Let's start with a great interview on IWSG about hybrid writers with Catherine Ryan Howard. So many writers are taking this path to publication, both new writers and though who have been around for a while.
My friend Demi Stevens pointed me toward this video, Charlie Day giving a commencement speech. It was years ago but it is so true. Take risks. Trust yourself. Failure will happen but you keep trying. If something isn't working for you, move on.
In other news, some of my writing friends have been talking about Google and their attacks on copyright laws. Here's an article that explains some of what has been happening lately. Will artists be able to protect their work? For how long?
More controversy on schools and how so many are no longer teaching cursive writing. I have mentioned many times on this blog the importance of writing by hand. And cursive writing is so much better than printing or typing. I have a sister who suffers from concussion syndrome. One of the things her doctor requires of her is to write in a journal every day and write letters to other people. After years of keeping in touch via phone or email, we're writing to each for her good health. This article gives Ten Reasons People Still Need Cursive. Very interesting.
On a more personal note, this article is about Title IX. It turns forty-four this year. Politicians and the media love to talk about gender inequality. It certainly exists and it's a battle that will no doubt go on for many generations. Past generations of women and the men who supported them have already won some battles. Title IX was one of them. Schools didn't automatically give girls equal rights when it came to athletics. Facilities and equipment in those early years weren't even close to equal. Uniforms were cheaply made and ugly. It was a struggle I lived through. Here's to all the girls and women still fighting to good fight. This interesting article is about how females tend to drop out of sports when they reach their teens compared to males. Lots of reasons are suggested.
Next Wednesday is Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. The question this month is:
What is your favorite aspect of being a writer?
Are you a hybrid writer or planning to be? Is Google going to take over the world? Are they determined to make pirating work easier? Do you still write by hand? Do you think it should be taught in schools? Have you ever had to fight for your rights to equal treatment?
34 comments:
I wasn't really into sports until my teens. Then it was softball, track, and cross country. But I do remember that there was no women's pole vaulting when I was in high school. We were allowed to try it for one day, just for fun, and I was actually really good at it.
I suck at sports so I avoided them entirely (trust me, the other kids were grateful), and I do think cursive should be taught in school. Everyone should be able to write legibly.
I lived through the whole era of gender equality. It was tough and painful at times, but no where near the drama people make out today.
It's like anything else. If you allow yourself to be kept down, others will most certainly oblige you. But when you're the best at something, the naysayers can't wear blinders forever, especially in this day and age.
I wasn't really good/into sports as well - but I think that has to do with the way my school taught it. We weren't split by skill level, so it made you feel really self-conscious when you were up against people who were amazing at sport and you weren't. I still write by hand and it should definitely still be taught in schools! Loved the interview with Catherine - made me smile, and made me feel like anyone can achieve their dreams if they just keep going :)
I suck at cursive now as I haven't used it other than to sign my name in years. Stupid Google keeps getting away with ramming what they want down everyone's throat. Rich get richer type of thing, sadly.
My cursive is illegible. But if I couldn't sign my name, how would I endorse anything? Will the next generation print their names on checks?
I don't understand the point of cursive. Learning it definitely didn't improve my writing any. I'm not saying it doesn't still work for some people, but I think it's time being taught in schools has past.
It's fun watching the girls pole vault. Takes strength and guts.
Some people have terrible handwriting but people still need it and need to be able to read it.
Our school continually improves their PE program. They offer choices so if you don't like sports, you can elect a fitness program instead. I love writing by hand too.
I thought Amazon was going to take over the world but I guess it's going to Google.
And I think of all the things they won't be able to read like historical documents.
There's so many studies that point to good things happening in the brain's learning center when people write by hand that I hope it never goes away.
Love writing both by hand, and by keyboard. I do both, equally.
Happy Holiday Season.
I hate seeing cursive writing disappear as well, but they're always throwing more and more into the curriculum making it difficult to find the time! It's not only a beautiful skill, it does activate the brain in interesting ways!
I rarely write by hand anymore and when I do I usually print. I do think cursive should continue to be taught--just in case the grid is attacked and we don't have our computers for maybe a long time.
