexics is their inconsistency.General
1. Appears bright, highly intelligent, and articulate but unable to read, write, or spell at grade level.
2. Labelled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, "not trying hard enough," or "behavior problem."
3. Isn't "behind enough" or "bad enough" to be helped in the school setting.
4. High in IQ, yet may not test well academically; tests well orally, but not written.
5. Feels dumb; has poor self-esteem; hides or covers up weaknesses with ingenious compensatory strategies; easily frustrated and emotional about school reading or testing.
6. Talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling, sales, business, designing, building, or engineering.
7. Seems to "Zone out" or daydream often; gets lost easily or loses track of time.
8. Difficulty sustaining attention; seems "hyper" or "daydreamer."
9. Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation, and visual aids.
Vision, Reading, and Spelling
10. Reads and rereads with little comprehension.
11. Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading.
12. Confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences, or verbal explanations. Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words.
13. Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while reading, writing, or copying.
14. Seems to have difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don't reveal a problem.
15. Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth perception and peripheral vision.
16. Spells phonetically and inconsistently.
© 1992 by Ronald D. Davis
Here are the first sixteen. I'll post the remainder later.
Most dyslexics will exhibit about ten of the following traits and behaviors. These characteristics can vary from day-to-day or minute-to-minute. The most consistent thing about dyslexics is their inconsistency.General
1. Appears bright, highly intelligent, and articulate but unable to read, write, or spell at grade level.
2. Labelled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, "not trying hard enough," or "behavior problem."
3. Isn't "behind enough" or "bad enough" to be helped in the school setting.
4. High in IQ, yet may not test well academically; tests well orally, but not written.
5. Feels dumb; has poor self-esteem; hides or covers up weaknesses with ingenious compensatory strategies; easily frustrated and emotional about school reading or testing.
6. Talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling, sales, business, designing, building, or engineering.
7. Seems to "Zone out" or daydream often; gets lost easily or loses track of time.
8. Difficulty sustaining attention; seems "hyper" or "daydreamer."
9. Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation, and visual aids.
Vision, Reading, and Spelling
10. Reads and rereads with little comprehension.
11. Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading.
12. Confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences, or verbal explanations. Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words.
13. Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while reading, writing, or copying.
14. Seems to have difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don't reveal a problem.
15. Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth perception and peripheral vision.
16. Spells phonetically and inconsistently.
© 1992 by Ronald D. Davis
Monday, July 27, 2009
Books available, get a free book for your review
My books are now available on Amazon. I make an offer to anyone interested in writing a review of either or both of them and posting it on Amazon; I will give them a free book. I'm only interested in two reviews of each book. Please e-mail me at, ( rshoopjr@gmail.com ), if you are interested. If you're not familiar with my books, check them out on my web, ( rayshoop.com ). Thank you so much.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
FRUSTRATED DYSLEXIC WEB BUILDER
It has been one helliva frustrating two weeks for this old dyslexic bas----. First, I found out my web host wanted a small war pension to upgrade my web so I could sell my books on it. So, I thought, screw you mister. I'd have to sell over three hundred books just to break even. That's about two hundred more than I expect to sell. Then I bought a MS web building program and wasted almost the whole week learning nothing and succeeded in producing zero. I threw that away and joined another host (the top rated host in the nation) who seemed to offer everything I wanted at a reasonable price. The FREE site cost almost a C note. I only wanted a web with a page or two that a buyer could link to from my present web.
I sighed up. After they got my money, I had to wade through forty-seven million six hundred and two, optional upgrades (all of which I felt I needed) but I managed say no to. Now I sit here twiddling my thumbs while I wait for my credit card to clear the bank so I can delve back into setting up another web and suffering through another week or so of frustration.
What in the hell ever possessed me into becoming a writer?
I sighed up. After they got my money, I had to wade through forty-seven million six hundred and two, optional upgrades (all of which I felt I needed) but I managed say no to. Now I sit here twiddling my thumbs while I wait for my credit card to clear the bank so I can delve back into setting up another web and suffering through another week or so of frustration.
What in the hell ever possessed me into becoming a writer?
