Good grief. Did you hear about what Nyjer Morgan did? (For any of you non-sportsy people, he's a baseball player on the Nationals team) He used to be my favorite player just because of his awesome attitude. Now he's called baseball's newest villain. All in the course of one week!
*Sigh*. I just can't understand it. From such a great guy to starting a brawl and throwing a baseball at a fan. Sheesh...now I have to pick a new favorite baseball player. Okay...how about Adam Dunn?
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
My FAVORITE Writing Tip
Doncha wish that there was just one simple thing that could completely transform your writing from amateur to awesome? Admit it, sometimes the normal learn-by-experience can require too much...patience. Hard work. Are there no shortcuts?
No, sadly, there are no shortcuts in writing. Writing just seems to be one of those things that is gained by pain. No one is a Shakespeare/Bronte/Lewis/Tolkien as soon as they pick up their pen for the first time.
However...
...there is one writing tip that (I think) is pretty close to a shortcut. It's transformed my writing just over the course of six months. It solves the problem that nearly all starting writers have. Just my opinion, but I hope as you read you'll agree. =)
Let's take this as an example.
Juniper wasn't very happy that Jake had put the frog in her bed. She yelled at him for a while, and then just went to her frog-free bed.
Now look at that. What are the two sentences saying? Juniper was mad because Jake had pulled a mean prank. She lost her temper, and then went to bed. Okay. That was kinda boring. There is no picture here--it's flat, dull, and makes for horrible reading. This style is called 'telling', and it's not suggested. At all.
Now look at this:
The door barely escaped flying off its hinges as it was flung open. Juniper stormed into the room, her face bright red with fury. Off in a corner, her brother Jake's eyes widened at her livid face.
"JAKE!" A bellow akin to an angry bull's rent the air as Juniper planted herself in the middle of the room. Her flaming eyes were fixed on the cowering form of her little brother.
Jake wriggled desperately into the corner of the couch.
"Don't try to hide. I know exactly who placed this frog in my bed."
A groan emitted from behind the pillow, held like a shield of last-resort. Everyone knew that when Juniper put on her deadly quiet tone, it was over. Slowly, Jake raised his head and prepared to face his doom.
Piercing eyes glowered as Juniper held out a plastic cup toward Jake. "Take it," she said coldly. "I found it on my pillow." A tell-tale ribbit sounded from the depths of the drinking vessel.
Hastily, Jake snatched away the amphibian and the cup, mumbling something under his breath. He was about to exit the room, when Juniper laid an unfriendly hand on his shoulder.
"Jake," she said. "I'm going back to bed now. But be assured...I won't forget this."
He gulped.
With no further fanfare, Juniper quietly slipped away. But Jake knew that it wasn't the last of this episode.
Now look at that. The same general information can be found: Juniper was mad because Jake had pulled a mean prank. She lost her temper, and then went to bed. However, wasn't that much more interesting? Hmmm...a break of about two days since I wrote 'bed.' and 'However' has elapsed...and I just lost my train of thought.
Ah! I had it again! Read the first example, and then read the second. Which one gives you a better, clearer picture? Which one reveals things about the characters' personalities, behavioral habits, pet peeves, and hobbies? Which one has flow?
Yep. The second one, the one that uses the style of 'showing'. Why? Because in the first, I just told you that Juniper was mad at Jake, and in the second I showed you.
I see the style of 'telling' in many starting-out writers' books, mostly my own. I actually wasn't sure why my writing sounded so bad, although I had mostly fixed the problem just on my own. But then I read a really great, informational blog post by SOMEONE, but I can't remember who! Aaargh, I hate it when that happens. I think that to hear Erestor jabber in my ear about Pokemon cards and other subjects, I have to erase things on my memory chip. That's how the data on how to type a capitol E with the two dots over it got lost.
But anyway, when I read that incredible post, I almost fell of my chair. That was it! As before mentioned, I had managed to fix most of the 'tell' parts in my books without knowing what they were, but because I wasn't able to make a full diagnosis other than that it sounded awkward, I couldn't get them all.
Anyway, can anyone tell that I LOOOOOVE this writing tip? All these years, I've suffered from 'telling', and now I FINALLY KNOW! Okay. Yeah.
On a tangent, this post has taken almost a week to write. I have no clue why; maybe because I've been so busy. Oh, and tonight's the night that Strasburg (*gasp* spell-check doesn't know his name! They marked it...a misspelled word!) pitches for the Nationals in the major leagues! Yay! I'll miss it, because I'm trying out a soccer league, but I'm still really happy. Finally, maybe this area will actually be GOOD at sports!
Izori
No, sadly, there are no shortcuts in writing. Writing just seems to be one of those things that is gained by pain. No one is a Shakespeare/Bronte/Lewis/Tolkien as soon as they pick up their pen for the first time.
However...
...there is one writing tip that (I think) is pretty close to a shortcut. It's transformed my writing just over the course of six months. It solves the problem that nearly all starting writers have. Just my opinion, but I hope as you read you'll agree. =)
Let's take this as an example.
