Cynthia Collins's Blog, page 13
December 21, 2012
Wishing You a Peaceful Christmas
Christmas tree (photo by Cynthia Collins)
It will be difficult for some people to get through this year’s Christmas season. This nation has had too much random violence that has resulted in loss of life of bystanders and innocent children, financial struggles, loss of homes and property due to natural disasters, and the looming cloud of instability on so many levels is never far away. It will certainly be difficult for some to say “Merry Christmas.”
But, Christmas is not just a time for be...
November 14, 2012
I Love To Write Day — November 15th
November 15th, 2012 is the 10th annual I Love To Write Day. This was founded by Delaware author, John Riddle, to set aside a day for students to practice their creative writing skills. This year, 28,000 schools across the nation are participating.
When students and adults write well, they have an easier time expressing themselves when they read and write.This is as important in school as it is on the job. Before the days of email and text messages,phones,or movies and television, people t...
September 28, 2012
Penmanship and Writing Skills
Lisa stepped onto the veranda. The sea air was invigorating. She heard the doors close behind her and sat on one of the nearby wrought iron benches. She opened the diary. The first page was a copy of Mirabelle’s handwriting. –The Unicorn Tree ©2012 Cynthia Collins*
What is it about the flowing elegance of cursive writing that intrigues us? What does the artistry of those seemingly effortless, yet carefully formed, letters say about the person who wrote them? Does the style of one’s handwr...
August 20, 2012
Step into the Past with Historic House Museums
The Mount Vernon Hotel Museum was a New York City hotel in what is now mid-town along the East River from 1826-1833. During this time, mid-town consisted of rolling hills and country estates.
I excused myself after the meal and went for a walk. It is curious to want the company of others at mealtime yet to prefer the wonders of nature alone. I walked to the line of trees that overlooked the sea. Once through the trees, I continued along the path at the edge of the cliff. The sea air made...
July 18, 2012
The Medal of Honor Historical Society — Honoring Heroes
Cottage Row at Sailors’ Snug Harbor, Staten Island, NY. This road leads to the Snug Harbor cemetery where deceased seamen were buried.
I always enjoy going through old trunks filled with family keepsakes and documents. It is a way of connecting the past with the present on a deeply personal level. Oral and written accounts of families and individuals are as important in the preservation of history as the visual restoration of a building, ship, or monument. Such knowledge gives us a sense...
June 29, 2012
The Advantages of Proofreading Aloud
Many writers and editors will say the best way to proofread is to read your work aloud. The reason is that by hearing the written words, you will be more likely to catch any errors. If a passage doesn’t sound right to the writer who spent days working on it, then it won’t make sense to the readers who are seeing it for the first time.
Typos are different from frequent errors. Nobody wants to see typos but they can, and do, happen. It’s late at night. You’ve looked at the page so often, yo...
June 24, 2012
A Place Called South Street Seaport
My novel, The Unicorn Tree, opens on a pier filled with people who have gathered to celebrate a restored clipper setting sail on a commemorative transatlantic voyage. Jugglers, musicians, and food vendors, scattered throughout the crowd, add to the festivities. Families, friends, and visitors watch as the ship floats gently out into the harbor. Her speed increases as her sails are unfurled, urging her on toward the open sea. This scene could be from any port where tall ships once docked,...