Monday, June 29, 2009
DYSLEXIA SITES
I've just been checking some dyslexic sites and found some new and interesting one since I found out my live long problems with reading and spelling stemmed from dyslexia and wasn't because I was dumb, lazy, stupid and didn't apply myself. So without further ado, here is what I found.
http://www.dyslexia-adults.com how to find out if you are dyslexic.
http://www.dyslexia-college.com/ dyslexics going to college.
http://www.dyslexia-teacher.com/ teachers interested in how to deal with dyslexic students.
http://overcoming-dyslexia.com/Am_I_Dyslexic.html
http://www.3dlearner.com/ this site has some great you tube videos.
http://www.dyslexia-adults.com how to find out if you are dyslexic.
http://www.dyslexia-college.com/ dyslexics going to college.
http://www.dyslexia-teacher.com/ teachers interested in how to deal with dyslexic students.
http://overcoming-dyslexia.com/Am_I_Dyslexic.html
http://www.3dlearner.com/ this site has some great you tube videos.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Slaughter of a Short Story
Slaughter of a Short Story
By
Ray Shoop
Stark, it lay on my desk, a scant reflection of its former fat and juicy self. It had been my best short story. It had a beginning that brought the reader in; a middle that fleshed out and brought the story to a climax, and an ending that even had what I thought was a clever twist.
When I first turned it in, I thought I would get at least an A or an A+. She handed it back with red ink dripping from it like blood. Then she gave me a new assignment. One I had feared and which I knew would prove difficult. "It's too long." My freelance writing instructor said. "It's too wordy." Cut it dawn to fifteen hundred words."
Right off, I knew this old gal was out of her tree, fifteen hundred words! Why, that would be a skeleton, something less than an outline. However, she was the teacher and I was there to learn. So, I sharpened up my knives, bought a new blade for my hacksaw and polished up my heavy cleaver.
First, using my hacksaw, I hacked away all the colorful but excess characters; the ones I had thrown in for flavor and fill. I left only a protagonist, an antagonist, and a mediator.
Then with my boning knife, I trimmed away all the excess character thought-internalization, leaving only that which was required for reader understanding.
I trimmed off all redundancies too.
Next came an extremely hard and delicate task. With tear filled eyes and using a sharp paring knife, I carefully trimmed and hacked away at my beloved and long labored over description. With bloodied fingers, I gently lay the extricated pieces in ever-growing piles.
When I was finished, I felt spent and not at all pleased with the results' but I had completed the assignment. I had cut, slashed, and trimmed my thirty-two-hundred-word story down to fifteen hundred words. I had turned my juicy T-bone steak into a slim trim fillet mignon.
I turned it in and got a favorable response. The story still needed some trimming and a little seasoning. But I should have no trouble marketing it. I did, and when it was published, I decided I liked fillets better than T-bones.
By
Ray Shoop
Stark, it lay on my desk, a scant reflection of its former fat and juicy self. It had been my best short story. It had a beginning that brought the reader in; a middle that fleshed out and brought the story to a climax, and an ending that even had what I thought was a clever twist.
When I first turned it in, I thought I would get at least an A or an A+. She handed it back with red ink dripping from it like blood. Then she gave me a new assignment. One I had feared and which I knew would prove difficult. "It's too long." My freelance writing instructor said. "It's too wordy." Cut it dawn to fifteen hundred words."
Right off, I knew this old gal was out of her tree, fifteen hundred words! Why, that would be a skeleton, something less than an outline. However, she was the teacher and I was there to learn. So, I sharpened up my knives, bought a new blade for my hacksaw and polished up my heavy cleaver.
First, using my hacksaw, I hacked away all the colorful but excess characters; the ones I had thrown in for flavor and fill. I left only a protagonist, an antagonist, and a mediator.
Then with my boning knife, I trimmed away all the excess character thought-internalization, leaving only that which was required for reader understanding.
I trimmed off all redundancies too.
Next came an extremely hard and delicate task. With tear filled eyes and using a sharp paring knife, I carefully trimmed and hacked away at my beloved and long labored over description. With bloodied fingers, I gently lay the extricated pieces in ever-growing piles.
When I was finished, I felt spent and not at all pleased with the results' but I had completed the assignment. I had cut, slashed, and trimmed my thirty-two-hundred-word story down to fifteen hundred words. I had turned my juicy T-bone steak into a slim trim fillet mignon.
I turned it in and got a favorable response. The story still needed some trimming and a little seasoning. But I should have no trouble marketing it. I did, and when it was published, I decided I liked fillets better than T-bones.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
MY STRUGGLES WITH SPELLING AS A DYSLIXIC
MY STRUGGLES WITH SPELLING
The bold words are ones I had to look up while writing this.
April 28, 2009. Today I struggled with my spell checker for about five minutes to find the word symphony. I know the word when I see it, but I couldn't spell it. I knew it had a "y" in it but I forgot its f sounding ph sound. I couldn't remember if it started with a, S, C, T, or THYN. Finally, I went to the internet to a list of musical terms where I recognized it under words beginning with "s". With this word I couldn't remember the proper pronunciation to clue me in on a proper spelling enough for my spell checker to be of any help.
