Happy New Year! May you all have a happy, peaceful, healthy 2024!
My three-month hiatus from The Grammar Diva Blog is over. What was I doing? Where am I now? What is next?
What Was I Doing?
Please keep in mind that this blog has now been going for 13 years! Every week — with the exception of a few times off and some guest posts — makes about 500 posts that I have written.
- I was at the end of a big self-improvement (mostly physical) program that took up about two thirds of the year. (No, I did not get a face lift!! But I did lose at least 25 pounds.)
- I couldn’t think of anything more to write about grammar. The posts you seem to like most are the ones with some grammar instruction.
- It was the holidays, and I had some family here from Canada from mid October to mid November.
- My darling granddaughter was in the hospital with RSV for her first birthday in early December. She is OK now.
- I was reading a lot and steadily increasing my coffee intake (much of it decaf). Last spring I went off coffee completely for three months. Forget that! But now I am probably drinking too much coffee and not enough water. It seems that all I want to do is read,drink coffee, and shop, both online (Amazon mostly) and in stores.
- I have become rather complacent because my books (mostly my workbook) fortunately continue to sell.
Where Am I Now?
- I was hoping that my ambition would return after the first of the year, which is now. I have some projects in mind. Maybe I have too many projects, and that is why I am stuck.
- I have a romance novel that I could finish. It needs more research, some additions, and some restructuring. I am ambivalent about it, so if it is not going to sell, why bother?
- I have been planning to write a business writing book for years. I have collected some research materials, but haven’t done any research yet. I have decided that if I do it, it will be a workbook. Workbooks are popular.
- I have another idea for a book that I am interested in doing. It will be require a lot of research and is about one of my other passions: music. Should I do it? I ask myself.
- I want to continue fooling around with the piano until I can play with a rock and roll band! I was practicing several months ago and then stopped. I need to get going on that.
- I used to write song lyrics (and some melodies) when I was a preteen and teen. I still have them, and I want to look at them and see if I can rework some of them and compose the music as well.
- I have thought that maybe I should find a way to make more money, for example, doing that online grammar course I have been thinking about for so long. Or coaching writers….or students.
What Is Next for the Blog?
I have been thinking for a while that I am out of ideas. I have taught pretty much everything about grammar that I know over these 13 years, sometimes two or three times. I have done other types of posts as well. So I have several thoughts concerning the blog:
- I have considered doing it monthly instead of weekly, so I might have an easier time coming up with ideas.
- I have considered getting more guest posts (I need your help!!)
- I have considered writing things that don’t relate so much to grammar (no politics or religion, I promise).
- I have considered more variety: One guest post a month, one Best Of post a month, one original grammar-related post a month, one post with links to interesting articles a month.
- My daughter and granddaughter got me this program called Storyworth for Christmas. You get a prompt every week, and then you write. At the end of the year, they create a book for you with all our stories. Maybe some of them will relate to things in this blog. I did the first one, and some of it would apply here. Or maybe you could give me a writing prompt, and I will write a blog post from te prompt.
- Maybe more posts about writing in general. Maybe more feedback from you.
So, as you see, I would love some feedback: ideas, guest posts, what you like, what you want to see, etc. Just put them in the comments. Thank you.
It’s good to be back live!
Here’s something involving writing you might want to do with your granddaughter. I did this with three of my grandkids. When (not if) they did or said something funny, clever, unusual, I dated and wrote it down verbatim as close to the occurrence as possible. It was easy to do because I was there and could journal it a few hours later. The grandkids got used to Grandma’s doing this over the years. Occasionally, one would ask if something that was said or done would be written down. After doing these compilations for several years, I created a book via one of the companies online that does this type of thing. On each’s 16th birthday, I then presented each his/her special book. I also took pictures and videoed when each opened the book to record their expressions when they saw what they had received. Additionally, I had copies made for my husband and me. Written memories are no less precious than photographs. And sometimes I could combine both depending on the situation. (I called granddaughter Ali’s book “Alidotes.”)
If you’re interested and if there’s a way, I would be happy to email you a couple of exemplary excerpts. This is truly a labor of love.
That is a great idea! I don’t know if I have the ambition though! I love oing those things though. I wrote a letter in a journal for each of my kids on their birthdays every year until they were 21 and then gave it to each of them on their 21st birthday. And I have made photo books with words for my daughter a few times — and I wrote a kids’ book specifically for my granddaughter wen she was born.
As you make your plans for 2024, remember what Jack Kornfield or Buddha said:
“The trouble is, you think you have time.”
Regardless of what you decide to do, all the best. It’s what you deserve…
Good quote — and thank you!!!
Thanks for being a real person with a human life. All of your possibilities illuminate the interesting you and I hope you will not be weighed down by our expectations or any obligations.
I have been thinking Storyworth might be fun, and actually committing to finish the half dozen books I have started reading, and doing some serious downsizing all might be satisfying. Mostly I feel called to put energy and time into defeating political idiots.
Your post has given me good company. Thanks.
Thank you so much for your comments! I feel the same about defeating political idiots!I am sure I wil spend some time on that!
Take some time off!
All I want to do is read and drink coffee (and shop online) — a friend said maybe that is what I am supposed to be doing until I get inspired again. What if I don’t get inspired??
Someone asked Ray Bradbury where he found the inspiration for his writing. He replied that he looked around his study or his house until he saw an object. He then tried to use the item to spin a story. Inspiration often comes when we least expect it.
I love that idea!
Ideas: 1. Why does English have homonyms, homophones, and homographs?
2. How does having h, h, and h affect the language and culture? Does it add a different layer of humor for example? Puns? Plays on words? Ambiguities? Misinterpretations? In some languages if you hear a word, you know exactly how to spell it. In English, however, even seeing the word out of context, it’s not clear how to pronounce it (ex.: read and read, and others I can’t think of now which are emphasized on one syllable for one meaning and another for another meaning. I’m thinking of advice and advise but that’s not it). 3. Why does English have so many French and Scandinavian words as well as Celtic and Germanic? How did this happen historically ? 4. Why is English the richest vocabulary language? How did that happen? 5. Is British or American English the language of commerce, culture, humor, etc.? 6. Analytic vs. synthetic languages. 7. How does bad grammar affect status? Think of My Fair Lady and MAGA dupes. 8. Why do so many people get objective and subjective case wrong? So often I hear “he was traveling with Jim and I.” Drives me batty! 9. Misused words like affect and effect, 10. Mondegreens. You could do a whole series on various Mondegreens. 11. Why in parts of England do people use the wrong case? See the movie The Bank of Dave where the people in Burnley, Northern England say “he were” and “I were” instead of was. Worth watching by the way…That’s for starters. I will think of more ideas….
Thank you! #1: Is there an answer?- #2 Big, tough one. I might be too lazy to do that much research!- #3 Possible- #4 Same as #2 reply- #5 Possible – #6 Done already. – #7 Possible. Big topic.- #8 Done it multiple times, but could do it again. – #9 Ditto #8 – #10 Done. Could do again. – #11 Perhaps I will watch — and write about that. Thanks again. Am copying these and putting them someplace where I won’t lose it.