Barbara Fradkin's Blog, page 186
August 8, 2017
You could be doing something iconic and not realize it -or- why pirates speak the way they do
by Rick Blechta
Robert Newton as Long John Silver
The two posts by Sybil and Aline about British sayings we’ve had recently here on Type M have been very entertaining. I had originally thought today that I would add my thoughts, but then another “left turn idea” (a saying of my mother’s) jumped into my brain and I’d like to discuss that. Don’t ask me how I got to this point, because I
Robert Newton as Long John Silver
The two posts by Sybil and Aline about British sayings we’ve had recently here on Type M have been very entertaining. I had originally thought today that I would add my thoughts, but then another “left turn idea” (a saying of my mother’s) jumped into my brain and I’d like to discuss that. Don’t ask me how I got to this point, because I
August 6, 2017
It's Not What You Say It's The Way That You Say It
I enjoyed Sybil's post about popular sayings on both sides of the Atlantic, and I thought it might amuse you to hear a few Scots ones. The Scots have a rich vein of humor and vocabulary and I've chosen a few of my favorites - with translations where necessary!
Who stole your scone? What's the matter with you? Said to someone looking annoyed. (A scone - to rhyme with 'gone' - is something
Who stole your scone? What's the matter with you? Said to someone looking annoyed. (A scone - to rhyme with 'gone' - is something
August 4, 2017
Making the Deadline … or Not
Several years ago, I asked SJ Rozan to recommend a new series featuring a female police officer. SJ looked up from her lunch and said unequivocally, "Naomi Hirahara's bike cop, Ellie Rush." I ran out, bought, MURDER ON BAMBOO LANE, loved it, taught it, and my students fell in love with Naomi, albeit vicariously (she eventually led a Skype class for me). She has been a dear friend -- and a writer
The Friend I Never Met
RULA QUAWAS
Yesterday the New York Times announced the death of Rula Quawas, a Jordanian woman, who died at the age of 57. She was a prominent academic and champion of women's rights.
She was my friend.
It came about in a strange way. When she was studying in the United States she did a paper on my first novel, Come Spring. As I recall, she identified with the emotions of a woman
RULA QUAWAS
Yesterday the New York Times announced the death of Rula Quawas, a Jordanian woman, who died at the age of 57. She was a prominent academic and champion of women's rights.
She was my friend.
It came about in a strange way. When she was studying in the United States she did a paper on my first novel, Come Spring. As I recall, she identified with the emotions of a woman
August 2, 2017
Where are we all headed?
By “we” I mean writers. And by “headed” I mean, What will the future of professional writing look like?
This is a topic I’ve found myself discussing often recently. I mentor writing teachers often, and when we talk about how to best prepare student writers for the future, I keep coming back to NetFlix.
Crazy for a book lover to say that? Maybe. But maybe not.
I live in a house connected to a
This is a topic I’ve found myself discussing often recently. I mentor writing teachers often, and when we talk about how to best prepare student writers for the future, I keep coming back to NetFlix.
Crazy for a book lover to say that? Maybe. But maybe not.
I live in a house connected to a
August 1, 2017
Happy as Larry
I watch a lot of British TV, especially in the summer when the TV networks in the U.S. are largely on hiatus. My latest viewing: Broadchurch, Doc Martin, The Tunnel and The Great British Baking Show. I talked about my obsession with GBBS awhile back on Type M. You can read about that here.
I find the differences between American and British English endlessly fascinating so, as I watch, I
I find the differences between American and British English endlessly fascinating so, as I watch, I
Exigency
by Rick Blechta
noun: exigency; plural noun: exigencies
an urgent need or demand.
“Women worked long hours when the exigencies of the family economy demanded it.”
synonyms: need, demand, requirement, necessity
This has become a big word around the Blechta household. My wife Vicki, the French linguist, likes to use it (exigence) when talking about the way she approaches music and teaching, and
noun: exigency; plural noun: exigencies
an urgent need or demand.
“Women worked long hours when the exigencies of the family economy demanded it.”
synonyms: need, demand, requirement, necessity
This has become a big word around the Blechta household. My wife Vicki, the French linguist, likes to use it (exigence) when talking about the way she approaches music and teaching, and
July 28, 2017
KILLER WOMEN IN PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY
This weekend I'm pleased to welcome my good friend Janet Kellough as our special Type M guest. Janet is the
author of The Thaddeus Lewis Mystery Series. The fifth book in the series, Wishful
Seeing was short-listed for the Crime
Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Best Novel Award. The sixth “Thaddeus” book, The
Heart Balm Tort was released in July. To learn more about her books, check out her
author of The Thaddeus Lewis Mystery Series. The fifth book in the series, Wishful
Seeing was short-listed for the Crime
Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Best Novel Award. The sixth “Thaddeus” book, The
Heart Balm Tort was released in July. To learn more about her books, check out her
Flying Time
I'm late posting today because I forgot to check the calendar. These days if I don't check my calendar when I get up in the morning, I'm likely not to be where I should be or to forget something I need to do. That happens in the summer.
During the summer, I'm likely to be so deep into writing that I forget what day of the week it is. Today, I knew it was Friday but what I was thinking about is
During the summer, I'm likely to be so deep into writing that I forget what day of the week it is. Today, I knew it was Friday but what I was thinking about is
July 26, 2017
Summaries: How to be Brief but Brilliant
Last Friday, Charlotte wrote about the agony of having to write a one-page synopsis of the great and glorious piece of literature that you have worked and slaved over for a year or two. How can it be done? How do you reduce your brilliant tome to its barest essence in such a way that readers will be whipped into a frenzy of anticipation and beat down the doors of their local bookstore in their
