Natasha Deen's Blog, page 69

Tuesday Technique: What was that, Dragon Dictate?

Great program, only sometimes it’s transcription leave a lot to be desired: “China's great producing keys are pressed.”  I haven’t a clue what that means, and I only know it has something to do with repression because there’s a note I made to myself on it…

Mechanical Monday: Progressive/Continuous Tenses

The progressive tenses convey an action that is happening at a particular time—which is a little like the simple tenses, but I think—I think—the difference is the progressive is putting us in that particular moment. So, while the ST says “It will snow tomorrow,” which gives us a general time and event, the PT says, “It will be snowing when we arrive,” which seems a bit more specific…but don’t quote me. I feel like I need a giant bag of chocolate to figure this all out.

But here’s a handy tip:...

Why You Should Think Before You Speak

Poor Stephen Harper, one off the cuff remark about the NDP & 1939 Germany and the Twitterverse has taken him to task, with hilarious results! (Oh, and thanks to all the soldiers who fought and died, and continue to fight for our freedom to criticize our government.  Go Canada!)

The NDP refused to sign the Magna Carta #HarperHistory Sean Ross

The #NDP fiddled while Rome burned. #HarperHistory Greg Burrell

"The NDP refused to come to the aid of men when Mordor invaded Gondor."...

Friday Freebie

It’s cold and snowy in Edmonton, but it’s FRIDAY! Here are some photos to put warmth in your heart.

 

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Thursday Time

Almost a week since I’ve been back home from my awesome trip to Fort Mac, and I’ve come to realize something I always knew: writers need routine.

Even though I had time in between my classes and meeting up with my fellow authors Lois Donovan,Renee Englot, Rita Feutl, Carolyn Fisher, Larry Loyie & Constance Brissenden, Debby Waldman, Lyle Weis, and Nadine Mackenzie (read their books—amazing stuff!), I found it really hard to get my pages in. 

The room was different, the laptop didn’t...

Thanks, Jared & Stanley

Great article on the outreach program at the Stanley Milner Library.  Awesome work, Jared & staff!

Wednesday Woe

Ugh, I'm so tired of writing that uses dysfunction as conflict.

I think it's lazy writing & treats the reader like we're too stupid to know the difference between a drama and a melodrama.  Honestly, if you make a stupid decision for a stupid reason, I have no time for you.

Give me the character who makes the right decision and still has it all go horribly wrong, or the character who makes the dumb decision for the right reason (or vice-versa)...yeah, I know that means that as write...

LASR Loves Feuding Hearts!

Not only did they give FH a Five-Star Review, but it’s up for book of the month for May!

“Feuding Hearts is a fun, frolicsome way to spend an hour or two…Ms. Deen even manages to add social conscience, ethical vs unethical business practices and the green movement into the mix. With the added plus of well-defined characters, great descriptions, and flawless writing, this short will have you logging on to see what else Ms. Deen has written…If it's a romantic comedy that you've been craving, F...

Tuesday Technique

One of the most often asked questions is “Where do you get your ideas?”  The truth is life gives you the ideas. For example, yesterday. I was out working with the WGA & YABS and when I came back to my car, I noticed fifty (at least) dead flies on my hood, more in the windshield well.

First of all, I’m totally creeped out because no other vehicle seems to have this problem. Of course, they’re all SUVs, so perhaps they have dead bugs but I just can’t see. But as I drive away (fast, so...

Mechanical Monday: Simple Tense

I always thought there were three tenses: past, present, and future.

As usual, when it comes to grammar, I was wrong. There are simple, progressive, perfect, and perfect progressive. Yeah, a lot…and kind of an acrobatic feat to wrap your brain around.

Today: The Simple Tense.

The simple tenses describe something that happens/happened/will happen at one time (past & future) but in the present occurs regularly…I know, kind of confusing, but it breaks down like this:

Simple Present: “It rain...