Welcome to my blog series I want to write a book. The tips I'm providing are what worked for me. Of course there are many paths to many places, so use these as suggestions on your journey to becoming a writer.
On a daily basis I receive emails from aspiring writers on how to begin the writing process. Some have penned poems, others have even taken to writing a book, and then there are some that just don't even know where to start.
So, for them, we're going to start this series at the very beginning. Before you write, you need something to write about.
You've seen the shows where the therapist gives their patient a word and they have to come up with the first thing that comes to mind. Well, writing is much like that. Sometimes once the creative process starts you just can't stop. But where is your muse? What's going to make you want to sit down and spend all day looking at your computer?
If you have an idea, then my advice is to puke it out. (this is the topic of part 2)
For those who don't have a story idea begin to surf your local internet. That's right. Those who have come before us in this process have generously given us data bases full of names and ideas. Idiot proof, right?
I often use a name generator for my characters. I don't always use what they suggest, but it begins to give me ideas. Not only are there name generators there are promt generators. You can add in as much information as you'd like or as little. Some even make lists for you and you can begin to weave the tale.
Image source sites are very helpful. You can see pictures of almost anything in the world and a beautiful sunset over the ocean will help any writer.
The interesting part about prompts is that if you give the same image to multiple writers you'll get multiple stories.
That sunset I mentioned before, for one author they might see it as the ending to the perfect romance. You know the kind (like I write), happily ever after. Another might see it as the perfect beginning for the perfect murder mystery. Once the sun sets you never know what might happen on the sandy beaches of Mars (yes...I added some sci-fi.)
A great exercise, and I do this even today, is to sit down and just write out a bunch of words. (Yes, there are going to be generators for this too!) Random is great. Look over your list. I'll bet you start pulling together another list.
I do this with titles. Let's look at my Aspen Creek series. I created a town and gave it a name. Easy! Now, the nice part about a town is it will have lots of different people in it. Some are going to be life long residents, others are going to wander through and get stuck. There will be families. There will be loners. Someone has to own the store, the restaurant, the gas station. Someone has to work at the bank, the school, the police station. The glory of these small town series are intermixing all your characters all the time.
Again, take for example Aspen Creek. In my first book the two main characters grew up next door to each other. Story! They know the woman who runs the bakery, she has a story! The president of the bank, who they also grew up with, he has a story. Book two in series focuses on a middle school teacher, who grew up with the characters from the first book. See the glory in it? Just like the relationships in your own life, you can build on these relationships for your characters.
Likewise, now that there is a list of all the businesses you'd have in a small town your mind can have some free range with titles. First Kiss, Last Kiss, a Kiss Goodbye, a Deadly Kiss, Tomorrow's Kiss, Snow's Bitter Kiss... Just making that list I got a few ideas! Bonus for me!
Play with making lists. Keep track of them too, you'll find you come back to them often.
When you get something that just feels right, take some time to write up a little blurb about the story. I'm not a plotter. You might find you are, that's fine. There are many resources for the writer who likes to plan out plots. Take some time to find out what you are. There will be a process that works for you, but unless you try them all, you'll never know. (AH! part 3 in my series!)
Back to the blurb...this is what you'd find on the back of the book. Think about this instant idea you've just had because you put down the words WHEN HARRY MET SALLY. (yeah...I'm pulling from one of the greats! Nora Ephron you're my hero!) So you think, two people who keep meeting and don't like each other, then one day they meet and become friends. And then they fall in love, but don't want to admit it, but then they do. Get it?
Writing the blurb when I have the title or idea fresh in my head has always been a bonus. You're going to need it anyway and once the story is written its hard to pull out these little lines. But, if you start with them they are your guide too.
