You know how much work it is to dig up potatoes, then bend over to pick up the harvest. My DH has solved the problem and made it a lot of fun...Get the grandkids to do the work! Below are photos from harvesting the yellow German and Yukon potatoes and Red Pontiacs. The total on the potato yield is 125 pounds, a record for us. The potatoes are a good size and […]
My DH picked all the ears of sweet corn from our patch and pulled up the stalks. The garden looks so different without those stately plantings of tall corn with waving tassels. We froze the last 60 ears. We were pleased with our harvest of tasty corn this year. If you want to try something different this year when freezing your corn, click here for a recipe. […]
Yes, we are still battling slugs, those voracious creatures that look like shell-less snails. Read my post Grudge Against Slugs, June 15.In that post I reported that my DH sprayed the veggies with a mixture of water and ammonia receiving slight victory. It didn't last. Last week my brother-in-law was here for a visit. Although he tried to drink all the […]
The excitement in the air, the buzz in the fair goers, the delicious aroma of kettle corn and elephant ears...It must be county fair time!Celebrating their 55th year, there are over 8000 exhibits at our 2010 Newaygo County Fair this year including FFA, 4-H, open youth and adult classes. In 1955 there were 800 exhibits and it was held on the high school groun […]
Hooray! It's finally that time of year when sweet corn grows abundantly. If you can't eat all your harvest right now, freeze sweet corn for a taste of the garden in the winter. This year has been a fantastic growing season for us. We grew Northern Extra Sweet and How Sweet It Is. Both varieties are filling out the cob well and I can't decide w […]
The FREE Muse Online Writers Conference is a fantastic conference to attend in October 11-17. You can go in your jammies, eat chocolate at your desk, and catch up on laundry while you meet esteemed writers, publishers, workshop leaders, and writers of all genres.
You may attend the forums and interact any time of day or sign up for scheduled workshops that work into your day’s activities. The workshop handouts are packed with information that you can save and peruse later at your leisure. (I know, what leisure???)
The Muse Online Writers Conference is FREE if you sign up before August 15. A nominal charge of $5.00 is added after August 15. (Just think, you aren’t spending any gas money to get to the workshops…) Registrations will not be accepted after September 10.
This workshop has been valuable to the development of my career. I think you will pick up a nugget or two that will help you in your writing as well as meet some wonderful, helpful, sincere folks at the conference.
Let me know if you sign up. I will look for ya’!!!
It’s summer time and oh so hard to sit down and write at the keyboard. Do you have that problem too? If you have children at home now, your time for writing is stripped away. I know authors who write during the child’s nap time, late at night or early in the morning when it is still quiet, while waiting for the soccer practice to end, etc. They find bits and snatches of time to get a story/article all down on paper.
Add to the small space of time available for writing, the temptation of gorgeous summer skies and gentle breezes and all of a sudden the weeks pass with nothing written. Even my blogs are begging for attention.
I hope you all are enjoying your summer and have more determination to keep writing in spite of perfect June weather, ball games, carting children around to activities, vacation time, and pure exhaustion. Do you have any tricks or tips to help us settle down to the business of writing? Please share….. Thank you!
The Internet is loaded with information-packed websites for writers. Below are some of my favorites. I hope you will check these out. For more of my favorite websites, go to my Janet Q. Glaser, the Wordwright links page.
The Writers Chatroom A lively and smart group of writers meet here in the chatroom on Sunday and Wednesday nights. Helpful forum and resources too.
Funds for Writers Funds for Writers–Hope Clark is the best when it comes to finding small and large markets that will pay writers for their talent.
Write for Kids Information on writing for the children’s market
Muse Online Writers Conference This FREE conference presented in mid-October is packed with information for ALL writers. No matter what your experience or genre, you will pick up useful tips and ideas as well as network with a whole realm of writers, editors, and agents. Sign up deadline is September 1.
Jacketflap What a great site to find out about children’s books, publishers and authors. Wonderful networking site for writers.
Preditors and Editors Loaded with information for writers, this site keeps a watchful eye on publishers and lets you know the good guys from the bad guys.
Caught a cold this week and I am feeling bad. I took a day to feel sorry for myself (and blew up every Kleenex in the house!!). A runny nose and fever does not inspire great writing. Add cold medicine to this mix and my brain was addled and could not connect words to make a sentence, nor did feel like sitting in a chair and writing or researching. So I gave permission to sit out for the day. I watched TV and blew my nose. Oh joy joy joy.
