Ansley Asher
writing thoughtsArchive for March, 2008
Leaving Something Out?
I don’t write articles. But there is something about articles–I mean professional ones, not unpaid bloggers–that I don’t understand. Countless times I have read articles that talk about an event or a quote and never mention the quote or when or where the event was. I still can’t find out when Earth Hour is supposed to be, or if it already passed. Because no one will say. I even read a multi-page article about what will happen for Earth Hour but no mention of what hour when it will be. I wish I could say it was limited to this one time, but it happens daily, and I do searches on Google to find out answers that I really wish would have been in the article.
With political blogs, there’s a lot of posts regarding “what so-and-so said” while never posting a quote. This trend never seems to die. I wish it would. Oftentimes I never find the quote, and don’t even know if it’s true.
What You Say Reflects Who You Are
Oh, Onion writers, you are so full of funny!
Dear reader, enjoy these two old, uh, “news” stories first:
It’s Not Nice To Be Smarter Than Other People
Nation Afraid To Admit 9-Year-Old Disabled Poet Really Bad
Do you change what you say to others because of:
- fear?
- anger?
- peer pressure?
- pressure from your boss?
- their inability to understand?
- the fact that you want to play a joke on them?
- the fact that you believe the rumors about them?
- the fact that they helped you once?
- your best friend’s opinion of them?
- desire for friendship?
- desire for love?
Do your characters? Shouldn’t they?
Match It For Pratchett
Jennifer Jackson, an agent at Donald Maass Literary Agency, posted about this in her blog. That’s how I found out about it. The Match It For Pratchett website explains what it’s about:
“Terry Pratchett, author of the bestselling Discworld novels, has been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer’s. He has donated half a million pounds (approx $1 million) to Alzheimer’s research and appeared in the media highlighting the low levels of research funding Alzheimer’s receives. Millions of loyal readers from around the world have responded and are helping to match Terry’s donation.”
Ms. Jackson is offering a special reward in order to help Mr. Pratchett reach his goal: she will review the first 50 pages of the highest donating writer’s manuscript if he or she sends verification to her by midnight (EST) on Saturday, March 22. Even without this very kind incentive, it’s a very worthwhile cause.
Please do what you can to help.
Arthur C. Clarke Dies
Writer Arthur C. Clarke Dies at 90 – washingtonpost.com
“Sometimes I am asked how I would like to be remembered,” Clarke said recently. “I have had a diverse career as a writer, underwater explorer and space promoter. Of all these, I would like to be remembered as a writer.”