I so agree about there being so much to keep us interested. It sometimes become so overloaded with things to do, watch, read, and so on that I become worn out. And then, a nap is a nice thing to do.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
The only cursive writing I do is my signature. I never really got the hang of it to write in cursive for long stretches. I can write in print faster.
We do still need cursive. Something about the hand to brain connection, and thinking of just the right word, and setting it down just so, is vital to our ability to think logically.
As for Google, it's sad to see special interests run the government, but it's nothing new. That's sad, also.
Hybrid raises her hand. I have had a taste of both sides, and I like both. But I also have reservations about them. I guess this means that I understand how difficult this business really is no matter which way you choose.
I'm old-fashioned when it comes to curriculum and I wish our educators would be a bit more circumspect about their decisions. When I taught at the university, I had students in my classes who could barely write a coherent sentence. How did they get into college, let alone pass high school? However, I taught high school, too, and I was often "leaned on" to let a star athlete have a B when he deserved a D. I was not popular.
I like writing by hand, but I can't write for long because my hand starts to hurt.
Susan, I hate Google. They shut down two of my Blogger blogs and I lost five years of posts with no recourse to get them back. Then they screwed up my comments with Google + as now it only shows top comments and not all comments. Yeah, I hate Google.
I write letters by hand to some friends. Girls also drop back to easier math and science classes as they get older. I think that occurs for a variety of reasons, but the main one is that those subjects are still owned by men. It's difficult to be the only woman.
Love,
Janie
Last spring I was volunteering at a high school music solo and ensemble competition. A student was talking with her director in the hall about her performance score (she had done well). He handed her the score sheet and told her to read the judges comments. She looked at the page and said, "I can't read this. It's in cursive." Students who aren't taught to write cursive don't learn to read it. How are they going to function in the world?
Most of my stories and novel ideas start out with me making notes, writing longhand in a notebook. After awhile though, I move to the computer. My handwriting is really terrible. I wish I paid more attention and/or practiced those cursive exercises we were taught in school - making those circles or whatever they were.
I'm going to have to read some of those articles!
I think that learning to write in cursive is important, but I struggle with teaching students who don't know how to type or attach their writing to an e-mail or upload it to google docs. Since I'm only in the classroom once a week with my students, I need to get their writing online and have a fast turnaround practice - for me, this means typing up my comments and getting them back to them in class (where I can explain more, if needed). However, I do also have them write by hand in their journals for more casual assignments that are not multiple draft assignments. It's important to do both because each method uses our brains in different ways . . . or at least I think there have been studies that say that. Of course, I don't have links.
It has always boggles my mind that they stop teaching cursive. It teaches hand & eye coordination and control of writing instrument. I admit my hand writing is awful and I don't do a lot because I often can't read it on down the line if I need to refer back. I print notes that must be readable--printing better but NOT condusive to writing.
The google thing bothers me. IMO they are so wrong.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
I was hit by a truck coming out of the show one night. One Sunday the saddle cinch broke and I fell off my horse at a full gallop on tarmac. Spent 3 weeks in traction. Playing sports in high school ended there. Had to watch all the games from the sidelines. Not fun. I told my sons that sports at school was a privilege. Today? What a shame that the government can find monies for so many mundane activities, but not for our children's well being. Sad.
Google has already taken over the world. We just don't realise it yet ;)
I didn't realise that some schools were no longer teaching cursive writing. Yikes. That's so sad.
I was never into sports but loved music from an early age.
My son was the spoty one played pro soccer until got injured out of the game. Being alone one can always find something to do , but there is only so much of having one's own company, oh for a hug from someone....dream on Yvonne, lol.
Yvonne.
You know, I don't usually write by hand, but I had a time where I had to do a significant amount of that not too long ago, and it definitely changed something in my brain chemistry. I was happier and more balanced for sure. There's something to be said for that.
I loved playing sports as a teen! Especially baseball and basketball!
I write so little by hand anymore, and when I do, it's definitely not cursive. When I have to sign my name anywhere, the person on the receiving end usually makes fun of my signature for being completely illegible. Just imagine if a hand sneezed. That's my handwriting.
Very informative. Thank you!
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