So, before you dive into writing a 90,000 word manuscript (another one of my topics...all books do not have to have this many words...people know when you're just stretching a story) brainstorm as many ideas as you can. If you just can't come up with anything as your friends. Trust me, everyone has an idea for a book. I think you'll be surprised on how quickly your list will grow. I once sat down and created a list of twenty-eight titles. So far THE EXECUTIVE'S DECISION, A SECOND CHANCE, FIRST KISS, MATCHMAKERS, and CANDY KISSES have all come from that first list. The only reason there aren't more, yet, is that I write fast...yes a book in 2 months always, but there is only so much time. Likewise, once you pen one you might find it has its own set to follow. THE EXECUTIVE'S DECISION and MATCHMAKERS are fine examples. They were supposed to be single title books. However, THE EXECUTIVE'S DECISION has a family and people wanted to know about these other parts of the family. MATCHMAKERS has a teenager whom people fell in love with. She needed a story. It spawned a series.
Yes, you'll deviate from your list, but in the end you'll always have it to draw from.
Get to writing. You never know when a few words scribbled on a piece of paper might become the next bestseller!
Good Luck!
Bernadette
Friday, November 30, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Launch day for 5 Prince Publishing author, Erika M. Szabo
It's Launch Thursday! Today 5 Prince Publishing presents book 2 in the Ilona the Hun series, Secrets Revealed by Erika M. Szabo!
Release Day
For
Secrets Revealed
Erika M Szabo
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Time Travel
Release Date: November 29, 2012
Digital ISBN 13:978-1-939217-16-5 ISBN 10:19392171761
Print ISBN 13:978-1-939217-17-2 ISBN 10:193917172
Purchase link : www.5princebooks.com/buy.htm
Secrets Revealed
Ilona’s story is provocative, rich in characters and detail
that bring a lost world to life, a journey to treasure and remember. In book
one Ilona is a lonely doctor discovering her rich tribal heritage and
birthright to become a Healer. The barrier created by her insecurity kept
others out, but also kept her caged in. She has to break the barriers to
discover her true identity. She discovers growing magical abilities within her
in the strange world of the Huns, which are beyond her wildest dreams. She can
use her given gifts for absolute good or absolute evil; the choice is up to
her. Ilona’s birthright as a Healer runs alongside her desires as a woman.
She’s secretly and hopelessly in love with her best friend, he seems oblivious
to her feelings. Fate brings Zoltan into her life. Will he break her heart, or
will he bring true happiness? Ilona is hoping for a red tulip, the symbol of
devoted love. Who will offer it to her? She discovers some secrets the Hun
society is concealing, a society that is secretive and complex, with strict and
fiercely enforced ancient rules; revealed to only those who come of age. Ilona
is a rebel, who is determined to control and guide her own life. Resourceful
and daring, she crosses the line and breaks those rules. She must face the
consequences and has to fight for her men; both of them disappear from the face
of the earth. She acquires magical abilities beyond her dreams to find and save
them. Ilona has been evacuated from her easy and steady life. She is happy, but
she still has many doubts. She hates that she has to hide in the past from a
faceless enemy, however enjoys meeting her ancestors.
Author Bio:
Erika M Szabo is a Hungarian born American; she lives in the
beautiful Catskill Mountains. She has a PhD in Alternative Medicine; she
published a few books in this subject. Erika loves the art of healing; however,
writing about dry medical facts doesn’t satisfy her thirst for storytelling.
The ancient history of the Huns always fascinated her, it is full of holes,
mysteries and speculations; there are only a few written facts about them
besides their legends. Erika used her fertile imagination to fill the
historical voids in the story of Ilona. She raises questions such as - What if
healing by touch could be possible? - What if we could find a soul mate no
matter the obstacles? - What if we could visit our ancestors on a whim? - What
if our destiny is not written in stone and we can create our future?
