Friday, July 22, 2011
Johnny Did WHAT?!: Words Surely Matter
Johnny Did WHAT?!: Words Surely Matter: "A teacher reminds us that what we say really makes a difference: I had just acquired a young Russian man about a month earlier as a student..."
Monday, July 18, 2011
Johnny Did WHAT?!: When fake lives take over....
Johnny Did WHAT?!: When fake lives take over....: "Online 'living' can sure be a distraction for our students, especially when we've got laptops as part ..."
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Many Genres Educational Tip from Heidi Ruby Miller
WHAT ARE BE VERBS?
The group we refer to as BE verbs are all forms and tenses of the verb to be. (am, are, is, was, were, been). It is one of the first verbs we learn in speech because it allows us to show identity simply and easily.
WHY SHOULD I AVOID OVERUSING BE VERBS?
They spoil the clarity of a character's actions.
They cause repetition within the work.
They often lead to passive voice.
They make your prose less interesting and engaging.
They make the work more difficult to read.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I'M OVERUSING BE VERBS?
Use the find feature in MS Word to find all of your BE verbs by clicking on FIND in your tool bar, then typing in the verb form: If you write in past tense, start by finding was; if you write in present tense, start with is. Go through all the forms and tenses and highlight all of your BE verbs so you can get a visual of the distribution.
HOW CAN I REPLACE BE VERBS?
It's simple: Change the BE verb to an action verb. It may be one you already have in the sentence with an –ing at the end of it (I was running through the streets. – I ran through the streets.).
For extra practice, try writing a paragraph in your current work without using any BE verbs. If you apply this guided practice over and over, eventually it will become a good writing habit.
NOTE: Sometimes BE verbs are necessary, especially in dialog. Make a judgment about whether a form of BE is the best verb to use in a particular sentence.
Articles in MGOC: "Tomorrow's Kiss: The Duality of SF Romance"
"The Shifting Grail: A Quest for a Good Read"
"Be an Archetype, Not a Stereotype"
"I'll Scratch Your Back and You Promote My Book"
"Touring Virtually"
Links: http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com
Other Work: Ambasadora
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You can order Many Genres, One Craft, edited by Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller, through any of your favorite book sellers, including Amazon.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Many Genres Educational Tip from Natalie Duvall
I currently teach 11th grade English and various adult writing courses. You might think that 17 year olds and grandmothers have nothing in common, but when it comes to writing, they do. Writing is inherently personal, and students of every age can be very sensitive when it comes to their own writing. If students feel attacked, they won’t be able to grow in their writing.
Because of this, it’s important that writing instructors (or critique group moderators) don’t allow anyone to be swamped under a deluge of criticisms. Writers should instead be judged on only a few items at a time. In secondary education, this style of editing is called “focused correction areas.”
The general idea behind this is that student work should be evaluated on no more than three areas. These areas are specific and identifiable. As a writing instructor, you should determine what will be evaluated and then assess just for that. For example, one session could critique character development, while another worked on showing and not telling.
By doing this, teachers ensure that no student feels overwhelmed. It will also make the revision process seem more manageable.
Article in MGOC: "Talking About Dialogue"
Links: http://www.natalieduvall.com
http://www.finelivinglancaster.com
http://www.thecaloriecountess.com
Other Work: I write Regency-set historical romance. This is the kind of genre Jane Austen would write in if she were alive today... and wanted to show people kissing. I’m also a columnist and feature writer for the magazine, Fine Living Lancaster.
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You can order Many Genres, One Craft, edited by Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller, through any of your favorite book sellers, including Amazon.
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