May 11, 2009. Lost five minutes trying to spell abandoned. Recognizing words and spelling them must come from different areas of the brain. There, I just had a problem spelling, recognizing. Frustrating, a word I could never spell until recently. I have to stop and think, remember it starts with FRU not, FLU, the way I pronounce it.
Here's a sentence that will send a dyslexic up a tree. Does the does get a dose of the medicine too. I don't think I ever had a problem with too, to two, and there, their, or they're. They are all different and I have no problem with attaching the proper meaning to each. Further and farther never gave me a problem which it does with many people who are not dyslexic.
Dyslexia is a many faceted disability; what affects one may or may not affect another. But for a very few words, I see none backward. Somewhere during my life someone told me, I had dyslexia. They said dyslexics see things backward. Although some do, I never did. So whomever that was, I figured they didn't know what they were talking about. I went through life thinking I was dumb, lazy, and stupid; all that's a hard thing to shake free of.
Until the next time, have a great day.
April 28, 2009. Today I struggled with my spell checker for about five minutes to find the word symphony. I know the word when I see it, but I couldn't spell it. I knew it had a "y" in it but I forgot its f sounding ph sound. I couldn't remember if it started with a, S, C, T, or THYN. Finally, I went to the internet to a list of musical terms where I recognized it under words beginning with "s". With this word I couldn't remember the proper pronunciation to clue me in on a proper spelling enough for my spell checker to be of any help.
May 11, 2009. Lost five minutes trying to spell abandoned. Recognizing words and spelling them must come from different areas of the brain. There, I just had a problem spelling, recognizing. Frustrating, a word I could never spell until recently. I have to stop and think, remember it starts with FRU not, FLU, the way I pronounce it.
Here's a sentence that will send a dyslexic up a tree. Does the does get a dose of the medicine too. I don't think I ever had a problem with too, to two, and there, their, or they're. They are all different and I have no problem with attaching the proper meaning to each. Further and farther never gave me a problem which it does with many people who are not dyslexic.
Dyslexia is a many faceted disability; what affects one may or may not affect another. But for a very few words, I see none backward. Somewhere during my life someone told me, I had dyslexia. They said dyslexics see things backward. Although some do, I never did. So whomever that was, I figured they didn't know what they were talking about. I went through life thinking I was dumb, lazy, and stupid; all that's a hard thing to shake free of.
Until the next time, have a great day.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Writing and Dyslexia.
Today is the first day of the rest of my life, and I shall fear no evil.
Hello to everyone out there in cyber space. I've resisted this blogging thing long enough. My fear of communicating, other than by face to face, and especially by written word, now seems ridicules. I don't actually believe that. To put it more correctly, I feel pressured into doing it. My long fear of writing stems from my affliction with dyslexia, which I wasn't aware of until I was in my late fifties. My terrible grammar, unsightly penmanship and horrific spelling precluded me from writing anything other than simple words in simple sentences.
I feared Instant Messaging so much, that if anyone even mentioned it, I shied away from them. if someone IM'ed me, I logged off, immediately and swore I wasn't IM'ed. Blogging too makes me timid. I've visited some sites, but only for information; I never posted anything. I fear these things almost as much as reading something before a live group.
Now that I'm getting more involved in writing, I feel I must join the masses, retreat from my shell, get with the program or do whatever other cliché it takes to bring myself up to par. So, here I is. I plan to post about my experiences with dyslexia and how it affects my writing. Although, it is open to anything, within reason.
Thank you, have a good day and behave yourselves, if that is possible.
Today is the first day of the rest of my life, and I shall fear no evil.
Hello to everyone out there in cyber space. I've resisted this blogging thing long enough. My fear of communicating, other than by face to face, and especially by written word, now seems ridicules. I don't actually believe that. To put it more correctly, I feel pressured into doing it. My long fear of writing stems from my affliction with dyslexia, which I wasn't aware of until I was in my late fifties. My terrible grammar, unsightly penmanship and horrific spelling precluded me from writing anything other than simple words in simple sentences.
I feared Instant Messaging so much, that if anyone even mentioned it, I shied away from them. if someone IM'ed me, I logged off, immediately and swore I wasn't IM'ed. Blogging too makes me timid. I've visited some sites, but only for information; I never posted anything. I fear these things almost as much as reading something before a live group.
Now that I'm getting more involved in writing, I feel I must join the masses, retreat from my shell, get with the program or do whatever other cliché it takes to bring myself up to par. So, here I is. I plan to post about my experiences with dyslexia and how it affects my writing. Although, it is open to anything, within reason.
Thank you, have a good day and behave yourselves, if that is possible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)