EXCERPT: Thanks to these freaking well-guarded Hun secrets,
my life became very complicated almost overnight. Today, in the secret society
of the descendants of the ancient tribes everything is structured and everyone
is on the need to know bases. They move people around like puppets and create
their destiny. I don’t know much about their plans with me and my life yet; I
just found out that I’m a Healer by birthright. I accepted and welcomed this
discovery, because being a traditional doctor doesn’t give me the opportunity
to restructure people down to the cellular level, to heal their diseases, being
a kind of magical healer does. To make my life even more complicated, I met
Zoltan. All my life I nursed my quiet love for Bela, my best friend. He never
gave me any sign of feeling the same; he always just wanted to be best friends
and nothing more. Zoltan stirred emotions within me that I didn’t know I was
capable of feeling. He is handsome, gentle and sensitive and when he kissed me…
oh, what a kiss that was. The dark man relentlessly hounded me and tried to
kill me many times. He couldn’t do it himself for some mysterious reasons, but
he could influence others to try. Then I found out Ema was my sister. She is
the forbidden second daughter of the Healer, who according to the ancient laws
could bring destruction to the Hun nation and have to be destroyed. My mother
and Elza successfully hid her from the Elders council and the Leaders council–
for eighteen years, and then Elza made a mistake by naming her with her true
birthright in a dream address. The Leaders decided to visit us bringing – as we
suspected – the Law Keeper with them to destroy Ema. We couldn’t let them do that
and we were frantically trying to find a way to save her.
I called Ema, told her there was an emergency and she had to
come home right away. She panicked; afraid something had happened to Elza. I
assured her that she was fine, we just had to decide something very important
in a hurry and that we couldn’t talk about it on the phone.
“What is it? Please tell me! You’re scaring me, Ilili,” she
begged me.
I knew she was in great distress, because she used my almost
forgotten pet name. I was suspicious, not wanting to reveal anything on the
phone. Actually, the way I felt was borderline paranoia. Who knows what kind of resources they have? What if they can even
listen to phone conversations? I thought, knowing that I had found out so
many peculiar and mysterious things about my ancestry, it really scared me.
“It’s okay, love. Come home as soon as you can and I’ll tell
you everything.” I tried to calm her, but that didn’t work. I heard the
escalating anxiety in her voice.
“Sure you can’t tell me? Not even a hint?” she probed.
“No love, sorry.” She gave up and promised she would be home
in half an hour.
I remembered an important task and told Elza we had to
prepare some food for the guests. In our tradition, it is an insult from the
lady of the household not to offer refreshments to announced guests.
“I’m on it! I’ll get the food.” Elza’s voice trembled as she
hurried towards the kitchen, her long skirt floating behind her. She must have
been feeling greatly honored, yet scared half to death, by the upcoming visit.
“I’ll help!” I yelled after her as I jumped off the sofa.
“No, you won’t dare!” She turned back, alarmed.
Zoltan gave questioning glances to each of us in turn,
“What’s going on?”
“Her culinary talent doesn’t even cover boiling water!” Elza
exclaimed, in a hurry.
He laughed lightly. “I’m a good cook. It’s kind of a hobby
of mine. Can I help?” He turned to Elza, smiling.
“All right, but you have to keep Ilona out of the kitchen!”
she warned him. He had an amused expression on his face. He chuckled, cocked
his head towards me and then led me towards the kitchen by my hand. “Are you
really that bad?” he whispered.
“So they tell me!” I confessed. He laughed softly and
squeezed my hand.
“She’ll just sit and watch.” He promised, turning to Elza.
I sat down across the aisle on a stool, muttering under my
breath. They set to work, deciding on small sandwiches and cream puffs, which
Elza took out from the freezer to thaw. Soon they were slicing Italian bread
which they loaded with various toppings of cream cheese, pepperoni and olives.
They flavored them with mustard and red pepper paste. As the pile of small
sandwiches grew, Elza looked over to Zoltan with approval. He was a lovely
sight to look at. Shirt rolled up to his elbows, and a thin apron accentuating
his muscular chest and flat belly. He sliced and chopped at a fast and
efficient pace.
“You look beautiful when you’re pouting, by the way,” he
announced, smiling at me. My heart sank a little - it must have been apparent
how I felt.
“It’s not fair! How can I learn to cook if nobody lets me?”
