Carolee Dean's Blog, page 31
January 23, 2012
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January 22, 2012
Staying Fit When All You Do is Sit
It's hard to stay in shape when you have a job that requires you to spend hours a day in a chair in front of a computer. Some questions you might ask yourself are:
1) If I sit in this chair too long, will my rear end meld with the seat and make it impossible for me to ever leave it?
2) Will exercise make me more productive or take time away from an already hectic schedule?
3) Will I one day walk like one of those bent over old ladies because of all the hours I’ve spent hunched over my computer?
4) If I work a little less and exercise a little more, what difference would it really make?
It’s easy for writers, and others who spend a large part of their work day sitting, to get out of shape. People juggling a writing career with a full-time job may find it especially difficult to set aside 30-60 minutes to exercise. We all know that exercise has numerous health benefits, but who has the time?
A recent article in the IDEA Fitness Journal summarized a study conducted by The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm conducted that was published in the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (2011: 53 [8]). The purpose of the study was to determine the result of work productivity on workers who were given time off (2.5 hours per week) to exercise. Actual productivity of these workers was similar to that of people who didn’t get time off to exercise, but the exercise group reported that they felt more productive and took fewer days off due to illness. The bottom line was that taking time off to exercise didn’t decrease productivity, and in some cases, increased it.
Could the same be true for writers? Would I write the same number of pages even if I used some of my limited for exercise?
My personal experience has been that when I adhere to an exercise schedule and take breaks to exercise, I feel more mentally alert, more energetic, and more organized. It’s hard to get started though. Sometimes it can feel like trying to move a mountain, (or at least my mountain like butt).
A book I have found extremely helpful is 8 Minutes in the Morning by Jorge Cruise. He outlines a weight lifting program that addresses all the major muscle groups and can be accomplished in as little as 8 minutes a day. He cites evidence that when we exercise in the morning, we continue to burn calories all day. His book contains handle travel cards that you can slip into your wallet when you’re on the road. There is a diet plan and even inspirational motivators. So what are you waiting for? Everybody has at least 8 minutes.
January 20, 2012
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January 18, 2012
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January 15, 2012
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January 13, 2012
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AUTHOR RESEARCH PANEL
On Tuesday, January 10th, I had the pleasure of conducting author research panels at
Rio Rancho High School and Cleveland High School. Joining me were authors Lois Ruby and Coretta Scott King winner Vaunda Michaux Nelson. We covered a variety of topics including how we use the internet and other resources to research our books. Students were surprised to discover that even authors of fiction use an abundance of non-fiction resources to find background information for their stories. In this photo I'm autographing a copy of TAKE ME THERE for one of the students who attended.
Students and teachers both commented that the most interesting part of the panel was when we discussed some of the intriguing people we had met while conducting interviews for our books. I told them about former death row warden, Jim Willet, who used to oversee the executions in Huntsville, Texas. I met with him at the Texas Prison Museum while researching TAKE ME THERE. Old Sparky, the actual electric chair used in numerous executions, is housed in that museum.
Lois Ruby told a humorous and at times unsettling account of the three skinheads she took to lunch at Taco Tiko while researching her novel, SKINHEADS. Lois, a former librarian, believes strongly in First Amendment rights and freedom of speech. Vaunda Nelson, who is also a current city librarian, told of meeting poet Nikki Giovanni and the children of Malcolm X while she researched NO CRYSTAL STAIR, a documentary novel exploring the life and work of her great grandfather, Lewis Michaux, a Harlem bookseller.
The purpose of the panel was to get students excited about research by connecting them with authors who love it. From the feedback we have received, it was a great success.
August 11, 2011
caroleedean @ 2011-08-10T20:44:00
On Tuesday night - August 9th, I gave a verse novel workshop for our local New Mexico SCBWI chapter with Caroline Starr Rose. I talked about the history of the genre. It's not just a YA/middle grade fad. Some of the greatest works of western literature are verse novels - (i.e. THE ILIAD and THE ODYSSEY by Homer - not SImpson).
Caroline gave pointers for determining if this genre is right for you as an author. She said to consider the following before you ever begin writing:
Is the subject matter right for poetry? •Is the protagonist right for poetry? •Are you right for poetry? n
She then gaves tips for story considerations:
Can each poem stand alone? nDoes each poem contribute to the whole?
We began the workshop with a five minute descriptive free write using photos from various non-fiction picture books for inspiration. After discussing the types of techniques poets utilize in creating verse, participants then rewrote their descriptions in poetry form. We got everything from a personal add from Henry VIII to a jump rope chant from children in war torn Europe. I love hearing the work of my talented SCBWI friends.
Caroline and I both have verse novels coming out in 2012. My YA novel FORGET ME NOT (Simon Pulse) explores a high school filled with dead people. Her historical novel MAY B. (Schwartz and Wade) follows the story of a young girl facing hardship on the Kansas prairie. There was a rumor that Ellen Hopkins quoted from Caroline's debut novel during her verse novel workshop this past weekend at the SCBWI national
conference in LA. One of the reasons I love being a children's author is because of the great generosity of spirit that seasoned authors show to up and coming authors. Caroline will definitely be one to watch.
July 20, 2011
THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
Have you ever had a day like this?
Yesterday I went to TJ Maxx looking for some workout shorts. After trying on five pair and not finding a single one to buy, I walked out to discover I'd spent half an hour in the men's dressing room.
Then I walked over to Shoes on a Shoestring where my daughter was trying on tennis shoes. The "discount" shoes were eighty dollars. When I returned home I realized I had a card on my key ring for a ten percent discount. If only I had figured it out an hour earlier...
When I told my husband the story I said, "I could kick myself in the butt."
He said, "I'd love to see that!"
So I tried to kick myself in the butt, but I couldn't even do that right. The dog was standing behind me and I accidentally kicked her in the head.
She ran away from me the rest of the day.
Thank goodness dogs are forgiving
and forgetful.