Juniper wasn't very happy that Jake had put the frog in her bed. She yelled at him for a while, and then just went to her frog-free bed.
Now look at that. What are the two sentences saying? Juniper was mad because Jake had pulled a mean prank. She lost her temper, and then went to bed. Okay. That was kinda boring. There is no picture here--it's flat, dull, and makes for horrible reading. This style is called 'telling', and it's not suggested. At all.
Now look at this:
The door barely escaped flying off its hinges as it was flung open. Juniper stormed into the room, her face bright red with fury. Off in a corner, her brother Jake's eyes widened at her livid face.
"JAKE!" A bellow akin to an angry bull's rent the air as Juniper planted herself in the middle of the room. Her flaming eyes were fixed on the cowering form of her little brother.
Jake wriggled desperately into the corner of the couch.
"Don't try to hide. I know exactly who placed this frog in my bed."
A groan emitted from behind the pillow, held like a shield of last-resort. Everyone knew that when Juniper put on her deadly quiet tone, it was over. Slowly, Jake raised his head and prepared to face his doom.
Piercing eyes glowered as Juniper held out a plastic cup toward Jake. "Take it," she said coldly. "I found it on my pillow." A tell-tale ribbit sounded from the depths of the drinking vessel.
Hastily, Jake snatched away the amphibian and the cup, mumbling something under his breath. He was about to exit the room, when Juniper laid an unfriendly hand on his shoulder.
"Jake," she said. "I'm going back to bed now. But be assured...I won't forget this."
He gulped.
With no further fanfare, Juniper quietly slipped away. But Jake knew that it wasn't the last of this episode.
Now look at that. The same general information can be found: Juniper was mad because Jake had pulled a mean prank. She lost her temper, and then went to bed. However, wasn't that much more interesting? Hmmm...a break of about two days since I wrote 'bed.' and 'However' has elapsed...and I just lost my train of thought.
Ah! I had it again! Read the first example, and then read the second. Which one gives you a better, clearer picture? Which one reveals things about the characters' personalities, behavioral habits, pet peeves, and hobbies? Which one has flow?
Yep. The second one, the one that uses the style of 'showing'. Why? Because in the first, I just told you that Juniper was mad at Jake, and in the second I showed you.
I see the style of 'telling' in many starting-out writers' books, mostly my own. I actually wasn't sure why my writing sounded so bad, although I had mostly fixed the problem just on my own. But then I read a really great, informational blog post by SOMEONE, but I can't remember who! Aaargh, I hate it when that happens. I think that to hear Erestor jabber in my ear about Pokemon cards and other subjects, I have to erase things on my memory chip. That's how the data on how to type a capitol E with the two dots over it got lost.
But anyway, when I read that incredible post, I almost fell of my chair. That was it! As before mentioned, I had managed to fix most of the 'tell' parts in my books without knowing what they were, but because I wasn't able to make a full diagnosis other than that it sounded awkward, I couldn't get them all.
Anyway, can anyone tell that I LOOOOOVE this writing tip? All these years, I've suffered from 'telling', and now I FINALLY KNOW! Okay. Yeah.
On a tangent, this post has taken almost a week to write. I have no clue why; maybe because I've been so busy. Oh, and tonight's the night that Strasburg (*gasp* spell-check doesn't know his name! They marked it...a misspelled word!) pitches for the Nationals in the major leagues! Yay! I'll miss it, because I'm trying out a soccer league, but I'm still really happy. Finally, maybe this area will actually be GOOD at sports!
Izori
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Soccer
Guess what? Our team is the best u-15 team! Yay! We had our all-day soccer tournament today, and it was a lot of fun. It was REALLY hot, though, which is never good. I played defense mostly, but I did do a wee bit of midfield. After this, we have 1 more game to play, and if we win it we'll have been undefeated!
Unfortunately, I now have a sunburn nearly as bright as my coral-pink fingernails.
Ooooh, I DYED MY HAIR BLUE!!! Don't worry, it washed out. I love doing crazy things.
Anyway, this is just a lightning quick because I'm flat out exhausted. And we have testing tomorrow...oh, dear. We do the California achievement test, and it's all easy except for the math.
Izori
Unfortunately, I now have a sunburn nearly as bright as my coral-pink fingernails.
Ooooh, I DYED MY HAIR BLUE!!! Don't worry, it washed out. I love doing crazy things.
Anyway, this is just a lightning quick because I'm flat out exhausted. And we have testing tomorrow...oh, dear. We do the California achievement test, and it's all easy except for the math.
Izori
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Saturdays
Well...I was going to go exercise in the basement, but I just took out my knee on a table. Man, that hurt. So, I guess I won't.
Erestor had a shut-out baseball game, 21-3. His team won. =)
I had a great soccer game on Wednesday. I played against some people from my shooting/archery club, which was interesting. My team won, 3-0.
Sigh...we're going to do a 5-K race in November called the Turkey Trot. The first two times I did it, I was 11 and 12 years old, and I was a natural runner. It's really unfair how little kids can basically sprint three miles without any training. Now I'm a good sprinter, but I can hardly jog over a mile. If I had a choice, I wouldn't do any running, but since I have to do the 5-k, I might as well train. -_-
Enjoying summer!
