Tag Archives: writing

Endings

Posted on August 18, 2014 by ginachoward

Ah, the possibilities of beginnings!  Smorgasbords of plot potential and crackling climaxes. Endings? Necessary evils – often awkwardly awful termini, wrap-ups rushed like the “Sixty Minutes’” second hand ticking to the hour’s end. Endings tend to be as problematic in books … Continue reading →

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Back to work

Posted on July 14, 2014 by ginachoward

I got some tough love from my critique group last week. After making suggestions on how to improve my submission, they gave me their strongest comments: No more work on the house, no more trips, no more slacking off. Get back … Continue reading →

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No sunglasses required

Posted on June 24, 2014 by ginachoward

Thoughts walking the beach on a cloudy, cool day We are the seekers. The stone skippers looking for one more hop to shatter the lake’s glass. The hunters after increasingly elusive Petoskey stones. The pilgrims yearning for respite, refreshment. We … Continue reading →

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Patience

Posted on June 9, 2014 by ginachoward

As if writing weren’t difficult enough. Each time I copy or cut my prose, Word balks. Actually, it more than balks. It shuts down. If you’re a parent of a teen, you are probably familiar with this routine. A sulky/defiant/recalcitrant/stubborn … Continue reading →

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Worth of a word

Posted on June 2, 2014 by ginachoward

What is a word worth? As any teacher can tell you, the inflated essays of students stretching towards their word count are very, very, very (497, 498, 499) ineffective (500!). The Gettysburg Address came in at about 272 (depending on … Continue reading →

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On fire

Posted on May 26, 2014 by ginachoward

I faced the room of orange jumpsuits. We began where we had left off a week earlier, by composing a landay, the two-line poem of nine and 13 syllables favored by Afghan Pashtuns. Actually, three class members began where we … Continue reading →

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Call in the professionals

Posted on May 19, 2014 by ginachoward

I’ve been watching way too much HGTV. The pros come in and, despite unexpected construction challenges and indecisive homeowners, they completely renovate houses in a matter of months. They make perfection look easy. Inspired, I decided to tackle my bedroom … Continue reading →

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Escape in writing

Posted on May 5, 2014 by ginachoward

“Some of you are here because you want to become better writers,” I said, as eight pairs of eyes evaluated me. “Some are here because you just wanted something to do.” A few heads nodded. They were giving me the … Continue reading →

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Blowing on the embers

Posted on April 21, 2014 by ginachoward

Writing was the perfect antidote to last week’s return to chilly bluster when the sun was a stranger but rain wasn’t. It gave me that emotional shot of sunny ‘70s that Mother Nature refused to offer. With each day at … Continue reading →

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Making the big league

Posted on April 14, 2014 by ginachoward

With the city skyline gleaming above them, the Charlotte Knights played the first game in their new stadium last Friday night in front of a sold-out crowd. It was an auspicious beginning. The Knights tied the game before losing the … Continue reading →

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