My New Book is Now Available!

Elder Expectations: My Life in Rictameters (Lulu, 2008), which got its start right here on this blog, is now available from the publisher. It's a little book, just 56 pages, and it sells for $9.95.

I've had a lot of fun writing my rictameters; if you haven't tried writing poetry yet, why not? Anyway, this is a quick read. I'd appreciate any reviews anyone cares to write.

This book won't appear on Amazon.com or other web sites for some time (it will show up eventually), but for now, it's available from Lulu. There's a link in the sidebar to the left.

Good News on the Writing Front!

Yesterday I attended the Illinois Woman's Press Association's annual awards luncheon at the Union League Club in Chicago. Again I was pleased to receive two first-place awards, this time for my second book, Seniorwriting: A Guide for Seniors Who Want to Write and for one of my eGenerations columns, "Sharing your Experiences, Memories, and Stories."

I also received a second place award and an honorable mention, respectively, for two of my "Never too Late!" blog posts: a book review, "Retirement Planning: Looking Beyond the Money" and my post, "On Laundry and 'Going Green.'"

Here are the judges' comments on the first-place winners:

On Seniorwriting: "A very fine step by step guide for any senior who has a story to tell and who wants to write it down. Practical, interesting, engaging."

On "Sharing you Experiences, Memories, and Stories": "This is a terrific guide to self-publishing that sets out to answer the question 'What should I do with my writing? How can I preserve and share it?' In a crisply organized, smoothly written column, Styne takes her readers on a quick tour of publishing options ranging from blogging and participating in online communities, to personal printing and distribution of written pieces, to Web sites that manufacture books on order and a company that makes an audio kit for recording one's life story. Filled with good advice, this highly readable column offers writers a variety of ways to publish their writing."

The judges had good things to say about my other winners, too. About the book review, they said, "This review of the book "Your Retirement, Your Way," by Alan Bernstein and John Trauth (McGraw-Hill, 2007) raises a number of important issues that should be considered by people planning to reitre. It's not only about whether one has saved enough money, says Styne, noting the book's subtitle: 'Why it takes more than money to live your dream.' Savings and financial issues aside, Styne reflects on chapters about the importance of setting new life goals and planning the next phase of one's life, 'Preparing Psychologically for Change,' and 'Determining How You Want to be Remembered.' The soon-to-be-retired reader will find a number of helpful ideas on how to make the transition smoother and more rewarding."

On the blog post "On Laundry and 'Going Green'": "Mulling the inconveniences of being green, the author considers the suggestion to hang laundry outside to dry in order to save the energy used by clothes driers. In her humorous, unsentimental voice, this Chicago retiree draws a line in the sand. 'Those who grew up on farms (as I did) or in small towns,' she says, 'often remember sweet-smelling, right-off-the-clothesline garments fondly, but not me. To me, hanging clothes out on the line was a chore, just another of my mother's tedious responsibilities.'"

Thank you, judges, for your kind comments. Now the first-place winners go on to the National Federation of Press Women's national contest. I doubt that I'll win at that level (I did win one first there for my blog, "Never too Late!" last year and a third for my book Reinventing Myself).

These may strike some among you as minor awards, but to me they represent welcome recognition of my writing in 2007. I've never expected to become a famous, best-selling author, but I delight in these small triumphs. They support my basic belief that seniors should follow their passions, whatever they are. Mine is writing.

To read my winning entries:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Marlys%20Marshall%20Styne

http://egenerations.com/article-201-6-sharing-your-experiences-memories-and-stories

http://seniorwriter.blogspot.com/2007/12/retirement-planning-looking-beyond.html

http://seniorwriter.blogspot.com/2007/11/on-laundry-and-going-green.html

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

A Few Thoughts About Travel Writing

Every time I take a trip, and I've taken many of them, someone asks me to report on it or write about it. I've never been sure how to respond. I plan to study the art of travel writing more sometime, but as of now, I don't do much of it.

Travel writers seem to lead interesting lives: they sometimes enjoy free trips in exchange for articles designed to encourage others to visit certain places. That's fine, but for me, travel is about experiencing and enjoying--and as I grow older, sometimes about enduring physical hardship.

I have enjoyed many travel books and articles, especially those with fabulous photos of exotic places. However, I have never aspired to write such a book or article. My only real travel writing experience involved my husband's and my motorcycle journey in the former Soviet Union in 1990. I wrote about it for a Wright College publication, and I reprinted it in my first book, Reinventing Myself. At the time, motorcycle touring in Russia was unusual, and I kept good notes during the trip.

