Muse Conference

There were a host of presenters at the conference. Since this was the first year I attended, I wasn't prepared. There were so many forums and chats, it was difficult to choose. I felt like a kid in the candy store. It was impossible to pick only a few from such a huge selction. In any case the choices ranged from children's writing to Sci-fi and prose. There were marketing workshops, book proposal workshops and so much more. I had every intention of writing synopses but, I didn't anticipate how difficult that would be. If you're interested in a FREE conference and you need help with your manuscript or advice about writing, attend Muse next year. The presenters offer FREE help during the conference and even crit your work.

My biggest helper was Margot Finke, who offered great tips and crits. She set me in the right direction and helped me polish TWO of my children's PB's. I also won a signed copy of her latest PB, Rattlesnake Jam.

During the conference most presenters have contests offering a free copy of one of their pubished works.

If you're interested in the Muse Conference, be sure to register early next year, because FREE fills up PDQ.

Free Online Writer's Conference

Registration for this workshop is now closed. Stay tuned for notes about the workshop the first of November.

If you're serious about your writing and equally serious about saving money, you might want to consider the Muse Online Writer's Conference. I've heard it mentioned in at least one of the writing forums to which I subscribe. It sounds very positive and best of all did I mention it's free!

Anyone Up to A Word Game?

It will be fun to see how creative we can get with "change". Write a sentence using the political buzzword. Borrow a quote or make one up! Here's one to get us started off:

Every day I ponder "Exact Change" as my clinking quarters keep time with the footsteps behind me, nudging me ahead on the crowded bus.

Do You Twitter?

What is it about Twitter that you most like? I made an account, but I'm not certain how useful I will find it.

https://twitter.com/inkhounds

Bad English

Someone with an English degree should have a better handle on the language than the average Joe-  according to my husband. He's talking about me, of course, and I hardly look like a Joe. But, I tend to use words out of context and even mispronounce them - and not unwittingly. I figure since I learned what's correct I have earned a license to slaughter the language if I want to. Is that so arrogant?

For example I like to say Yose-might rather than Yo-sem-a-tee. Look - I can speak the word in half the time and it squeezes in a poem with less effort. Try fitting Yosemite into iambic pentameter.

His biggest peeve is my misuse of the word "ugly". When we're browsing at a shop, furniture store or wherever, I tend to exclaim how perfectly ugly the things are that I most like. Perhaps the logic behind "misusing" the word is slightly influenced by a defiant attitude towards a society that sets the bar a little too high for beautiful -but I doubt that. I'm just pragmatical enough to disregard certain societal constructs, labels and such and believe my self's  big enough to think for myself. But, I like toying with words nonetheless.

How about you? What's your favorite misuse of the English language or your biggest peeve? If you want to check out some serious fun misuse of English check out Engrish.com.