The Real Writing Blog
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A quick note to let all know that this blog has not suddenly ended; it has just moved. To find it, just go to my updated website at www.realwriting.us. You'll find the new blog there. Progress marches on! [ add comment ] | permalink | related link Press check on Monday. There's no turning back now! A.C., here you come!! [ add comment ] | permalink | related link New proofs delivered yesterday. This it...the last chance to change something. I look over my list of previous changes to see if they all have been made, and...oops, one of them hasn't. Good thing I looked, although the change is so slight most people wouldn't notice. But I would. I'm sure there will be more oops, but we're going to go with it. It's now or never!! [ add comment ] | permalink | related link It's proofing time. I had thought I had found every single ding and dong of the A.C. book. And then, I go the proof sheets from the printer, which shows exactly what the book will look like when printed. Surprisingly, I (along with Mom and Ava) found several more things that need to be changed. So, back it goes to Mary Ann, who at this point is about ready to tear our her hair. So instead, she screams into a pillow, and makes the changes all along hoping these will be the ABSOLUTE LAST. Fingers are crossed...This is really tiring. [ add comment ] | permalink | related link What a great treat to visit Moffitt School in Springfield today. Moffitt is a "No Excuses" school, a refreshing tagline in our world of excuses. It was fun meeting with Mr. Walker's class and sharing my work around Abigail Scott Duniway, the lightning rod for women's suffrage in Oregon. The students reminded me that she worked forty years to help secure women the right to vote in this state. We brainstormed other aspects of our world that are unfair, including bullying, animal abuse, racial discrimination, and people mistreating the environment. I hope students will work to help make things fairer. Write a comment on what you will do. Then do it!! [ 3 comments ] ( 14 views ) | permalink | related link Okay, it's down to the tiniest of details on the A.C. Gilbert book. I know now of the copyeditor's plight, and I am in awe. I have pored over every page, every paragraph, every sentence, word, letter, and punctuation mark. Several times. More times than I'd like to admit. There comes a time, however, when the work is done. We're very close now, with just a few adjustments needed for the cover and title page. It would be so easy at this point to just say, "That's okay; it's good enough," but I'm not doing that. The result is stress, and a strain on sanity at times, but I really want to give this book my everything. And I have... [ add comment ] | permalink | related link My travels to South America were fantastic! I spent a week and a half in Buenos Aires, Argentina working at the Lincoln International School. This was my third time there, and it was great to work with the staff once again. Everyone is hardworking and very interested in doing their best for the sake of the kids. I got to work with students as well, and found them to be as curious and engaging as I remember. After leaving Argentina, we (the First Lady and I) stopped by Peru for our first visit ever, and found it to be rich in culture, color, and friendly people. A trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu were the highlights. Machu Picchu is the remains of an ancient community high in the Andes Mountains. It is amazing to see how the Incas lived in the 1400 and 1500s, their incredible building skills and innovative approaches such as the intricate water system that flowed through the community. We were transfixed by the power and the great presence of this world wonder. Back at the ranch now and getting back into what I had left, most especially my A.C. Gilbert book. Mary Ann, the artist, and I are doing the final, final details on the layout. Despite the great number of times I've gone over the word and pictures, I am still interested and excited about what this book presents. [ add comment ] | permalink | related link The tide is rising. Have been working hard to get ready for a journey to Argentina, to work with my friends at Lincoln School in Buenos Aires. It will be a grand time, with lots of collegiality. These trips are truly worth the preparation efforts. I always come back knowing something I didn't when I started. This time will be no different! [ add comment ] | permalink | related link Okay, that worked. Now I can get down to the latest. It's been a busy summer, working with the artist on the AC Gilbert book, polishing the gum book so I can get it to several agents who showed interest, trying to fend off other book ideas that would take my attention off of the work that needs to be done. It's a balancing act, for sure, but it's (mostly) an interesting challenge. In July, I spent 10 days on the east coast attending a seminar on Lincoln in Gettysburg. Immersed in the topic, I'm sure you know what happened. That's right, book ideas. I even made a contact who may just well provide a forum for the works I create. Can't dwell on that now, though; got to finish up the stuff that's started. Writing consultations are heating up now. Tomorrow I'll be traveling to San Antonio to do some Traits work with teachers. In a few weeks I'll do Writing Across the Curriculum with the secondary teachers in Lebanon (OR), then next month a week with teachers in Buenos Aires. I'm looking forward to it all. Another UO online class just wound up, and I'm feeling more comfortable with that venue. Will be designing another such course, but not right away. A higher priority is to upgrade this website / blog, so don't be surprised if it appears different. Soon. [ add comment ] | permalink | related link Have been having some issues about getting things posted here. My last four or five went...elsewhere. So, I'm doing this test to see if maybe I'm closing out too soon. We'll see... [ add comment ] | permalink | related link Next |
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