Today, when it seems that almost everyone travels everywhere, I have come to realize that there's little I can add to the fine travel writing that appears regularly. I have resolved to blog a bit about my trips in an impressionistic way. For my recent South Africa trip, for example, I have already posted a few pictures of the impressive animals in their natural habitat. Soon, I intend to write a bit about South Africa as a country today, and then I'll discuss the problems of elder travel. I'll share a few more photographs as well.

If any of this interests you, see my other blog, "Never too Late!" (There are various links here.) Meanwhile, what are your thoughts on travel and travel writing?

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne
Photo by the author

I'm Back!

Hello again. I returned from my trip to South Africa (and Swaziland) late yesterday, and I need a recovery period. One of the things I'm thinking about is how and what to write about my trip, which was wonderful but physically taxing.

As a preview, one of my favorite features of the trip was an open-vehicle safari through Kruger National Park (followed by another on a tour bus, but it wasn't quite the same). I was actually able to see all of Africa's "Big Five" animals: Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Cape Buffalo, and Rhinoceros. Of course you can see all or most of the above in any zoo, but somehow it isn't quite the same. In Kruger, the animals have all the rights and the right of way. It's as close as I'll ever get to their natural habitat.

Since I use an instant digital camera, I'm not confident of having good photos of all of the big five, but you'll see a few photos here anyway, as soon as I can sort them out.

Check out my other blog, "Never too Late!" in a few days. I'll have a lot to say there about the difficulties of travel for elders who aren't very agile. Still, I'm glad I went!

On Travel and Writing

There won't be any posts here for a while. I'm traveling to South Africa for nearly three weeks. While I'd like to send regular reports of my trip, alas, it's just too much trouble for me to carry a laptop computer and figure out the connection problems.

I plan to keep an old-fashioned pen-and-notebook journal, so I'll share the trip--with photos, I hope--after I get back in May. Meanwhile, keep writing!

A Book Based on Grocery Lists?

Hillary Carlip's a la Cart: The Secret Lives of Grocery Shoppers, according to Chicago Tribune reporter Patrick T. Reardon (April 8, 2008), is a "gloriously idiosyncratic project that taps into the deeply human pastime of daydreaming about the lives of others."

Carlip gathered 26 grocery lists (for example, "Coors, Oreos" written on the back of a matchbook cover), imagined what each writer was like, and then dressed up in that role for a photograph at a supermarket. She later wrote back stories about the shoppers and their shopping trips.

The idea apparently came from Hillary Carlip's teenage discovery of a discarded list in a supermarket cart. Since then, she's collected some 2,000 to 3,000 lists.

This idea fascinates me, at least the writing part. Carlip is also an actor and performance artist, which led to the photos and assumed personas. I have not read this book, but reading about it reinforced my beliefs that we reveal a lot about ourselves through our writing, and that almost anything can be a worthy topic.

What would my list reveal about me? That I'm no cook, am concerned about my weight, live alone, and am not poor, since I waste a lot of money on prepared foods: cooked, sliced chicken breast; packaged salad greens; lo-cal frozen dinners; sugar-free Jello.

I like idiosyncratic writing projects (see my coming rictameter collection). However, perhaps those of you especially concerned about your privacy need to shred your grocery lists along with your credit card statements.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

My Life in Rictameters

Just in case anyone is interested in my rictameters, I will be publishing a collection of them in a month or two. The title will be Elder Expectations: My Life in Rictameters. It will contain 39 poems in 56 pages. This is obviously not a money-making proposition, but it is fun! Stay tuned.

Any interested agents or publishers or potential reviewers out there? I doubt it, but I'm always open to suggestions. Hope springs eternal.

Finally! Someone Reviewed my Short Stories

I've never claimed to be a fiction
writer, but I've experimented anyway; two of my stories were accepted by Amazon Shorts. Like my other works, they have not been best sellers, and I learned long ago that writing would not pay in monetary terms. Still, I was pleased to notice that each of my stories, "Marie's Story" and "Volunteer," has received a four-star review from a reader. Update: each has received a five-star review as well!

Check out the reviews. If you have a credit card and an extra 49 cents, download a story, read it, and write a review yourself. It won't make me rich, but I'll appreciate it. Tell me what you think. Be honest. And you can read the current reviews without buying.

