WordPress Writing Quotes

I’ve loved how when you post on WordPress now, you get this fun or thought provoking quote about writing on the side.  (Note for people posting… you don’t see the quote if you schedule your posts. Only if you actually post right when you finish typing)  So, I’ve been ‘collecting’ them over the past couple months.  Recently they have repeated themselves, but I’ve collected a nice amount. So, enjoy.  Oh, and clearly I’m not the only one who has enjoyed the quotes.  Just check out the related articles below.

I loved words. I love to sing them and speak them and even now, I must admit, I have fallen into the joy of writing them.   ~ Anne Rice

The best way to become acquainted with a subject is to write a book about it.   ~ Benjamin Disraeli

A metaphor is like a simile.   ~ Author Unknown

Words, once they are printed, have a life of their own.   ~ Carol Burnett

I am a drinker with writing problems.   ~ Brendan Behan

To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart.   ~ Phyllis Theroux

There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.   ~ W. Somerset Maugham

 I do not like to write – I like to have written.   ~ Gloria Steinem

Easy reading is damn hard writing.  ~ Nathanial Hawthorne

My ideas usually come not at my desk writing but in the midst of living.      ~ Anais Nin

Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money.  ~Jules Renard

I do not like to write – I like to have written.  ~ Gloria Steinem

The desire to write grows with writing.  ~ Desiderius Erasmus

Signing off

~Kate

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A Good Children’s Story

A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest. ~ C. S. Lewis

I think that statement quite profound and really quite true.  I love children’s books.  Good children’s books.  It helps that I keep my eyes open for new children’s books for my sister who has down syndrome.  She is a perpetual child, so I have gotten my fill of listening to Brian Jacques’ Redwall series, Harry Potter, The American Girl Collection, The Hobbit, and various others.  I keep my eyes open for ones that sound interesting at the library, and yes, I occasionally read them myself.  Why, even today I brought home a book from the juvenile section.

Now, most of the time I find it hard to get into the Happy Hollister books, or the American Girl books… Lord please no…., but I respect and appreciate them. I mean, I did go through all of those several times.  I actually find it easier to read picture books!  Yes, I love to look through picture books.  I am not ashamed of admitting it because its true.

I have been criticized for being in the picture books by library employees.  Yes, they think I’m too old to be there.  Um, when my goal is to write picture books, how is it too old to be there?  I just brush it off and go back to reading Dr. Seuss, Bill Peet, Jill Barklem, and others that I find fun.  When I come across a new picture book I bring it home for my mother to evaluate as well. I like her take on books because, well, it was her reading to me and my sister as much as she did that created a monster of a reader… ME! 

I think more people should try out a children’s book now and then.  Many of them are quite enjoyable despite their association with a younger audience.  I mean, the whole Narnia series is meant for children, but I still find them quite fascinating.  Same with various other books. 

I could go on and on about this, but I dare you to go into the children’s section of the library or book store and find a children’s book to read.  There are some really great ones out there.  (there are also some really bad ones too, but then they are not good children’s stories)

Signing off

~Kate

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A Not Too Shabby Finish

A month ago I posted a short story that I entered into a small writing contest that was being held in my valley.  It was endorsed by the two little libraries, and the theme this year was, “It was a dark and stormy night…”  Well, I entered with my piece titled, The Making of a Private Eye, which you can read if you click the title.

Well, much to my delight, I ended up in second place for the adult submissions!  I was quite pleased, and I hope it helps forward my career.  It was good practice for me as I’m not comfortable showing off my work to most people.  I am embarrassed most of the time because I’m far from confident that anything I write is worth reading.  Funny thing to be a writer.  What is the point of writing if you never show it to anyone?!

So, there you have it.  Supposedly I get a certificate and a button.  We’ll see.  I’m just happy to have the second spot.  Now, I have to find out about the anthology that they say my story should be in.  I think.  I guess I had best call.