I complained, but I was easing up somewhat.
“I will teach you sometime.”
“Promise you won’t laugh if I mess up?” I asked,
suspiciously.
He made the cross sign over his left chest, trying hard to
conceal a smile, “Cross my heart.”
“Can I at least set the table?” I asked Elza, still pouting.
I was feeling rebellious and left out.
“Actually we need only small plates, napkins and glasses,”
Elza replied. “All right, you can put them on one of the cocktail tables. Get
the ones from the side cabinet.” She sighed as if she was talking to a small
child.
I jumped up happily, grabbing at the chance for something to
do. I carefully arranged the cart as Elza had instructed. I dropped only one
plate in the process which wasn’t so bad...or so I thought, compared to my
usual performances. I heard Elza sighing behind me. “I knew it! That’s why I
told you to get the cheaper china.” She admonished quietly, under her breath. I
blushed deeply, feeling like a berated child.
“Elzaaa!” I yelled at her, embarrassed.
Zoltan snickered softly while I quickly gathered the pieces
on a napkin. “You’re a real klutz, you know!” I swallowed my hurt and looked
up. He flashed a warm smile at me.
Launch Day for 5 Prince Publishing KIDS! and Tina Adams
Today marks the launch of 5 Prince Publishing KIDS and author Tina Adam's Christmas tale, CHRIS MOUSE AND THE PROMISE!
About Chris Mouse!
Introducing
CHRIS MOUSE AND THE PROMISE
by
Tina Adams
About Chris Mouse!
Chris Mouse has just tucked her three little ones into bed
when she notices the most beautiful bright shining star in the heavens. As she
dreamily admires the star she remembers a prophecy she's heard stories about
since her youth. A magnificent star would mark the birth of the Savior. Could
this be the promise she had waited her entire life to see? What happens next
will change the world forever. Life for Chris Mouse will never be the same.
Author Bio:
Tina received
an Associate of Arts in Pre-Social Work, Cum Laude from Coconino County
Community College. She completed her Bachelors in Social Work from Northern
Arizona University and MSW from Arizona State University.
She is an
alumni of Phi Theta Kappa, Beta Gamma Chi Chapter and Gamma Phi Honor
Societies.
Tina is a
freelance writer and poet growing up with a a passion for reading and telling
stories. She has a heart for children and animals serving families in Northern
Arizona.
Genre: Children
Release Date: November 28, 2012
Digital: ISBN 13: 978-1-939217-00-4 ISBN 10: 193217008
Print: ISBN 13: 978-1-939217-01-1 ISBN 10: 1939217016
Purchase link : www.5princebooks.com/kids.htm
Monday, November 26, 2012
Building a family for my Keller Family series
I set out to tell a story about a woman, Regan Keller, who was starting all over with a new life and a secret buried deep in her heart. I never expected to fill the book with characters that would last for seven books...or more. (By the way, all the characters in all the stories (except Clara and Christian's) have been introduced in the very first book!)
I clearly remember the day that I penned Regan's hair demise in a Nashville rain storm. (I've been in one of those!) And instantly she was at the bus stop because her brother had taken her car to fix it. Well there we go, a new character! A little further in there was another brother, a doctor, hmmm he'd be interesting.
By the time the characters in my book had finished introducing themselves to me I had four siblings. And somewhere in my subconscious, I added in the fact that many of my friends growing up had been adopted (yes...I had come to the conclusion that if you weren't adopted you couldn't be my friend...it was an interesting phenomenon.) So the Keller family began to take on the eclectic dynamic which made them appealing.The Keller parents, Alan and Emily, had their own twists--German backgrounds. In fact, I think in each book, the spotlighted sibling refers to Emily's German/Southern accent and how it intermixes at times and makes her unique.