Click on one of the Amazon icons on this page, or on this link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/103-1435355-6091001?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Marlys%20Marshall%20Styne

One Word Answers: Another Bloggers' Writing Challenge

Here's another of those little challenges that's been passing around in the blogosphere. I credit The Joy of Six (http://joyofsix.typepad.com/) for it, but from there the links go backward. I'm not sure who originated it, but here it is. You have to write your own answers. Please note: I've changed it from one word to one word or phrase. Do it either way.

You're Feeling: Worried.

To Your Left: TurboTax installation disk.

On Your Mind: See above.

Last Meal Included: South Beach four cheese pizza.

You Sometimes Find it Hard To: Get started.

The Weather: Beautiful.

Something You Have a Collection of: Small Travel souvenirs.

A Smell that Cheers You Up: Chocolate.

A Smell that Can Ruin Your Mood: Smoke.

How Long Since You Last Shaved: N/A.

The Current State of Your Hair: Limp.

The Largest Item On Your Desk/Workspace Right Now (besides computer): CD Rack.

Your Skill with Chopsticks: None.

Which Section You Head to First In the Bookstore: New.

After That?: Chicago Authors.

Something You're Craving: Chocolate.

Your General Thoughts On the Presidential Race: Depressing.

How Many Times You've Been Hospitalized this Year: None.

A Favorite Place to Go for Quiet Time: My recliner.

You've Always Secretly Thought You'd Be a Good: Newspaper columnist.

Something that Freaks You Out a Little: Crowds.

Something You've Eaten Too Much of Lately: Chocolate.

You Have Never: Driven a SUV.

Never Want To: Lose my mind.

Spring Reflections: Observe and Write

I've written before about my long walks that often terminate at the McDonalds at Chicago Avenue and State Street in the Gold Coast area of Chicago, just off Michigan Avenue and very near my future home, The Clare at Water Tower. Between bad knees and bad weather, I haven't been able to take one of those walks for some time, but today, a sunny Saturday, I finally did so.

The crowd at this location today seemed to be a bit lower in collective social and economic status than the usual weekday crowd. During the work week, the homeless and the less fortunate mix with affluent business people, but on weekends, most business people drink their coffee and dine elsewhere, often near their homes in the suburbs.

Why, in a neighborhood of exotic dining spots, do I choose McDonalds as a desitination? Well, I don't eat there; I go only to drink a small black coffee and to rest. My long walk requires athletic shoes and comfortable exercise clothing, so I don't look presentable enough for the average Gold Coast restaurant. I like the anonymity of looking a bit shabby (or perhaps I'm basically a slob). And as a writer, I like the usual variety of interesting people to observe, all ages, all races. Here's what I saw today.

First of all, I noticed several morbidly obese people. I am a bit heavy, but seeing these people (most of them with full trays, not cups of black coffee) reminds me of the folly of overeating. I feel compassion for most people with weight problems, since I am one of them, but I need that reminder. I was also reminded of how easy it usually is for me to avoid or ignore the less fortunate members of Chicago's society. At this particular McDonalds, they are in full view.

Today, one older, shabbily dressed, obviously demented man was talking to himself in a loud voice. I couldn't quite understand what he was saying, but every sentence seemed to contain the profane GD words, and worse. Finally, a plain-clothes Chicago policeman asked him politely to quiet down, and for the most part, he did. I wondered about the man's problems. Is he alone in the world? I admire the social service workers who try so hard to help. I have no such talents.

Remaining aloof as usual, I finished my coffee and walked to the nearest bus stop, where I used my senior free fare card. Soon, I hope to be able to walk both ways, but I'm not ready yet. I could have paid full fare, but . . . Anyway, the walk brought a combination of hope and despair. Perhaps I sound like a snob, but it's not my intention to put down those less fortunate than I. I do have to admit, however, that they make me feel lucky, as well as slightly uncomfortable.

Be an observer of people. Have a cup of coffee at a place slightly ouside your usual realm or your comfort zone. You may get some good story ideas. Perhaps that's the search that keeps me going back to McDonalds at Chicago and State.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Evaluating My March Challenge

What have I learned from my crazy March poem-a-day challenge? Several things. Most of all, writing regularly gave me a routine and a goal in a dreary month when I was rather short of both.

