I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! We were so grateful to spend time with many members of our family, though we deeply missed those who weren't here.
One of the most tender Christmas moments for me happened when we did a Facebook Chat with family in California. Our 8-year-old grandson read us a letter that he'd sent to Santa earlier in the month. His Christmas wish had been that his dad would have the whole day off from work so he could play with him all day. That little boy's wish was granted! He was ecstatic!
A simple reminder that our children don't need our presents; they need our presence.
Yes, we have to work for a living and we have many duties and commitments, but let's always look for ways to spend more time with our family--and not just quality time but quantity time.
I wish you a very Happy New Year.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Tips for Writers
So I'm sitting here looking out the window at a winter wonderland scene--nearly a foot of snow from the first significant storm of the season. I'm supposed to writing but instead I'm looking. Time to motivate myself to get a move on, maybe remind myself of some of the writing tips I've found useful.
Years ago, when I first determined to get serious about my writing, I started reading everything I could put my hands on about the craft of writing. I soon discovered that each writer has his or her own opinions about how to write. I offer a few ideas of my own for your consideration:
1. If you want to write, write. Every day, write. Writing requires discipline. No matter what is happening in your life—even if it's a distracting vision of winter loveliness before you—you must write. And not only that, you must train yourself to produce good copy.
2. Dive in. One of the scariest things in the world to a writer is a blank piece of paper or a blank screen. Get something—anything—down. If you don't know how to begin, start with the end or the middle or even with your byline. Just start.
3. Going along with the previous tip, it's important to get your initial thoughts down. Let those creative juices salivate and write the story as it comes to you. Don't worry initially about grammar, spelling, and punctuation. I've found that it's not always such a good idea to go back and edit your previous day's work. What seemed like wonderful prose and catchy dialogue the day before may now seem pretty awful, and you may be tempted to trash the project. I've found it's better to just get the whole thing down before doing any serious editing.
4. Don't get too eager to share your emerging writing project with others. Get the story down first. An odd suggestion? Perhaps, but I've found that if I share my project too early, I can lose the creative zest and momentum. The story idea can even fizzle out.
5. If you're having trouble getting started, do something playful first. Children, who are naturally creative, are playful. Copy their example. Before sitting down to write, laugh, stand on your head, get down on the floor and play with your toddler. Play releases the endorphins, I think. You feel lighter, freer, happier, more creative. Then, when you do sit down to write, your writer's block tower will tumble down.
6. If all else fails, put your coat and mittens on and go out and shovel the walk, which I plan to do right now...before I get back to my writing.
Years ago, when I first determined to get serious about my writing, I started reading everything I could put my hands on about the craft of writing. I soon discovered that each writer has his or her own opinions about how to write. I offer a few ideas of my own for your consideration:
1. If you want to write, write. Every day, write. Writing requires discipline. No matter what is happening in your life—even if it's a distracting vision of winter loveliness before you—you must write. And not only that, you must train yourself to produce good copy.
2. Dive in. One of the scariest things in the world to a writer is a blank piece of paper or a blank screen. Get something—anything—down. If you don't know how to begin, start with the end or the middle or even with your byline. Just start.
3. Going along with the previous tip, it's important to get your initial thoughts down. Let those creative juices salivate and write the story as it comes to you. Don't worry initially about grammar, spelling, and punctuation. I've found that it's not always such a good idea to go back and edit your previous day's work. What seemed like wonderful prose and catchy dialogue the day before may now seem pretty awful, and you may be tempted to trash the project. I've found it's better to just get the whole thing down before doing any serious editing.
4. Don't get too eager to share your emerging writing project with others. Get the story down first. An odd suggestion? Perhaps, but I've found that if I share my project too early, I can lose the creative zest and momentum. The story idea can even fizzle out.
5. If you're having trouble getting started, do something playful first. Children, who are naturally creative, are playful. Copy their example. Before sitting down to write, laugh, stand on your head, get down on the floor and play with your toddler. Play releases the endorphins, I think. You feel lighter, freer, happier, more creative. Then, when you do sit down to write, your writer's block tower will tumble down.