As for the eclectic part... Regan and Arianna are blood sisters from the same parents. They were, however, adopted by the Kellers when they were very small. In fact, Regan was an infant (adopted at two) so she has no recollection of her birth parents at all. Upon their adoption, the Kellers found out they were having a child of their own, which they'd been told wouldn't happen. Curtis is the only natural child to Alan and Emily. He's the only one to be fair skinned and blue eyed, but he is not favored--this is think is what makes the family work. The siblings are all unique and the only natural child to the couple in the bunch is just as important as the others.
Then there is Carlos. Carlos moved to Nashville with is birth parents when he was six, from Puerto Rico. His parents were killed and the Kellers took him in. He, like Regan and Arianna, never left. His dark exotic looks feed his character, and blend into his children's charms as well (as we see when they grow older.) He is probably the most mild mannered of them all. With the introduction of Carlos came a slew of other characters that would follow for books to come. We met his ex-wife (which would become the main character in book 2, A SECOND CHANCE, when she battles breast cancer.) We are introduced to Eduardo (who we will follow in LOST AND FOUND), Clara (her story comes in book six, LOVE SONGS), and our favorite baseball player Christian (his story comes in book seven, HOME RUN). Each of these siblings brought a new level to the series, just as the original four did.
Curtis was probably the hardest character for me to write. He has a caring nature, but he's young at heart. Perhaps the most laid back of the sibilings, his heart tumbled for our rich, and a bit sassy oil heiress Simone Pierpont (whom we meet as Zach's best friend in book one). She was a lot of fun to write because she had to change her thinking on herself. There were a lot of "Come to God" moments for her and it was refreshing.Arianna Keller was always my butterfly. She did what she wanted, was comfortable in her own skin, and loved her family with a passion. She is the aunt you love as a child and as a parent you shake your head. She's not looking for romance, but she's not stupid to brush it off either.
You're often asked as an author, do you put yourself into your characters? Of course. I'm uptight like Regan. I have such love and compassion for my children and my husband that Madeline was very near and dear to my heart. I'm a bit of a worry wart like Carlos. I'm a chronic entrepreneur, so I understand Zach very well. I'm not above a good job done well and working hard to get it, which is how John Forrester is prestented. Though I wasn't brought up as Simone was, I think her turning points are most like me. Those ah-ha moments that take you by surprise...I've had my share of those. Arianna, perhaps she's the least like me, but I strive to be comfy in my own skin and not back down from that...work in progress. I guess that leaves Curtis and I have trust issues just like he does. Mess me over and it's going to be hard to get on my good side again. I guess in his life, I made him a little more forgiving.As I'm a very normal person, and I've created very normal characters, I think this is what brings out their appeal. Everyone can relate to one of them.
But as always, in my family building, I keep my motto in tact. I always promise Happily Ever After and family can give you that just as completely as romance can.
You can find all my books on my website at www.bernadettemarie.com or all the buy links at www.5princebooks.com/buy.htm
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Pinterest is like a good book!
I've been blessed to have people get carried into my books and fall in love with the characters. I've had reviews where the reader felt as though they were in the book, or they knew the people that were.
That's the life of a book, right? To take us away and make us feel the way the characters feel. To make me fall in love again, have a new job, be a blonde for a day, or whatever.
Pinterest does that for me too. If you are one of the only people who haven't fallen into this huge time waster, you should stop by. :) It makes me as happy as a good love story.
When I "like" or "repin" a weight loss secret I feel ten pounds lighter. I'm sure I could cook that amazing crock pot meal and the seven others that I just pinned and thought about putting in my freezer for my big family. Oh, and the clothes! Every outfit without a body would fit me just right. I'm a walking fashion plate (seated in front of my laptop, in my pajamas, cup of coffee in hand.) Don't even get me started on the fashion empire I could start with the DIY jewelry I could make!
The point is, it carries me away, like a good book. For a minute (or 90) I can imagine all of those things are within my reach...and I'm happy.
That's the life of a book, right? To take us away and make us feel the way the characters feel. To make me fall in love again, have a new job, be a blonde for a day, or whatever.