Signing off

~Kate

Real Men Don’t Hire Hookers

I rarely delve into the political world but I am going to tonight.  If you have been paying attention to the news this week, then you know that there is this major scandal down in Colombia way, involving Secret Service agents, Military personal, and prostitutes.   Now, I have no idea what happened, and I think it pretty sad there is such a situation like this.  My thoughts revolve around two comments made last night by political pundits.  I was amazed by one, pleasantly so, and kind of disgusted by the other.

The first comment came from Ret. Col. Ralph Peters.

“Real men don’t hire hookers, ever.” And also, “I don’t care how muscular you are or how many guns you have, real men don’t hire hookers.”

Now, that is a pretty profound statement, but really, if you think about it, it’s true.  If you are a real man, you don’t need to hire someone to , eh hem, service you.  I could expound on that, but just start reading Scot McKay and his view on being a real man.

The second comment came from Brit Hume.

“This is a case of boys will be boys.”

Uh, excuse me?  Oh, so the Secret Service ‘men’ were boys then?  What the heck are they doing protecting the president then?  I’m sorry, but that is just a cop out.

Now, I don’t believe in prostitution.  I don’t think it a good thing, but you are never going to get rid of it.  Just like you will never get rid of drunk people, drugs, and any other nasty vice.  But just because something is legal doesn’t make it right.

Now, I can see legalizing it in this country… BUT, I don’t want to see it on the strip in Vegas. (I’ve never been to Vegas, but I hope to one day)  There were originally red light districts.  Let’s keep it there, and nowhere else.  If you are caught bringing a call girl, hooker, etc. to your hotel room, you should be fined up the ying yang.  Children shouldn’t be exposed to that.

I still don’t think it good. Oh, and the ‘boys will be boys’ comment has got to be one of the dumbest sexist comments ever.  What would have happened if the Secret Service had been all women and they hired gigolos?  All heck would have broken loose.  Why is it men can go out cavorting, but women can’t?  I’m not saying they should, but why is it okay for men to go and sow their oats, but not women?

Okay, this is a mild rant.  I’ll leave you with the quote by Col. Peters.

“Real men don’t hire hookers, ever.”

I think that sums it up.

Signing off

~Kate

I Want To Dance With Somebody

It’s true.  I admit it completely and somewhat proudly. I am a fan of Dancing With The Stars.  I suppose that you could pretty much say that being a woman = DWTS.  I have gotten sucked into the world of spray tans, glitter, and lots of bare male chests this season.  And like every season, I find myself wishing I could be on the show.  No, not an audience member… I mean, I want to dance!  Get my groove going.

For those who don’t know me, getting my groove on is laughable.  I do not have a groove.  My mother tried to teach me rhythm….  “I’ve got rhythm, I’ve got music, I’ve got my man, who could ask for anything more” was not a motto I could use.  In all reality, I don’t got it.  But, I’m dying to dance!  I love music, and I love watching dancing. 
I know I could be brilliant on that show.  Give me Maksim, Derek, or Mark, and I’ll kill the competition.  (Yes, I know I’m delusional.  Isn’t there something that says not to mess with my delusions?)

Well, I may never be on the show.  I may never take dance lesson, though if I ever have the opportunity, I am going to.  I may never find a use for dancing.  But I still love it.  And my one way to really enjoy it is listening to music and putting a specific dance to it.  Tonight I was thinking about the song “Young Turks” by Rod Stewart.  It would make a killer jive.   Eric Clapton’s “River of Tears” would be an amazing waltz.  That is how I think about dancing.  Putting dances to favorite songs. 

And this is coming from someone who can’t read music, very well.  My mother tried to get me to play the piano.  Ah yes, I was a very willful child, and I did not get math.  I was doomed.

So, I may never play music.  I may never dance.  But I can write, so I guess all’s not lost.  But I love dancing, and music, and combining the two makes DWTS one of my favorite shows.   I can’t even claim it as a guilty pleasure because I don’t feel guilty watching it.

Signing off
~Kate