Kelly J. Grace

connect the truth you believe to the life you live

Writing

Simply The Best Definition of Procrastination Ever!

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“After eight hours of watching helplessly while my own inane, manneristic doodles overstepped their margins and covered the pages I was supposed to be writing,
I gave up.  I decided to hate myself, to make popcorn, and read.
Annie Dillard, The Writing Life

 

This made me laugh, but hiding behind the humor is something very telling.
“. . .I decided to hate myself. . .”
That’s actually a good way to think about procrastination—I decided to hate myself!

Today I read this from Proverbs 10:26
Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

Procrastination is caustic.
It doesn’t matter if it’s only me that suffers from the delay.
I’ve irritated myself.
Other words for sluggard are shirker and slacker.
So, there’s no hope of a synonym coming to my rescue.

Annie Dillard is a writer.  A very good writer, like Pulitzer Prize winning good.
She knows what she has to do to be a writer, to do the work of writing.

And she knows when she gives up, she’s deciding to hate herself.
There may be butter and salt on the popcorn, but it’s tainted by self-loathing.

It’s Friday AND I’m not giving up.
I’m not rolling things over to next week.

Thank you Annie Dillard.
I needed that.

Blogging Is Writing, Duh.

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Embed from Getty Images

When I’m in Africa I teach the Bible almost every day, but when I’m home I write, well, I blog.

 

It’s harder than I thought it would be, but it’s also more fun than it sounds.

Sometimes I run into a friend I haven’t seen in awhile.
When she asks what I’ve been doing and I answer ‘blogging’, she looks at me like I just said, “I’ve been eating bugs”, or “I’ve been canning okra”.
Apologies to all you okra fans and you bug fans too.
It’s like she’d understand if I’d joined a cult or started selling Amway, but BLOGGING!!!

What’s that?

Well, for me blogging is writing.

I hope it’s good writing.
I hope it’s better writing than it was a year ago.

I’m learning more about photography, but only because I think it can help tell a story or make a concept more relatable.

And I’m learning more about how to make my blog LOOK THE WAY I WANT IT TO LOOK; which usually makes me want to say BAD WORDS.
Words like the ones I said just before my Aunt threatened to wash my mouth out with a bar of Dove soap.

But I keep working at ‘tweaking’ this theme all the while quoting Bible verses like:

1) Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth. . .

2) Set a guard over my mouth LORD, keep watch over the door of my lips.

3) Let your speech always be gracious. . .

Last year I made a slideshow that ran on the main Home page of this blog.
Now I can’t figure out HOW I DID THAT.
Just one of the little frustrations of my limited skills.

 

So, I read blogs about blogging.

I don’t dare tell that to my friend.
That’s a bridge too far.

One of the first blogs I found is Copyblogger.

Their focus is “teaching people how to create killer online content”.
I’m not there yet.

I’m sure most of their readers are people who write for a company website, professional writers, but I still find tons of good instruction about writing, especially writing for the web.

Want to be inspired and challenged?

Click the link below and read about being a ‘Prepared Writer’.
I can’t wait to get home and put some of her ideas into practice.

http://www.copyblogger.com/content-every-day/

 

Another good find is Darren Rowse.  
He began a photography blog and learned by trial and error how to build a successful blog.
I love his accent and watch his podcasts just to hear him talk.

Shallow right?
But I actually listen to what he says.
I liked his content so much I joined his Problogger Community.

You can hear him speak at this link.
Did I mention he has a cool accent????

http://problogger.com

I’m missing the 31 Days of Blogging Event at Write31Days because I don’t have reliable internet for the first 9 days of October.
I did it last year and immediately developed a macular hole.

I literally BLOGGED MY EYE OUT!
But, you might want to give it a try.

http://www.write31days.com

 

What’s your favorite thing about blogging?  
How did you decide what you wanted to blog about?  
What makes you crazy and where do you go for help when you get stuck?
Share your favorite resources, blogs, and writers who write about blogging..

 

 

Celebrating Fresh Paint, The Death of Mold, & Grammar Bloopers

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house-37495_640

The mold is dead, the plastic containment tarps have come down, and the painters have finally packed up their demon possessed air compressor and left me some peace and quiet for blogging!

I wrote something yesterday that didn’t strike the right chord with a fellow blogger. My bad.
But it reminded me how easy it is to muddle what you intended to say.
I’ve saved these Grammar Bloopers in a file for a long time hoping for an opportune moment to trot them out and share the fun with friends who can appreciate them.

Many of you have said that part of your motivation to blog comes from a renewed passion for writing.
I’m amazed at your style and impressed by your syntax.
Outside WP, others, aren’t quite as conscientious or skilled.
And a little confusion about the nuts and bolts of English grammar can produce hilarious results!

I have no idea where this collection originated.
It’s called Did I Read That Sign Right?
If you know please share the source.
If you are the source, please don’t sue for copyright infringement.
I’m all tapped out from recent home improvements.

Did I read that sign right?

TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR
BELOW

In a Laundromat:
AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE
ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT

In a London department store:
BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS

In an office:
WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER
YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN

In an office:
AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE
TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD

Outside a secondhand shop:
WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING – BICYCLES, WASHING
MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?

