Go to MY PERCEPTIVE REFLECTION!!
- Add a comment
- Go to IT TAKES A WHILE TO REGRET AND IT SURE PISSES ME OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Symphony
I recommend
On Writing by Stephen King. It will probably make you feel better.
posted by
Joe_Love
on September 13, 2005 at 11:42 PM
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Thank you all for your comments, suggestions and advice
Love you all
posted by
_Symphony_
on September 11, 2005 at 6:30 AM
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I don't know of any online courses, but I'm sure you will find something! Good luck.
posted by
Ca88andra
on September 10, 2005 at 9:03 PM
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Symph, I hope you're having a nice weekend.
posted by
ARGUS
on September 10, 2005 at 5:31 PM
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You should take a writing course at a nearby community college.
Do you guys have those in London? You don't get credits for them but they're fun and you can learn alot. Having kids shouldn't stop you from your dreams of an edumacatiom....I got mine from a box of Wheaties.
posted by
Passionflower
on September 10, 2005 at 4:53 PM
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Symph,
you can do it! Soon the children will both be in school, you will have more free time -- time to carve out an hour or two here and there. One book you might want to check out is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Another excellent book is Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg - this one really gets the writing going. Both are available on Amazon.com. I have used both of these when teaching creative writing workshops.
Do not focus on the past, what is done is done. You are a writer and you have the world of possibilities ahead of you. red
posted by
redlunar
on September 10, 2005 at 9:42 AM
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Good morning, Symphony! Now you jus' listen to this magnolia for a minute
or two! Darlin', YOU are a real writer! As for regrets...lose them... Darlin you can't change the past, and the future is entirely out of your control! NOW is what you have. I didn't go to college; sure it would have helped...that ,for me, is a long story...
One of the online bookstores, Barnes and Noble offers free online courses and reading groups. There are also writing courses for a fee, but I seem to remember that when a person registers for a writing course, it entitles him to participat in more than just the one course. Anyway, since my memory is bent, just ckout the website.
Take the free courses if you can't afford a written one...and keep on writing. You're just havin' a bad ol' day...now, be an inspiration to those darlin' children of yours. Show them that their mommy is one strong determined woman who WILL FIND A WAY TO DO SOMETHING THAT MEANS A LOT TO HER!! Use your time for positive change...don't piss it away on regret...that is jus' wastin' precious time you could spend with your children, think your thoughts...or WRITE!
posted by
muser
on September 10, 2005 at 5:38 AM
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story
I've got a story for you. My grandmother in law is an indigineous Australian in her seventies who has been barely literate most of her life, but like many aboriginals, has a story or two to tell. Last year she got a small grant to develop a script about a childhood memory she had of their family building a boat in the bush so that her dad could get to work faster of a day. They liked it so much, they made it into a short film which is receiving lots of good press. She is now looking forward to her next project and has never been happier. She realized that it was just a confidence thing and that she could do it once she got past that.
posted by
Jomei
on September 9, 2005 at 5:20 PM
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I still have that book love...I'll send it off as soon as possible....
posted by
lovelyladymonk
on September 9, 2005 at 2:09 PM
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It takes a lot of discipline to learn independently. If you think you can do that, then try the free online courses the others have suggested. Good luck.
Ann.
posted by
A-and-B
on September 9, 2005 at 2:06 PM
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I agree midnighttoker that Symphony has real heart and puts it into her writing. She wants to develop her writing and she wants to send it to publications and so it is great she recognizes what she needs to do and is prepared to do it. More power to her
posted by
Azur
on September 9, 2005 at 1:48 PM
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Symphony,
Sweetie, you write just fine..........no book can teach you how to say what's in your heart, and to me, that's all that really matters....!!!!!!!
posted by
Jaxson-Pete
on September 9, 2005 at 12:18 PM
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Symphony, at least you know why it matters for your own children and so they shouldn't have to go through this. I think that there may be workbooks or online tests such as: Here are some
http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/gr_master_test.asp
http://www.sjc.uq.edu.au/interactive/grammar.html
http://www.world-english.org/test.htm
If you try some of those and score poorly, don't worry and just practice and learn from it
posted by
Azur
on September 9, 2005 at 6:17 AM
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SYMPHONY,
my dad has a 6th grade education, and self educated (homeschooled himeself) by reading everything his 9 kids and wife read. Including all of our books from our various college degrees. He's just as knowledgable in law and art as I am. He's just as knowledgeable in Child Psychology my mom was. He knows as much about marketing as my oldest sister (deceased) did.
All you have to do my dear is read, read, read. Reading things that interest you will increase your vocabulary. As for spelling kids. Get yourself a work book.
Go to criticalthinking.com and look at the word roots series for spelling and vocabulary. For grammar, look at The Language Mechanic and others.
Also go to www.mhteachers.com and look at the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary workbooks. Start with middle school books and work your way through the highschool books. A good book I have is Grade 6 language arts "grammar, a step by step approach".
Once you feel comfortable that you have the basics, then you need to find guide books written for the writing trade.
posted by
homegirl
on September 9, 2005 at 6:13 AM
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One of the best things I can recommend is to read read read. Read everything you can get your hands on. Read tons of novels, and magazine/newpaper articles. If you already do that, then you're halfway there. Everything you need to know is already stored in your head. The next thing is to tap into that. Keep writing (which you do a lot of!), and yes, figure out how to polish up your grammar skills. Search on the Internet, but also search Amazon for some good possibilities, and then search the libraries and bookstores for those same titles (and others) to see if they suit your personality. For instance, I need simple, no-frills, yet engaging instruction to keep me going when I'm learning something new. And then practice practice practice. Finally, join online critique groups that cater to your type of writing (a fiction genre, non-ficition). Critique groups really go a long way to helping you learn your craft. No joke. You learn by others' comments and suggestions, but you also learn by critiquing other people's work as well. I can't recommend such a route highly enough, but you have to be completely open to letting other's read and offer suggestions for how to improve your writing. I can suggest a good one, if you're interested. Feel free to e-mail me.
posted by
SilverMoon7
on September 9, 2005 at 6:10 AM
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Symphony just keep using the spell check and look at what it changes
If you are using Word it will help with the grammar. Keep at it dear. Work on story line. The language is often such a delight. I know you will make it. Look at what you have done this far. You can do this. I want this for you almost as much as you want it. I shall pray for you. It will not hurt things for you to do the same. The scriptures say "You have not because you ask not." So ask. Be Blessed.
posted by
Justi
on September 9, 2005 at 6:07 AM
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SYMPHONY
Sweet girl, I can't recommended any courses, but I know you write well. You have a strong determination. MayB or muser might be able to recommend something. There are a lot of teachers in here to tap into. You will find a way,
Glad your house is clean, now about mine....
posted by
Offy
on September 9, 2005 at 5:53 AM
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Simply desire it with all your heart...
and you shall succeed...the best of luck!
posted by
cosy
on September 9, 2005 at 5:44 AM
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