The Real Writing Blog
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Another online traits class has begun and we have an interesting cast of characters. It's great to see the diversity of online students, and to hear their backgrounds as well as the aspirations they have for their students. I am slowly warming to the online experience - not sold, just warming. It takes the right kind of person to be successful in this medium, and it's my hope that the folks who sign up know themselves well enough to know whether that's them or not. I hate to see people wasting tuition money on courses they won't complete. They ain't cheap, these courses. But, don't get me started on that. We'll let it sit for another day. [ add comment ] | permalink | related link Yahoo! The first illustration is done for the A.C. Gilbert book, and does it look cool! It shows A.C. as a young kid standing on the roof ready to test out a homemade parachute. He inches closer and closer to the edge. Will he jump? Will the chute open? How hard is the ground below? Gosh, you'll have to wait and see. Dang! [ add comment ] | permalink | related link What a great break from Oregon's darkness to fly south and attend a history conference in sunny San Diego. The conference was great and the weather was greater: mid to high 70s each day. I got to swim outside several times as well as take a replica 1850s schooner out onto the ocean. No, I did not captain the vessel, but we were all able to work as crew members if we chose. It was very cool raising sail on this old time revenue ship (made sure other ships paid duties for entering ports along California's coast). Now back to the rain and occasional sun and back to work. I'm helping to plan out the A.C. Gilbert book and its illustrations along with doing some more writing on the gum book. Another online course starts today so I'll be busy with that as well. "Idle hands are the devil's workshop." Not really, but it's a good excuse! [ add comment ] | permalink | related link So, the results of overdoing, overtrying, overwhelming yourself can sometimes be sickness. It was for me this time: a goodolfashion cold, complete with no energy, stuffy head, and a waterfalls for a nose. It grabbed me, set me down, and made me rest after a brief but unsuccessful battle of wills. I even took a sick day from work and slept in til 10:00! Rare, indeed. So, I'm feeling better these days and was even back to swimming laps yesterday. Ready to get back to my projects, too, although maybe not as many at once! Time will tell... [ add comment ] | permalink | related link Finished work with the great educators of Lebanon, presented at the IRA Regional Conference in Portland, winding down my first online teaching experience, writing a proposal for a UO summer class, applying for two history institutes to research Lincoln's kids, hosting our Teaching American History grant, and trying to breathe. It ain't easy... [ add comment ] | permalink | related link Just found out that "soon" will not be until September. "Patience is waiting for something important you want, no matter how long it takes." Indeed... [ add comment ] | permalink | related link Lots going on here: My 6 Traits online course is up and going. We’re nearing the end of the first week. It’s weird teaching a class and not being in the presence of the students. The jury is still out as to whether I like this, and if I’ll want to do it again. I’m still waiting on permission for photos of the gum manufacturing process. I’ve contacted to biggies, and I’m hoping one of them will grant me the right to use images. If not, we can always use drawings, but I think photos would be better. In the meantime, I can continue with the writing. The A.C. Gilbert bio project is still alive as well. Recently, I got much needed support from the Gilbert Museum so I’m more comfortable moving the project forward. All I need now is a few more hours in the day to work on it. This week I’ll be working with the teachers of the Lebanon School District here is Oregon. It’s a bit like returning home for me, since there was a small town named Lebanon near my hometown in rural New Jersey, where I grew up. We’ll be exploring the world of nonfiction, as I’ll be doing with attendees of the Western Regional ORA Conference in a few weeks In Portland. I know, I know, where’s the book? The Nonfiction Toolbox book that has been promised for x number of years. Well, I’m told that it will emerge from the melting Vermont snow this spring. Keep an eye on Barry Lane’s website (www.discoverwriting.com). That’s where it will be announced. Hopefully, SOON! On the homefront, we continue the design of our house, on which we will begin construction in April. The plethora of details is challenging, bordering on overwhelming, but we’re proceeding. On a sad note, we have another sick dog here. Ava’s dog, Heidi, has bladder cancer and is declining weekly. We are working hard to make her last days filled with love and comfort. Give your dog (pet, partner, friend, self) an extra pat, walk, or treat today, and be grateful for its (his, her, your) health. [ add comment ] | permalink | related link A cautious hurrah! The most difficult part of writing a book about chewing gum is getting accurate information about the manufacturing process. Photographs that illustrate the process are even harder nuts to cracki. It is considered "proprietary" by the gum companies. When I wrote The Chewing Gum Book in 1989, I was able to obtain some general information as well as some outdated, black-and-white photos. This time around, I'm going to do better. While many gum companies are still reluctant to share, I am finding a few who are not. This could mean more detailed info about how gum is made and, more importantly, good quality pictures that will pique kids' interest. I am hopeful... [ add comment ] | permalink | related link I've been spending the morning ruminating over the difference between latex, resin, and sap (NOT as in, "He's such a sap!). No these things are, or were, the substances from which gum was made. Each term has different shade of meaning (e.g. latex is a milking white substance, sap is a fluid part of a plant, latex is a solid or semi-solid amorphous natural organic...). Okay, heard enough. I understand, completely! Anyway, as I write my revised chewing gum book I have been coming across these terms. So, the mastic chewed by the ancient Greeks was referred to as "resin." The fluid from the sapodilla tree that the Mayans chewed (now called chicle) is "latex." And, the spruce gum chewed by Native Americans, or course, is "sap." My objective is to keep this book straightforward and simple and, thereby, readable for kids. So, I don't really want to get into the scientific details nor the subtleties of the terms. After much thought (too much, most likely), I think I'll use "sap" since it seems broader and includes the other terms. Whew! Anybody for moving on? p.s. What you've witnessed here is one of the many dilemmas faced by nonfiction authors around the planet on a daily basis. How much to include is a constant question, espcially when writing for kids. I always try to slip into my 10-year-old self (not much of a stretch most days) and consider what I would like to face on a page. [ add comment ] | permalink | related link I’m flying along here, back to my writing – now a new and improved version of The Chewing Gum Book I did in 1989 – when I get this technology urge. I do my work on a laptop, and it’s kind of old (a “dinosaur” I’m told), so I start researching something new, which of course takes time away from THE IMPORTANT THING. Well, I find what I’m after: a desktop system so I have more finger room on the keyboard and a screen I don’t have to scrunch to view, and I order. A week or so later the boxes arrive and I have a dilemma: take more time away from THE IMPORTANT THING to set it up or wait until I have time? So, I wait and in the meantime, my cell phone (my only phone) starts to fade, and it’s old (another “dinosaur” I’m told) and so I stop by a kiosk at the mall and the next thing I know is I’ve got this phone called Droid and it’s got every thing I need except a bed-maker and car wash. I take the phone home and start to explore it. That’s when I realize that in my flying zeal I have flown too close to the sun, and now my waxed winds are melting and I’m losing altitude. Fast. What the hell am I doing with this phone?! I don’t need to text. I hate texting! My fingers are too big to fit the keypad so I have to type everything three times to get it right! And the internet? I already have access to it. Do I want to carry that access around with me 24/7? Not a chance! But what about finding my way, getting to stores and restaurants and the like? Uhhh…have you ever heard of asking someone? You know, a real person…human contact and all? So, obviously I took the phone back and got a more modest one, which I may even be able to use if I open the box and read the directions. And, I’ll do that in time, after THE IMPORTANT THING is done. [ 1 comment ] ( 6 views ) | permalink | related link Back Next |
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