Notice in health food shop window:
CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS

Spotted in a safari park:(I sure hope so)
ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR

Seen during a conference:
FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN’T
KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR

Notice in a farmer’s field:
THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE
FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES.

Message on a leaflet:
IF YOU CANNOT READ, THIS LEAFLET WILL TELL
YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS

On a repair shop door:
WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD
ON THE DOOR – THE BELL DOESN’T WORK)

Proofreading is a dying art, wouldn’t you say?
Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and
Daughter

This one I caught in the SGV Tribune the other day and called the Editorial Room and asked who wrote this.
It took two or three readings before the editor realized that what he was reading was impossible!!!
They put in a correction the next day. I just couldn’t help but send this along. Too funny.
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert
Says

Really? Ya think?

Police Begin Campaign to Run Down
Jaywalkers

Now that’s taking things a bit far!

Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over

What a guy!

Miners Refuse to Work after Death
No-good-for-nothing’ lazy so-and-so’s!

Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant

See if that works any better than a fair trial!

War Dims Hope for Peace

I can see where it might have that effect!

If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile

Ya think?!

Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures

Who would have thought!

Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect
Homicide

They may be on to something!

Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges

You mean there’s something stronger than duct tape?

Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge

He probably IS the battery charge!

New Study of Obesity Looks for LargerTest Group

Weren’t they fat enough?!

Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft

That’s what he gets for eating those beans!

Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Do they taste like chicken?

Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Chainsaw Massacre all over again!

Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
Boy, are they tall!

And the winner is….
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Did I read that right?

Since I don’t know where this came from you should feel free to share it until one of us is contacted by a Lawyer 😉

Getting The Words Out

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old typewriter

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/03/advice-on-writing/

I’m currently gobbling up three books on Writing. Highlighters are strewn on the coffee table and kitchen counters. A while ago I gave you a link to rookiemag.com and an article titled Getting Unstuck.

Here’s another article, chock full of the collected wisdom of great writers, from the fabulous Brain Pickings.

If you want to beef up your skill set, or re-ignite the flame of inspiration you’ll find what you need here.
One book I’m reading is the old reliable classic, On Writing Well by Zinsser. Now I have to combat clutter in my writing! “As If” to quote Alicia Silverstone in Clueless, as if fighting it in my closets wasn’t already a longer battle than the Thirty Years’ War.

Zinsser is gonna red ink those last two sentences.

The Unwelcome Truth About Writer’s Block

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old typewriter
A writer’s best friend or worst enemy.

Ever had Writer’s Block?
The dread of all dreads for wordsmiths and the rest of us who want a written record of our brain/heart musings.
Somehow today I made my way across the Internet to Rookiemag.com and an article called Getting Unstuck.
Lots of good stuff here, so these folks know a thing or two about defeating WB.

http://www.rookiemag.com/2012/11/get-unstuck/

I think Etgar Keret, whose name I love, nailed it.
He thinks people who suffer from WB are whiners. He said it more artistically, but then he has a professional reputation to protect.

Writing isn’t a habit. It’s a unique form of expression. And nobody owes you that special experience on a daily or a weekly basis. But if you make an effort, even when it’s gone, to keep living your life and experiencing new things, it will eventually return. And when it does, enjoy it as much as you can, before it goes away again.
Etgar Keret

To all of you here at WordPress.com who delight and instruct, inspire and uplift me, thank you.
I have yet to hear any whining, but I find your enthusiastic living and the new experiences you encounter folded into the good stuff you write.
Have a great weekend friends!

DID YOU INCLUDE All THESE ESSENTIALS IN YOUR POST?

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The crack team of copywriters over at Copyblogger have been hard at work making this Infographic for us blogger types.

Like any good recipe a blog post needs all the ingredients to end up appetizing and amazing.

Show ’em some WP love by sharing it.

11 Essential Ingredients Every Blog Post Needs [Infographic]

Like this infographic? Get content marketing advice that works from Copyblogger.

BTW, I have no connection with Copyblogger, I just think they’re a great resource for writing tips.

Happy Friday!

Beginnings

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Great events, we often find, On little things depend,
And very small beginnings
Have oft a mighty end. . .
Letters joined make words,
And words to books may grow,
As flake on flake descending
Form an avalanche of snow.
Anonymous

Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say

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Please read to the end, or at least scan through to the end.
I added some good stuff there that you don’t want to miss.
It’s more good stuff about Blogging.

Just because we’re among family here on WordPress doesn’t mean that “others” never see what we write.
Others seeing it is part of the equation.
That’s our hope and dream and constant ambition; it’s what we’re typing our fingers to the bone to achieve, right?
If we’re all publishers, then by necessity we all have to be editors.
Unless you can afford to staff it out.
If you can’t then this Infographic from the writing professionals at Copyblogger is just the ticket.

This is just the tip of the Content Iceberg at Copyblogger.
Most of it is free and you can subscribe to get it via email.
To quote The Barefoot Contessa, “How easy is that?”.

15 Grammar Goofs That Make You Look Silly
Like this infographic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.


http://www.copyblogger.com/grammar-goofs/

PS I have no affiliation with Copyblogger.
I just love and admire them from afar.

http://www.blogtyrant.com/start-a-blog-2014/#more-5725