Annette Lyon's Blog, page 35
December 25, 2009
Writing Journey: Idea Seedlings
One of the most common questions writers get is how they come up with their ideas, so I thought I'd mention a few of mine. I've chronicled many of them throughout my WJ series, but here's a couple that are a bit different:
Band of Sisters, which will be out in March (as if I haven't blathered about that one enough lately!), came about in a very different way than my typical book ideas do. (Then again, do I have a typical way?)
I've talked a bit about it before, how I first wrote an article...
Band of Sisters, which will be out in March (as if I haven't blathered about that one enough lately!), came about in a very different way than my typical book ideas do. (Then again, do I have a typical way?)
I've talked a bit about it before, how I first wrote an article...
December 23, 2009
WNW: Christmas Edition
There's a little Christmas word myth I'd like to set to rest.
As a teen, I thought "Xmas" was a cute way to shorten "Christmas" (and it definitely took less time to write out!).
But then someone pointed out a horrifying concept: by using such shorthand, I was crossing Christ out of Christmas! Henceforth, I felt guilty anytime I used it. Anytime I saw "Xmas," I cringed.
There were times that writing out the whole thing was tedious, however, such as on a big plastic storage tub for the basement...
As a teen, I thought "Xmas" was a cute way to shorten "Christmas" (and it definitely took less time to write out!).
But then someone pointed out a horrifying concept: by using such shorthand, I was crossing Christ out of Christmas! Henceforth, I felt guilty anytime I used it. Anytime I saw "Xmas," I cringed.
There were times that writing out the whole thing was tedious, however, such as on a big plastic storage tub for the basement...
December 22, 2009
It Was Inevitable, Really
The other day, my fifth grader's class was discussing parts of sentences.
One student guessed that a preposition was the subject of an example sentence, and my daughter gave a rather lengthy explanation about why that was not, in fact, correct.
I believe the sentence in question was something like:
The students went to the school.
"To the school is a location. It's where they're going to," she said. "So that can't be the subject. The action with the verb is where you find the predicate, and to...
One student guessed that a preposition was the subject of an example sentence, and my daughter gave a rather lengthy explanation about why that was not, in fact, correct.
I believe the sentence in question was something like:
The students went to the school.
"To the school is a location. It's where they're going to," she said. "So that can't be the subject. The action with the verb is where you find the predicate, and to...
December 18, 2009
Writing Journey: Evolution of a Word Nerd
TODAY IS READER QUESTION TIME:
Alexes from One Cluttered Brain asked me several all at once, and they're all sort of related, so I'm answering them together:
When did this fascination with grammar and words begin? Does it interfere much when you write something? And aren't you an editor as well? How does that work when you are trying your writing hat on? Does your editing hat ever get in the way?
Being as I grew up with a linguist as a father, conversations about words were typical dinner-table...
Alexes from One Cluttered Brain asked me several all at once, and they're all sort of related, so I'm answering them together:
When did this fascination with grammar and words begin? Does it interfere much when you write something? And aren't you an editor as well? How does that work when you are trying your writing hat on? Does your editing hat ever get in the way?
Being as I grew up with a linguist as a father, conversations about words were typical dinner-table...
December 17, 2009
I'm at the AML Today
And I will be the 17th of every month.
As promised, click here for my very first post.
© 2009 Annette Lyon, all rights reserved
As promised, click here for my very first post.
© 2009 Annette Lyon, all rights reserved
December 16, 2009
Bad Blogger!
I've totally slacked off. I'm aware. I apologize.
I had a way cool idea for a post for Monday. Didn't have time to write it, because I was doing things like, oh getting ready for things like that big holiday that's coming next week (oh, and tackling that pile that suddenly multiplied in the laundry room).
Monday night I spent time with my family making pulla, a sweet Finnish bread flavored with cardamom. It's something we've had in the house at Christmas since I was a little girl, and I make...
I had a way cool idea for a post for Monday. Didn't have time to write it, because I was doing things like, oh getting ready for things like that big holiday that's coming next week (oh, and tackling that pile that suddenly multiplied in the laundry room).
Monday night I spent time with my family making pulla, a sweet Finnish bread flavored with cardamom. It's something we've had in the house at Christmas since I was a little girl, and I make...
December 11, 2009
Writing Journey: I'm Skeered and Other News
Today, I'm in the mood for a list. Therefore:
1) Edits for Band of Sisters are done and turned in. They were pretty painless. To make things even better, Kirk's a riot. He kept inserting funny comments along the way that made me laugh. (I've mentioned that I'm glad he's my editor, right? Just a few times?)
2) I had a phone call on Wednesday that lasted nearly an hour and a half with the man behind an amazing charity that I will be partnering with soon to help families of deployed soldiers. I...
1) Edits for Band of Sisters are done and turned in. They were pretty painless. To make things even better, Kirk's a riot. He kept inserting funny comments along the way that made me laugh. (I've mentioned that I'm glad he's my editor, right? Just a few times?)
2) I had a phone call on Wednesday that lasted nearly an hour and a half with the man behind an amazing charity that I will be partnering with soon to help families of deployed soldiers. I...
December 9, 2009
WNW: Metonymy Rocketh
Wondering what the heck I'm talking about? Ten bucks says you know what metonymy is, even if you don't already know the term for it.
Let me preface this Word Nerd Wednesday by stressing that I'm such a nerd. Just the word metonymy makes me happy.
Say it. Savor it. Metonymy. Ahhhhh . . .
Okay. So you're thinking, Annette, shut up already. What does "metonymy" mean, already?
Here's the basic idea:
You use a piece of a whole thing, something the whole is associated with, and use that to refer to the...
Let me preface this Word Nerd Wednesday by stressing that I'm such a nerd. Just the word metonymy makes me happy.
Say it. Savor it. Metonymy. Ahhhhh . . .
Okay. So you're thinking, Annette, shut up already. What does "metonymy" mean, already?
Here's the basic idea:
You use a piece of a whole thing, something the whole is associated with, and use that to refer to the...
December 7, 2009
You Can't Hear Me
People often assume that because I'm a writer, I must be great at getting across what I mean in conversation. That when I open my mouth, eloquence ushers forth like a fountain.
The reality is that most of the time, I feel like I have a short circuit between my brain and my mouth, and I struggle to find a way to get what I'm thinking past my brain, into words, and out of my mouth.
I recall one conversation I had with a good friend where my response came out absolutely wrong. I knew it the...
The reality is that most of the time, I feel like I have a short circuit between my brain and my mouth, and I struggle to find a way to get what I'm thinking past my brain, into words, and out of my mouth.
I recall one conversation I had with a good friend where my response came out absolutely wrong. I knew it the...
December 4, 2009
Writing Journey: Got My Edit!
My current journey . . .
See Wednesday's and Thursday's posts for some of my other fun news for the week (a Christmas article, my winning essay, etc.). I was touched when my friend Alison Palmer even posted about my win. I had so many people e-mail me, comment on Facebook, and otherwise congratulate me. Yesterday was awesome. Thanks to everyone!
In other news, I officially have my edit for Band of Sisters. I got it earlier this week, and I'm supposed to give it back to Kirk, the editor of...
See Wednesday's and Thursday's posts for some of my other fun news for the week (a Christmas article, my winning essay, etc.). I was touched when my friend Alison Palmer even posted about my win. I had so many people e-mail me, comment on Facebook, and otherwise congratulate me. Yesterday was awesome. Thanks to everyone!
In other news, I officially have my edit for Band of Sisters. I got it earlier this week, and I'm supposed to give it back to Kirk, the editor of...
