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Writing ethics: Defining your voice by what you don’t write about as much as what you do

beccakinla advice, art, beauty, Jewish, truth, writer, writing Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Okay, so last week I mentioned how much I admired Nina Badzin’s article for TC Jew Folk, “Things I Don’t Write about on the Internet.”  

I pretty much agreed with her on all points, although I will occasionally get political. (This is pretty much conditioning on my part: no meal shared with my family during the 1980s did not involve bashing of the Republican Party, so far as I can remember. But my memory might be faulty. Not that I’m a Democrat. Currently, my party membership is officially “decline to state.” You can do that in California.) 

Anyway, there was one thing not on Nina’s list I kept thinking about while reading it, and it has haunted me ever since:

I DON’T TELL OTHER PEOPLE’S STORIES.

What are “other people’s stories?” Continue reading →

The 2 Best Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills (with a little backup from Anne Lamott)

beccakinla advice, writing groups, writing process Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments

I’m going to offer some advice today that seems simplistic, so basic as to be ridiculous. Yet recently, I’ve experienced people who have neglected these 2 important strategies that are pretty much guaranteed to improve their writing abilities. So here I am repeating them.

Almost every book about writing offers the following advice. (The wording might vary according to the delicacy of the audience, but the meaning is the same.)

relaxing in a chair

Okay, so you might need more than a chair. This guy isn’t going to get much writing done if he doesn’t pick up a pen!

1) PUT YOUR TUSH IN THE CHAIR.

By this, of course, we learn that if you tell us you want to write, well that’s a nice sentiment. But we know that you mean it if you sit at a desk, pick up a pen (or keyboard) and actually practice writing. Certainly weekly, and preferably daily, you need to write. A human being is only a writer if s/he is a person who writes.  Continue reading →

A Friendly Newsletter for Special Kids

beccakinla aspergers, aspy, autism, kids, kosher, special interests, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

A couple of months ago, I discovered an ad in HaModia for a newsletter called “Chevras Chaverim.” It’s a little magazine for Jewish kids with special needs. We’ve received the first two issues, one before Rosh HaShanah, one before Sukkot. Each newsletter contains several “departments,” tailored to the needs of kids with social skills problems, sensory processing disorder, and the like. The organizer loves feedback, and wants kids to submit things for publication. The subscription is free for now and you get it by emailing “Chevras Chaverim” at Chevraschaverim@gmail.com.