The most surprising thing I learned was that these short rictameters allowed me to say a lot. I've always been a person of few words. In fact, one reviewer of my books noted that both, especially Seniorwriting, are short, and he saw that as a positive factor. I've never been long-winded, either in person or in writing.

Brief though they are, my poems manage to tell a story, the story of my present life and routine and how I feel about it. There's nothing remarkable there. However, writing about one's life can bring self-realization. "Write your Life!" has never had a large number of readers, yet the managing editor of Chicagoland's Senior News (basically an advertising paper) discovered "Elder Expectations" and asked permission to reprint it in her April publication. The same poem also was reprinted in the Chicago Cultural Center's Volunteer Newsletter, again with my permission. Neither publication will bring me fame or fortune, but I like to see my work--and my name--in print. Egotistical? Perhaps.

No, I'm not claiming to be a poet. I'll never be a be a best-selling author in any literary genre. My point is the same as it's always been: Write for yourself, your family, and/or your friends. You'll be surprised by what you accomplish and what you discover and whom you reach.

Before I go on to other things (soon, a trip to South Africa), here is my concluding rictameter. It probably won't be my last.

My Rictameters

Great art?

No, not these poems

Of mine, and yet if they

Just make you ponder, wonder, think

Or dream, consider your own life or write

A story, draw or paint the truth,

Learn who or what you are,

These poems inspire

Great art.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: March Ends

March Ends

Last day.

My challenge ends.

No more poems for now. As

Spring appears, we hope for times of

Light and warmth, long walks, cheer, good friends to share

Our memories of winter and

Our plans for future life.

We welcome you,

Last day.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Seeing the World

Seeing the World

Travel.

Difficult now,

Yet seductive plans do

Help keep hope and joy alive as

Bags are packed by April, supplies bought, my

Tickets, passport checked with care as

Happily I plan to

Leave home behind,

Travel.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day:The Joys of Walking

The Joys of Walking

Walking:

Challenge now, with

Creaky knees, stiff movement,

Yet on good days what a joy to

Move, explore, observe the city, see life!

Memories all around me as

I amble on, ponder

All I see while

Walking.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: My Departed Husband

My Departed Husband

My love.

He died eight years

Ago today, a man

Of action, charming, friend of all.

My husband Jules, thirty years my anchor.

Life goes on, it's harder, duller.

No wonder March is sad.

I remember

My love.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Growing Older

Growing Older

My age?

Seventy-five.

"Over the hill" some ways,

Slow body, active mind to delve

Mysteries of aging, life's challenges.

I think, I write, I try to find

A path to happiness,

Despite being

My age.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Human Rat Race

Human Rat Race

Busy?

Yes, the world is

Busy, making money,

Working hard to buy new car, new

House, new TV set, new clothes, new things to

Brag about. Are some too busy

To enjoy those things? Yes,

People are too

Busy.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Book Reviewing

Book Reviewing

Review:

I write reviews

Of many books I read,

Mainly "Elder Lit," although there's

No such thing, I guess. Perhaps there should be.

In these books I find the lives of

Brave survivors who share

Ideas worth

Review.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Brain Exercise?

Brain Exercise?

Puzzles:
Waste of time or

Exercise for the brain?

Sudoku, crosswords, Places Please.

Put numbers, words, in place so that they fit

Neat patterns. Boring? Maybe, but

Relaxing sometimes. Yes,

They bring comfort,

Puzzles.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Easter Memory

Easter Memory

Easter.

Two years ago

In Rome, I joined the crowd,

St. Peter's square, too far away

To see or hear the Pope. Not Catholic,

I still absorbed joy, excitement,

Celebration, hope as

Spring beckoned that

Easter.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Cup of Power

Cup of Power

Coffee:

Good or bad for

Health? Who knows? I only

Know it wakes me up, enhances

Life so I can think and read and write to

Start another day, face one more

Challenge. Cup of power?

Yes, I need it,

Coffee.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Life and Fiction Collide: A Book Review

Susan Breen's novel The Fiction Class (Plume, 2008) is a book that kept my attention from beginning to end. This book interweaves the challenges of writing and teaching writing with the challenges of life itself.

Arabella Hicks, named for the heroine of her mother's favorite romance novel, balances copy editing jobs and weekly visits to her argumentative, hostile mother in a nursing home with teaching fiction writing to a varied adult ed class.

