yourpassions.tk

No, I am not taking a year off from blogging, but I am taking a few weeks off to pursue some web-free writing and complete a project that will keep me busy for the next month. You'll hear from me again in mid-May. Stay tuned. Write now: about steps you take to clear the decks for urgent projects. Write about steps you can take to ensure time to write the stories on your list. Write about how you deal with distractions in general.

In January I wrote about the Follow Me Home Initiative that involved teaching senior citizens how to use computers. That's a topic I know something about. For several years I was president of the computer club at our local senior center, and I helped launch the club’s popular class offerings and taught several classes. Most of my computer mentoring time lately has been spent with lifestory writers, and it’s thrilling to see how successful some are at turning to computers for telling their stories at ages many would not think possible. Several deserve special mention. One is Paul Ohrman. Two and a half years ago, Paul signed up for a lifestory writing workshop I led at the Monroeville Public Library. He made a commitment to have the story of his first 85 years written by his 85th birthday, twenty-two months later. Paul had never used a computer, but after his wife showed him how to turn it on, within two weeks he had mastered margin changing, centering, changing the font, and all s...

My last post on spelling and grammar hit nerves around the world. Comments varied, but one way or another, all support spelling. Some also exposed a couple of Inner Critic origins: fear of appearing stupid, and teachers (of all sorts) who feed that fear. Penelope expressed the thought in a comment that you can’t teach people to write from their hearts, “except, of course, to tell them to stop worrying about grammar.” Ybonesy recalled the horror of spelling bees. Pat shared the story of her son, whose creative writing instructor committed homicide on his desire to write. Leah , agreed that getting the story out is primary. Ken , a young man from Singapore, supports learning spelling and grammar, even if they are “broken” in daily use. Experience supports claims such as the ones expressed in comments that teachers care often involved in the primary care and feeding of Inner Critics. When I have students come to class confessing something like, “I started to write ... ages ago ... but...

A flurry of blogs and articles have hit the Internet with thoughts on the importance of correct spelling and grammar. In a post on Idealawg , Stephanie West-Allen links to sources supporting both sides of this debate. An article in the (British) Independent argues it both ways. In her blog , Penelope Trunk squarely stands in the center of free-writing. I find her argument compelling, but not convincing. Part of the equation for debating this issue is the fact that students are apparently not learning accurate spelling and grammar in public schools. Creativity and preserving self-esteem by accepting any form of personal expression is seemingly valued more highly than literacy. Or, perhaps we don’t want any child left behind? Or perhaps the teachers themselves never learned? Whatever the reason, a generation of functional illiterates is emerging with the belief that text-messaging code is appropriate for general communication. As I write this, I must qualify it. My older grandchildren ...

Like many old-timers, my father likes to tell stories about the Good Old Days. I’ve heard most of his stories dozens of times, but they are complex, and woven of detail as intricate as any tapestry in King Arthur’s castle. When I try to capture them from memory even an hour later, most of that detail has vanished like smoke rings in a gentle breeze. Which bomber was he flying when that student nearly nosedived into the runway? Which uncle rode with Pancho Villa? Which lab did he buy that sodium pump from, and was his job title “Director of External Affairs” or “Director of Public Information”? My head spins as I consider the fact that the number of unanswered questions is increasing at a faster rate than recorded information. During my recent visit with him, one answer to this dilemma was to keep my laptop near at hand. He doesn’t talk very fast when he’s reminiscing, and I can almost keep up with him. Fortunately it doesn’t seem to bother him to have me quietly clicking away when he’s...

Few things have the memory kicking power of digging through old photos or audiotapes. I’m in the middle of a visit with my father, and I’ve been sorting through old slides and photographs, keeping the scanner whirring. What a thrill to discover dozens of photos I missed last time I went through this collection. Many of them were pictures of me wearing some of my favorite clothes. One of the pictures shows the skirt I made the first year I entered the Make It Yourself With Wool contest. That’s quite a story, and it reminds me of several memories centered around wearing that specific skirt and sweater. Other pictures star my baby brother. He was just the cutest kid, and I’d want lots of pictures of him in any event, but some of those pictures have a bonus. In the background I see various rooms of the house we lived in when he was born. What a jackpot! I am currently compiling a collection of stories about growing up in Los Alamos, and these pictures will help me add more vivid detail abo...