Pinterest does that for me too. If you are one of the only people who haven't fallen into this huge time waster, you should stop by. :) It makes me as happy as a good love story.
When I "like" or "repin" a weight loss secret I feel ten pounds lighter. I'm sure I could cook that amazing crock pot meal and the seven others that I just pinned and thought about putting in my freezer for my big family. Oh, and the clothes! Every outfit without a body would fit me just right. I'm a walking fashion plate (seated in front of my laptop, in my pajamas, cup of coffee in hand.) Don't even get me started on the fashion empire I could start with the DIY jewelry I could make!
The point is, it carries me away, like a good book. For a minute (or 90) I can imagine all of those things are within my reach...and I'm happy.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Launch Day for 5 Prince Publishing author Doug Simpson
Soul Rescue
By
Doug Simpson
Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com books@5princebooks.com
Genre: Fiction/General/Christian/Fantasy/Romance/Paranormal/Ghost/Visionary
& Metaphysical
Release Date: November
8, 2012
Digital ISBN ISBN
13: 978-1939217-12-7 ISBN 10: 193917121
Print ISBN ISBN
13: 978-1-939217-13-4 ISBN 10:
193921713X
Purchase link : www.5princebooks.com/buy.htm
Soul Rescue
Dacque LaRose, the protagonist in
the Dacque Chronicles, is a very unusual Good Samaritan who has been selected
by the Heavenly Powers to assist Them in rescuing deserving souls in need of
rescuing, no matter whether these souls still reside in human bodies or have
departed from their human residences when their body passed away. Dacque’s soul
has earned this exalted position as God’s helper through his exemplary actions
and clean living throughout his numerous previous incarnations, as well as his
current lifetime. To assist Dacque in carrying out these noble duties he has
been bestowed with unique powers in this lifetime, powers which allow him to
see and converse with spirits as well as receive direct messages from the
Heavenly Powers.
Soul Rescue is the recounting of
Dacque’s latest adventure where he is directed to the local children’s hospital
to locate and assist the earth-bound spirits of five children stranded for many
decades. Dacque is rewarded with three touching personal relationships
throughout this adventure and a totally unanticipated surprise at the
conclusion of his Heavenly assignment.
Soul Rescue, Book II of the Dacque
Chronicles, is a fictional novel inspired by a series of actual events.
Bio for Doug Simpson:
Doug Simpson is a retired high school teacher who has turned his
talents to writing. His first novel, a spiritual mystery titled Soul Awakening,
was published in the United States in October of 2011, by Book Locker. His
magazine and website articles have been published in 2010 to 2012 in Australia,
Canada, France, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
His articles can be accessed through his website at http://dousimp.mnsi.net.
Author Contact Info:
Website - http://dousimp.mnsi.net.
Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/1DougSimpson
Excerpt from Soul Rescue:
Dacque jolted awake, and sat up on one elbow. He reached for his pen
and notepad, always patiently waiting for him on his nightstand for just such
occasions. Dacque scribbled down all of the details of the dream that he could
recall: Annabel Sweeney, Anywhere Children’s Hospital, doctors, nurses,
needles, death, sobbing mother and comforting father dressed in clothing like
he remembered from the older movies he occasionally watched on television, when
he could find nothing better to do.
Throughout his regular morning routine, Dacque could not chase the
dream from his thoughts. He had passed by Anywhere Children’s Hospital hundreds
of times, on his morning walks, but, fortunately, he never had occasion to pass
through its doors. Receiving messages in his dreams was old-hat, but this dream
was not like any he had ever experienced before. It was more like a short clip
from a movie, not a message from the-other-side. He could taste a new
adventure, but he found it difficult to imagine his connection to this dream.
Dacque locked his
apartment door and headed towards the elevator for his morning walk. His watch
read 9:07.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
I am visual!
Growing up I don't believe the school system catered to the student as it does today. (I know...everyone has a different opinion on this and that's okay. Our school really tries to meet all needs. With that said...) There are so many ways to learn. Visually. Auditory. Physically.