6. If all else fails, put your coat and mittens on and go out and shovel the walk, which I plan to do right now...before I get back to my writing.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
There's More Than One Way...
Yesterday I was doing some substitute teaching for a special ed class at an elementary school. The students were working on a little art project--an advent calendar, of sorts. The object was to make a chain of red and green strips of construction paper and then attaching it to a paper with a picture of a Christmas tree. The written instructions were to remove one strip from the chain each day. When you reach the last link, it's Christmas!
The little boy with whom I was working was getting more glue on the table than on the paper. Instead of making neat, tidy loops, he just squashed the ends of the strips together to form the links. And instead of one single chain, he had two or three going.
He was perfectly happy...and then the art teacher held up the sample of the finished product of what the art project was "supposed" to look like.
The little fellow looked at his project and then at the teacher's. He kind of frowned and I could see that there was going to be trouble. But then I pointed out to him that it was great to do things your own way. Everyone is different and there are different ways of doing things. And that's perfectly fine.
He was good with that, and at the end of class, he was waving his finished creation around like a kite with the rest of the students.
I think we do a disservice to children when we insist on them doing things a certain way--especially when it comes to such areas as art. Sure, we need to follow certain formulas for math and such (but, who knows, maybe there's even a better way in those subjects), but whenever possible let's let children use their ingenuity. Let's let them experience the sweet joy of creativity.
The little boy with whom I was working was getting more glue on the table than on the paper. Instead of making neat, tidy loops, he just squashed the ends of the strips together to form the links. And instead of one single chain, he had two or three going.
He was perfectly happy...and then the art teacher held up the sample of the finished product of what the art project was "supposed" to look like.
The little fellow looked at his project and then at the teacher's. He kind of frowned and I could see that there was going to be trouble. But then I pointed out to him that it was great to do things your own way. Everyone is different and there are different ways of doing things. And that's perfectly fine.
He was good with that, and at the end of class, he was waving his finished creation around like a kite with the rest of the students.
I think we do a disservice to children when we insist on them doing things a certain way--especially when it comes to such areas as art. Sure, we need to follow certain formulas for math and such (but, who knows, maybe there's even a better way in those subjects), but whenever possible let's let children use their ingenuity. Let's let them experience the sweet joy of creativity.
Friday, November 29, 2013
Ideas for Children's Gifts
No sooner did the turkey and pie settle in our stomachs than we're thinking of Christmas shopping, girding up our loins to fight the multitudes to take advantage of the great deals. When I walk down the toy aisles at the store, I marvel--how many toys does a child really need? Buying gifts for children can be problematic. May I offer some suggestions?1. Books! Books open wonderful, magical worlds for a child. Colorful picture books, funny chapter books and fantasy novels are great but how about also giving well-illustrated non-fiction books, on subjects of interest to the child?
2. Art supplies! Give a child the tools and supplies needed to create! I think the best gifts are those that encourage creativity. Instead of a coloring book, give a child a ream of paper and a giant size set of crayons!
3. Dress-ups! Kids love to dress up. This is a gift that keeps on giving.
4. Gifts that develop the mind. Science kits, microscope, board games that require strategy, etc.
5. Legos! The best toy ever invented, in my humble opinion. We have a tub of a Legos--and this are not the neatly packaged kind that only makes one thing. This a mish-mash of Legos that our grandchildren and other children visitors love to pour out and build to their heart's content. Some of their creations are so terrific I hate to break them down.
6. In addition to Legos, there are blocks, Lincoln logs, erector sets, marble tracks, Tinker Toys (do they still have Tinker Toys?), and other building kits. Great toys.
7. Give a child the tools to learn to sew, crochet, do carpentry, cook, etc. And I'm not talking about the cheap kid versions--give them actual tools that really work.
8. Sports equipment. Let's get our child moving and exercising and building muscles.
9. Computer and wii games. If we must give computer games, let's give games that encourage thinking and creativity.
So there you have it. I've found that by bypassing the toy aisles and making my way to the crafts, sports, stationery, and other aisles in the store I can find some great gifts for children. And an added bonus--they're not so crowded!
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