Rarely Recommended Book for Writers, Editors, ESL Students

I am having more fun reading Bad English: A History of Linguistic Aggravation. Sooo, I thought I'd leave a quick recommendation for you.

 I am gleaning tidbits from this book for my ESL (English as a Second Language)  tutoring students and recommending it for anyone who loves English, loves how we borrow phrases and words, and generally gets a kick of what some find aggravating.  Or make a living from it--and that would include editors and writers.
 
Hammacher and Schlemmer calls it “the history of English Idiosyncrasies. http://bit.ly/AggravationEnglish. It should make a great gift for writerly types.



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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor .

Author of Purple Pencil Adventures Shares Writing Prompts

Yes, I did it! I conned Debra Eckerling,  the author of the new book of writing prompts and inspiration called Purple Pencil Adventures, to share some brand new writing prompts not seen in her book with my SharingwithWriters blog readers!  You know, a kind of bonus. A little taste of what's to come when you buy her book--for yourself or your own students.  Here it is direct from Debra:

 

Writing Adventures from Debra Eckerling's Purple Pencil

By Debra Eckerling

Purple Pencil Adventures: Writing Prompts for Kids of All Ages is filled with writing exercises, designed to inspire joy, creativity, and a love of the written word. Want to get writing? Here are some bonus prompts to get you started.

New Person Adventure – Since it’s the beginning of the school year, chances are you’ve met someone new recently. What did you think about him or her before you spoke? What did you think after having a conversation? Were you right on target or way off-base? Write about the differences and similarities of your views on this person. It’s amazing how first impressions are usually totally right or wildly wrong.

Food Adventure – What is your favorite food? Why? Do you like sweet treats or meals? Snacks or desserts? All of the above. Pick a food and use all of your senses to describe it: taste, smell, touch. And if it makes noise when you eat it, include that too. Bonus points if, after you describe that food, you can’t resist and have to eat it immediately!

Writing Adventure – Everyone has their own method of how they create. Take a few moments, think about yours, and write about it. What is your favorite way to write? Via computer or with pen and paper? Where’s your favorite place to write? Inside at a desk or on the couch? Or outside at a bench or under a tree? Describe your favorite place and method in a way that those who are reading your story want to try writing that way too!

Purple Pencil Adventures is aimed at kids, but all ages will enjoy it. They’re even more fun when families work on them at the same time and share their stories.

For more writing exercises, check out Purple Pencil Adventures: Writing Prompts for Kids of All Ages. Like Purple Pencil Adventures on Facebook, follow @PurplePencilAdv on Twitter, and explore the website.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor .

Pitch in for Literacy!

Many of you know that charity is not only a great life habit but that it is also a fine way to promote. You've probably noticed how many businesses are eager to associate themselves with everything from breast cancer research to Rawanda. Literacy is a great cause for both readers and authors to support. Both tend to have lots of books to pass on to these efforts. By the way, you'll find a growing list of such charities on the Resources for Writers page on my site, www.HowToDoItFrugally.com. Fine the page with the links at the top of the home page and when you get there, scroll down (-;

Here is another: Literacy Link -

Leamos, a volunteer tutoring program, operates in a small
rural community in Southwest New Mexico. We support the community by
tutoring adults and children, reading to children in classrooms,
distributing books and information on the importance of reading and
providing resources to those who cannot afford books and supplies for
themselves.

We are requesting books for teens and adults. These will be
distributed through our special programs, such as One-On-One Tutoring,
Family Literacy, and ESL (English as a Second Language). In addition, we
have partnerships with HeadStart for classroom reading, WIC
(Woman/Infants/Children), El Refugio Family Shelter, SWAK (Southwest
Advocates for Kids), teen group homes and the Mobile Library that goes to
more rural areas.

The Federal EIN for our 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Charitable organization is:
81-0655544

Please mail donations to:
Linda Ferrara
Coldwell Banker Enchantment Realty
501 Silver Heights Blvd.
Silver City, NM 88061
505-538-2931
Linda@Silvercity-realestate.com

Sincerely,

Linda Ferrara
Board of Directors - Literacy Link Leamos
www.gilarangers.com/leamos.htm


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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author THIS IS THE PLACE; HARKENING: A COLLECTION OF STORIES REMEMBERED; TRACINGS, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books, THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER: HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON'T; and THE FRUGAL EDITOR: PUT YOUR BEST BOOK FORWARD TO AVOID HUMILIATION AND ENSURE SUCCESS.
Her other blogs include TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com and AuthorsCoalition.blogspot.com, a blog that helps writers and publishers turn a ho-hum book fair booth into a sizzler.

A Little Inspiration Here for Young Writers

I am publishing a poem written by D. B. Pacini. She says, I title the following poem 'Young Poets' but it applies to all young writers that I mentor." I feel the same way about the writers I work with -- young or old -- for we writers are among those artists who share their souls.


Young Poets

Dedicated especially to SMV and Dallas


You are the morning
That comes in the afternoon.
You are the scraps
Of many old books,
The authors of new ones.
You take this ancient world
Into your hands,
And make it new.
You are bold.
You are powerful.
You are hope.
You are the only chance left.
You are an unbroken promise.
When you speak
We should listen.
When you whisper
We should listen hard.
I have been writing
More years than you are old.
But it is you that amazes me.
Like a river
You quench thirst.
Do I believe in you?
Yes, more than you do.
Are you precious?
Yes, more than gold.
Are you important?
Yes, as much as oxygen.
I compare you
To true love and the sweetest dreams,
To mountain tops and clear trickling streams,
To sunrises, sunsets, and inventions not invented yet
Because I can’t think of anything
That compares with you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~D. B. Pacini

Thank you, Donna!
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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author THIS IS THE PLACE; HARKENING: A COLLECTION OF STORIES REMEMBERED; TRACINGS, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books, THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER: HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON'T; and THE FRUGAL EDITOR: PUT YOUR BEST BOOK FORWARD TO AVOID HUMILIATION AND ENSURE SUCCESS.
Her other blogs include TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com and AuthorsCoalition.blogspot.com, a blog that helps writers and publishers turn a ho-hum book fair booth into a sizzler.