I can't say that when I was growing up I could tell you that I was a visual learner. Show me and I can duplicate what I've seen.
Even as an adult I find that I am very visual (and I see now that my dad is too.) I have to have paper! Notebooks filled with paper. I have to see it written down. I have to touch it. Technology is great. I run my business from my iPhone... but it just isn't enough. My walls are COVERED in post it notes! I have to see which books my company is working on and at what stage they are in. AND each post it note has a smaller post it note with the editor information on it. That's on the wall. Then on my desk are all the little things that pop into my head. ideas for books, blogs, titles, you name it.
Then you look around my desk. PILES! Oh yeah! But I have to see it all to know it's here. I have to be able to reach out and touch it. It doesn't make for the tidiest of work spaces, but I have to give up something for the sake of creativity (I'm sticking to that theory too!)
On the other hand, my husband is very auditory. This is clear in the fact that if I want something from him I have to tell him. Don't write it on the calendar or leave him a note. That doesn't phase him. Tell him.
Differences here too are I will sit in my office all day with only the sound of my fingers on the keyboard. No music. No TV. My husband (and my sons) have their music on all the time. In the shower, in the car, at bed time. (I have headphones for my runs...that's it.)
I think my visual learning is why I'm a good martial artist. If you show me a move I can do it. Likewise, show me why I'm doing the move and it makes more sense. I nearly failed out of college when I had to take lecture hall classes. Are you kidding me? You're going to talk to me and I'm going to take a test? Just hand over the F! But I was a journalism major. AH! Go listen to Hillary Clinton talk (yes she was campaigning for her husband at the time. That's been a while) and then write an article about it and turn it in? Yes...now that I can wrap my head around.
It is an amazing phenomenon how we are all different. I applaud the teachers who can accommodate all the kids in all their ways. Even better if you can help your child (and yourself) identify how best to learn. Things would be much easier for me if you just said watch this rather than listen...but then trial and error teaches us the most.
Happy Learning!
Bernadette Marie
I can't say that when I was growing up I could tell you that I was a visual learner. Show me and I can duplicate what I've seen.
Even as an adult I find that I am very visual (and I see now that my dad is too.) I have to have paper! Notebooks filled with paper. I have to see it written down. I have to touch it. Technology is great. I run my business from my iPhone... but it just isn't enough. My walls are COVERED in post it notes! I have to see which books my company is working on and at what stage they are in. AND each post it note has a smaller post it note with the editor information on it. That's on the wall. Then on my desk are all the little things that pop into my head. ideas for books, blogs, titles, you name it.
Then you look around my desk. PILES! Oh yeah! But I have to see it all to know it's here. I have to be able to reach out and touch it. It doesn't make for the tidiest of work spaces, but I have to give up something for the sake of creativity (I'm sticking to that theory too!)
On the other hand, my husband is very auditory. This is clear in the fact that if I want something from him I have to tell him. Don't write it on the calendar or leave him a note. That doesn't phase him. Tell him.
Differences here too are I will sit in my office all day with only the sound of my fingers on the keyboard. No music. No TV. My husband (and my sons) have their music on all the time. In the shower, in the car, at bed time. (I have headphones for my runs...that's it.)
I think my visual learning is why I'm a good martial artist. If you show me a move I can do it. Likewise, show me why I'm doing the move and it makes more sense. I nearly failed out of college when I had to take lecture hall classes. Are you kidding me? You're going to talk to me and I'm going to take a test? Just hand over the F! But I was a journalism major. AH! Go listen to Hillary Clinton talk (yes she was campaigning for her husband at the time. That's been a while) and then write an article about it and turn it in? Yes...now that I can wrap my head around.
It is an amazing phenomenon how we are all different. I applaud the teachers who can accommodate all the kids in all their ways. Even better if you can help your child (and yourself) identify how best to learn. Things would be much easier for me if you just said watch this rather than listen...but then trial and error teaches us the most.
Happy Learning!
Bernadette Marie
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