It's that time of year where we all say the same as last year...."I'm going to quit smoking. I'm going to eat healthier. I'm going to train for the marathon."
Well, this time I'm going to make a longer list, so if I achieve one thing I'll have made progress.
1. Be more organised. Spent this year chasing myself and still haven't caught up.
2. Cut down on the smokes. An easier target than quitting altogether.
3. Tone up the flab. Because I'm actually okay with my weight, just not the fact that it's all heading south.
4. Ease up on the coffee. 10-30 cups of the stuff a day is possibly a bit too much....
5. Treat myself more often. I swear most of my clothes are older than my 12 year old!
6. Make more of an effort with family and friends, even the annoying ones, before I turn into a hermit.
7. Go abroad. Been far too long.
8. Find time to read more. So many books I'm missing out on!
9. Have a good clear out. My bedroom is more of an obstacle course than a boudoir.
10. Last but not least, remember to start xmas shopping at least two weeks before, so I don't have to rush around on xmas eve in a blind panic like I usually do!
So, if I manage to tick off one of those, I'll be happy. Good luck with yours and all the best for 2014! May it kick 2013's backside.
Sunday 29 December 2013
Friday 20 December 2013
I'll Read, You Count!
I've often been told I should write a post about proofreading, or why people need to hire a proofreader, to promote my job as *drum roll*..... a proofreader!
Proofread carefully to see if you any words out...Author Unknown
I can understand why people tell me to do that, from a business sense, however, I'm just not that kind of person. "You're crap at English, hire me!" "Spell check is an idiot, hire me!"
Sorry, but no. That's just not how I feel.
When authors write, with a thousand words in their heads, it's too easy to write "discrete" instead of "discreet". Most authors are too concerned with a plot line than with spelling. Half the time, the author is probably aware of the difference between "bear" and "bare", but their mind is writing "The End" before they think about how to spell.
The first draft of anything is shit.........Ernest Hemingway
And then, when the story is finished, not all authors want to check over their work. Most of my regular clients do, which my eyes appreciate, but some just don't. And that's cool, because when I go shopping, I don't work out the cost, I let someone (or something) do the maths for me. It's easier and quicker, because numbers aren't my strong suit. Therefore, I can't expect words to be someone else's strong suit.
We all have our areas of expertise, be it words, numbers, or which poison won't be detected (I can advise you on anything but numbers.....), but even then, it's nice to leave the fiddly bits to someone else.
Skill alone cannot teach or produce a great short story, which condenses the obsession of the creature; it is a hallucinatory presence manifest from the first sentence to fascinate the reader, to make him lose contact with the dull reality that surrounds him, submerging him in another that is more intense and compelling....... Julio Cortázar
Proofread carefully to see if you any words out...Author Unknown
I can understand why people tell me to do that, from a business sense, however, I'm just not that kind of person. "You're crap at English, hire me!" "Spell check is an idiot, hire me!"
Sorry, but no. That's just not how I feel.
When authors write, with a thousand words in their heads, it's too easy to write "discrete" instead of "discreet". Most authors are too concerned with a plot line than with spelling. Half the time, the author is probably aware of the difference between "bear" and "bare", but their mind is writing "The End" before they think about how to spell.
The first draft of anything is shit.........Ernest Hemingway
And then, when the story is finished, not all authors want to check over their work. Most of my regular clients do, which my eyes appreciate, but some just don't. And that's cool, because when I go shopping, I don't work out the cost, I let someone (or something) do the maths for me. It's easier and quicker, because numbers aren't my strong suit. Therefore, I can't expect words to be someone else's strong suit.
We all have our areas of expertise, be it words, numbers, or which poison won't be detected (I can advise you on anything but numbers.....), but even then, it's nice to leave the fiddly bits to someone else.
Skill alone cannot teach or produce a great short story, which condenses the obsession of the creature; it is a hallucinatory presence manifest from the first sentence to fascinate the reader, to make him lose contact with the dull reality that surrounds him, submerging him in another that is more intense and compelling....... Julio Cortázar
Tuesday 3 December 2013
Muscles vs. the Tardis!