I hate wasting a day like that, but sometimes a writer has to realize there is no way she can be productive in this situation. You can’t use a snotty nose to stop writing forever. Today my nose is not dripping and I am not taking cold meds, so I am off again to compose words of inspiration and information to share with the world.
Avatar, the new 3-D, sci-fi/fantasy movie premiered this past weekend loaded with lots of fantastic animation and special effects, but at the heart of it is a love story. The production is the brain child of John Cameron who worked as a high school janitor and at precision tool and die manufacturing company. He said he was a blue collar worker. Then he went to see Star Wars, the movie, and was blown away because what he saw on the screen was similar to the stories he could envision himself. He knew he wanted to write themand make them into movies. And he did! Big time including the hit movie, Titanic.
There would be no hit movie without that small kernel of an idea of a love story that developed into a full story. Stories and thoughts spring from writers’ brains. A writer is the one who gets the ball rolling on so many levels. Advertisements, marketing, legal documents, bills in Congress (okay I won’t go there), books, poems, instructions for setting up computer programs or operating the Wii game system. All the technical writing and news stories have to be put down on paper. And we do that. Our writing touches every part of life.
At this time of the year, I think what would have happened if the writers of the Bible didn’t take time to write the stories, the lessons, the history. The story of the love, peace, and joy brought by Baby Jesus would not reach so many people in the world. Christmas is a worldwide event celebrated by many cultures. These writers have played their part in touching the people of the world.
Give yourselves a gift this season, the gift of time to write. Do it for yourself. You can contribute to the literature in this world. You can make a difference.
I wish you all the blessings of this holiday season. Merry Christmas to All!!
Yes, tis the season for gift giving. Lea Schizas, award winning author, writes an inspiring and humorous ebook for writers and is giving it to you for FREE! Now, don’t sign up for it if you have a weak heart or you already know everything you need to know about writing. But if you want return to why you are a writer or you need some kick butt advice, then download or read it on the full screen. It’s a fun quick read that could make a difference in how you view your writing journey. Enjoy.
The holidays are upon us and a great time to find fodder for writing your next stories. Many will be joining family and friends in celebrations. If you are writing your life story, this is a great opportunity to expand story ideas. Perhaps there will be a relative who will remember some of the good ole days with you and tell you about your parents, grandparents, or even your siblings’ stories.
You may be returning to your roots. Being in your old hometown will help spark some memories for a story.
Of course you can write about your past holiday experiences, the decorations, (remember when you fell into the tree and knocked it over?) the food,(nobody can bake a pumpkin pie like Grandma), the recipes,(a secret ingredient?), and the people who make your holidays especially nice or not….
Check out my writer’s website page on Writing Life Stories to be inspired to write your own life story. On this page there is a list of the books we use in our life story writing class in case you want to ask Santa to bring you one for Christmas!!
BTW I am presenting a workshop on Writing Your Life Story in February 2010.
Watching Sandra Bullock talk about her new movie, The Blind Side, it dawned on me how important writing is. Oprah interviewed her and praised Bullock’s acting in a scene that could have come off as “sappy and sentimental.” Bullock simply accepted the praise, but she also said, “It was the writing.”
That was a light bulb moment for me. Oh yes, I see writers given awards at the Academy Awards and Emmys, etc. but there isn’t much hoop-la when they reach the stage. And yet, think about the result of this writer putting pen to paper (or sitting at the keyboard). Without his/her creative talent of conjuring up the characters or researching the project, there would be no film, play, news, books, or entertainment.
Look at the web. It is information driven. Without writers, there would be no websites. No how-to articles, news stories, or even retailers with advertising copy.
But the idea of no writers is especially brought home when I think of all the children’s books available. Holding your child or grandchild in your lap, snuggled close to you, and reading aloud the pages of a colorful picture book brings giggles and wonder to this child. These are very special moments together.
Be proud to be a writer. You give the world a gift with your talent. Keep on writing!
The FREE Muse Online Writers Conference is a fantastic conference to attend in October 11-17. You can go in your jammies, eat chocolate at your desk, and catch up on laundry while you meet esteemed writers, publishers, workshop leaders, and writers of all genres.
Janet • 
2:42 pm • 