Izori
Erestor had a shut-out baseball game, 21-3. His team won. =)
I had a great soccer game on Wednesday. I played against some people from my shooting/archery club, which was interesting. My team won, 3-0.
Sigh...we're going to do a 5-K race in November called the Turkey Trot. The first two times I did it, I was 11 and 12 years old, and I was a natural runner. It's really unfair how little kids can basically sprint three miles without any training. Now I'm a good sprinter, but I can hardly jog over a mile. If I had a choice, I wouldn't do any running, but since I have to do the 5-k, I might as well train. -_-
Enjoying summer!
Izori
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
*groan*
We started spring soccer season today! And I'm proud to report my first injury of the season: a bloody nose.
And it was so hot. Now I have a really big headache.
Ugh.
Don't get me wrong. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE soccer, but at the beginning of every season I have to regain my 'soccer reflexes'. I was very ball-shy today. And not very coordinated.
I think it was the coffee.
Izori
And it was so hot. Now I have a really big headache.
Ugh.
Don't get me wrong. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE soccer, but at the beginning of every season I have to regain my 'soccer reflexes'. I was very ball-shy today. And not very coordinated.
I think it was the coffee.
Izori
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Random Stuff, the majority of which is about sports
It doesn't feel like a Sunday! Because of the three feet of snow (Yes! We got three feet! Actually, it wasn't quite 3 ft, but it was very close) church was canceled. :(
Went sledding with my friend's younger sister...and we had an absolute blast! Except the snow was SO deep, I had a really hard time walking in it. The sledding was wonderful; hardly anyone was there until later. And my friend built a fort. It was really, really cool--had a window, and was big enough for her, her lil' sister, and me to all fit in it.
Unfortunately, when the snow plow came through, they plowed all of the snow from the street in front of everyone's mailbox! One person's mailbox is absolutely buried. Ours is hardly visible. Erestor and his friends are climbing on the big snow-pile right now.
And...I'm gettin' ready to watch the Super Bowl! GO COLTS!!!! I'm not rooting for the Saints because they beat the Redskins.
I take that back. Pretty much EVERYBODY beat the Redskins this year. What I meant to say was that the Saints vs. Redskins game was one of the few that we actually came close to winning. But then we lost. What's worse, several respectable friends of mine were rooting for the Saints! I was betrayed! Et tu, Brute?
What can I say? Loyalty is my strongest point! I still am a Nationals fan, and everyone knows how horrible they are. But guess what!
The Capitols aren't bad! Matter of fact, they just beat a record today! 14 game winning streak! Now let's go for 20!
Izori
Went sledding with my friend's younger sister...and we had an absolute blast! Except the snow was SO deep, I had a really hard time walking in it. The sledding was wonderful; hardly anyone was there until later. And my friend built a fort. It was really, really cool--had a window, and was big enough for her, her lil' sister, and me to all fit in it.
Unfortunately, when the snow plow came through, they plowed all of the snow from the street in front of everyone's mailbox! One person's mailbox is absolutely buried. Ours is hardly visible. Erestor and his friends are climbing on the big snow-pile right now.
And...I'm gettin' ready to watch the Super Bowl! GO COLTS!!!! I'm not rooting for the Saints because they beat the Redskins.
I take that back. Pretty much EVERYBODY beat the Redskins this year. What I meant to say was that the Saints vs. Redskins game was one of the few that we actually came close to winning. But then we lost. What's worse, several respectable friends of mine were rooting for the Saints! I was betrayed! Et tu, Brute?
What can I say? Loyalty is my strongest point! I still am a Nationals fan, and everyone knows how horrible they are. But guess what!
The Capitols aren't bad! Matter of fact, they just beat a record today! 14 game winning streak! Now let's go for 20!
Izori
Monday, November 16, 2009
Just a quick post...
I have to do my school work, and I'm really behind on it, and because Mom, Luthien, and Galdor are picking up Great-Grandma from another state, I got to do the dishes last night, and this morning...*sigh*. Don't you LOVE dishes? They're so...non writing-friendly.
Oh, yeah, and the Redskins FINALLY won a game! Against the Broncos, I believe. All people who cheer for the Nationals (baseball) and the Redskins (American Football) are very loyal fans.
Also, the soccer tournament on Wednesday (I know, late update. Sorry!) was rained out *sniff*. BUT MY TEAM WOULD HAVE WON!! No, actually they wouldn't have. We probably would have been creamed.
So, onto math...*another sigh*.
Izori
Oh, yeah, and the Redskins FINALLY won a game! Against the Broncos, I believe. All people who cheer for the Nationals (baseball) and the Redskins (American Football) are very loyal fans.
Also, the soccer tournament on Wednesday (I know, late update. Sorry!) was rained out *sniff*. BUT MY TEAM WOULD HAVE WON!! No, actually they wouldn't have. We probably would have been creamed.
So, onto math...*another sigh*.
Izori
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