Whether it's Facebook or Twitter, I'm often bombarded with photos like the following:
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=06KRUcEjU73RbM&tbnid=HSdqogry3GugHM:&ved=0CAcQjB0wAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestmusclesupps.com%2Fwhy-do-we-need-testosterone%2F&ei=PGeeUoLhDcWN7AbbkYGgDg&psig=AFQjCNG8N_tbpHz8aAXT_KtSihviqZ-PdQ&ust=1386199228314328
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1475977_580948228626564_615016498_n.jpg
I'm a young(ish) woman with a, ahem, healthy appetite. I'd much prefer this:
Or this:
Although, if you really want to turn me on, all you have to do is show me this:
Yep, I'm easily pleased!
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=06KRUcEjU73RbM&tbnid=HSdqogry3GugHM:&ved=0CAcQjB0wAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestmusclesupps.com%2Fwhy-do-we-need-testosterone%2F&ei=PGeeUoLhDcWN7AbbkYGgDg&psig=AFQjCNG8N_tbpHz8aAXT_KtSihviqZ-PdQ&ust=1386199228314328
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1475977_580948228626564_615016498_n.jpg
I'm a young(ish) woman with a, ahem, healthy appetite. I'd much prefer this:
Or this:
Although, if you really want to turn me on, all you have to do is show me this:
Yep, I'm easily pleased!
Monday 2 December 2013
Shirley Slaughter's Blog Tour!
THIRD STOP ON THE BLOG TOUR --THE UK
Hello Lauren. I want to thank you so much for having me here on the third stop. I never thought that twitter could give me such a far reach. Can’t get over it! It can be so impersonal when you don’t know how to utilize it. So here goes!
Hello My UK Friends! This blog tour is basically about me introducing myself to all of you and what motivated me to write.
My name is Shirley Harris-Slaughter and my twitter handle is @motorcityauthor. I was born and raised in the USA. With all its warts and political craziness it’s still the greatest place to live, although I think that’s about to change. I was born in the great state of Michigan and raised in the Charter Township of Royal Oak. I spent most of my time dreaming of the day when I could get out and start my life elsewhere. Then I discovered we were a historical community founded by a runaway slave on the “underground railroad.” I began to appreciate my roots. I discovered all this history way before ever thinking about writing.
My mother was a gifted poet and writer of children’s stories. She also was a great speaker. So what in the world could I contribute to this family? My parents were activists in the community and I watched them not realizing they were shaping me. I became a community activist before I started to write and I developed an appreciation for historical places and buildings which led me to try and save our local train station. Wrote a thesis on The Implementation of the Most Comprehensive Approach to Restoring the Michigan Central Depot. This project brought lots of attention and publicity to this neglected historical site.
All of this led me to try and capture the history of our Catholic Community which is now gone. So I wrote about my experience growing up in this environment. I titled the book, Our Lady of Victory, the Saga of an African-American Catholic Community. The title kind of stuck although my intention was to change it. This book had been gathering steam in my head for a long time before I actually set down to write. I felt that our history was gone because the church has merged and the school was razed after sitting empty for years and becoming an eyesore. I was invited to speak about this to the Fred Hart Williams Geneological Society affiliated with the Detroit Public Library’s Burton Historical Collections. Mark Bowden tagged the book a Narrative History. They asked me to speak to them because they never had history told in narrative form before. Geneology is normally written in a chronological order. You can get more details on the complete story from the book. This history is who I am.
Lauren, I’m going to stop right here because I could go on and on. I appreciate you for allowing me to blog at your site. I am enjoying this tremendously.
Anyway, now that you know a little bit more about who I am please stop by to get the full story.
Click on this link to catch the sale while supplies last! http://rememberourladyofvictory.com/?page_id=24
Here are some additional links:
gallerybyleslie@gmail.com
iUniverse.com
http://unfoldingofarose.ning.com/profile/ShirleyLSlaughter
www.facebook.com/sslaughter3
http://Twitter.com/motorcityauthor
www.linkedin.com/in/historybuff
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00EXRCH20
Website blog: http://rememberourladyofvictory.com/
***GIVEAWAY***
For each comment left (1 per day) on each day of my tour, your name will be entered into a drawing. ONE (1) lucky winner will receive an autographed copy of my book "OUR LADY OF VICTORY: THE SAGA OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY" and a $5 Amazon Gift Card. 1 daily comment = 1 entry into my giveaway. Thanks again for the support and good luck in winning!!!
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