Cold Case In Ellyson » writing

I never thought writing would get me talking

admin — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:53:55 +0000

I tell my boys, “Every event changes what comes after.” I want them to understand, in advance, the consequences for what they do or say. I know, however, that it’s something they’ll only learn with experience. And at my age, I’m still not so great at filtering what I think before it tumbles out of my mouth. But I digress…

I never imagined a consequence of writing a book would be having to talk about it. I’ve attended several book club meetings, but lately I’ve given speeches before some larger groups. Talking to people, one on one, is easy for me. I enjoy people. But lump of group of you guys together, and my legs begin to quiver. I hide myself behind the podium so no one will know. Without a glass of water next to me, I would surely die of thirst.

I’m told it will get better, get easier, and I really hope so because I have my biggest audience later this month. If anyone has advice on how to make a writer a talker, I’m all ears.

My kids aren’t writers, and I’m going to have to live with that

admin — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:12:47 +0000

When you hold that little baby, you expect to see a lot of yourself in them – maybe not in their infancy, but one day…As I was writing even in elementary school, well, I expected that they too…I was wrong. Neither of my middle school boys care one iota about writing, not now anyway. They are scientifically inclined, athletic, and sports enthusiasts like their parents, but writing is not one of their joys. Hurrumph…Naturally, our hope is for them to be their own person, to find their own destiny and not have to follow in anyone’s footsteps…so I know we should be proud. But there is a part of me that hopes one day that they, too, will find another passion communicating as storytellers. But don’t tell them I said so…

Computers can’t read or (what!) interpret

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 12:30:56 +0000

My 6th-grade son has to write an essay. He writes it online. He submits it to some program. He gets a grade. What? Really? How ridiculous!!

Since when did computers come with the ability to read and interpret creative writing? That would be just before they take over the world. And just to show you how ridiculous that grading system is, you can increase your score by adding exclamation points! Really?? How crazy! His grade still wasn’t high enough with the !! so he added some nonsensical fluff. Eureka! Those sentences give him the A he is seeking!! Yeah!

No computer nor program will ever be a substitute for a teacher of English. Can’t happen. Computer programs are a wonderful tool for the writer, but they can never be the audience.