Arabella is 38, single, isolated, unsure of herself, and still grieving for her father, who died after many depressing years in a wheelchair as the result of Multiple Schlerosis. Her mother has advanced Parkinson's Disease.

A further depressing fact is Arabella's inability to conclude the novel she's been working on for seven years, Courting Disaster.

Her Wednesdays form a pattern: teach the class, then visit her mother, Vera Hicks, bringing coveted fast food that may or may not be appreciated. Vera's condition and mood swings are impossible to predict, so Arabella approaches the visits with dread.

Like many writing teachers, Arabella seems to rely on her students' written work to get to know them. Ironically, when her talk about the class inspires Vera to write a story of her own, Arabella learns about her mother as well.

The newly-awakened Arabella learns, in a sense, to believe in miracles as she finally begins to understand her students and her mother and to open her heart to love. and as that happens, she can begin a new novel.

The connections between real life and fiction have always fascinated me. My experiences as a reader, writer, teacher and visitor of my own mother in a nursing home make The Fiction Class ring amazingly true to me. The book also supports my belief in the power of writing for all, something that Arabella and Vera and most of the writing class students seem to discover as well.

Postscript, 3/22: Author Susan Breen has an interesting web site. Visit to find out more about her, and enter her writing exercise contest to win a free copy of The Fiction Class.

http://www.susanjbreen.com/writingexercises.htm

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Senior Passion

Senior Passion

Passion:

Activities

Of life to fan the flame,

Find joy in writing, painting, build

Something for the world to share, to keep us

Living, active, learning, loving,

Doing what we do with

All our hearts, with

Passion.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: First Day of Spring

First Day of Spring

First day

Of spring today.

We wait for flowers, birds.

Warmth will come to Chicago soon

To bring long walks along the lake, in parks,

Wherever seasonal joy is

In our hearts, our minds to

Keep us hoping,

First day.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Yesterday's Weather

Yesterday's Weather

Rainy:

That's the forecast,

Has been for days now. It

May be drizzle, deluge, darkness.

Soon the sun will shine, its brightness cheering,

Bringing spring, then summer days when

Warm and sunny are the

Norm, days dry, not

Rainy.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Senior Handout

Senior Handout

Free rides:

No such thing? But

Now the bus is free for

Seniors. Do I need this handout?

No, but maybe those in want will have a

Chance to move, explore Chicago.

Will I ride free? Maybe,

But not often.

Free rides?

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: New Week

New Week

Monday.

Check calendar.

Dentist again this week.

Another crown; that means some pain.

Later this week, volunteer, then check with

Financial guru to plan, save.

Not a bad week ahead.

I will survive

Monday.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Retired Weekend

Retired Weekend

Weekend:

Not as in the

Time of work, when days off

Meant enjoyment, chance to sleep or

Catch up on those duties we'd long put off.

Now relaxed, well-rested, chores still

There to do, but where's the

Need to act now,

Weekend?

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Mid-March Reflections

Mid-March Reflections

March Ides.

Fateful day for

Caesar, but for me the

Mid-point of my challenge: write a

Poem a day for March, that lion-lamb month of

Contrasts that can bring gloom, hope, joy.

Yes, I will achieve this.

Spring will come now,

March Ides.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Elder Expectations

Elder Expectations

Waiting.

Human need and

Common quirk that makes us

Dream, expect, look forward to that

Bit of news, that unexpected sign that

Still we live, we matter, someone

Cares, remembers, sends us

Cheer to live on,

Waiting.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Emily Dickinson's Chariot

Emily Dickinson's Chariot


Reading:

Door to all of

Life, learning, joy, wonder.

A book can open minds and hearts

To all the world of knowledge, love, hate, fear.

Frigate, frugal chariot to

Take us lands away: a

Fine transporter,

Reading.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Latest Scandal

Latest Scandal

Scandal.

Politicians,

Men of power, fame, why

Risk all for thrills in this age when

All you do is splashed across the screen to

Titillate us, destroy your name?

We need integrity,

Not corruption,

Scandal.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Annual Checkup

Annual Checkup

Doctor.

Approached in fear

That you will find some dread

Disease, some small harbinger of

The coming end we hope to delay for

Many years. We also wait for

Good reports, magic pills,

Hope and comfort,

Doctor.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Othello, Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Othello, Chicago Shakespeare Theater


Shakespeare.

Heroes, villains,

Othello, Iago,

Still alive at Navy Pier, you

Bring us love, suspicion, jealosy to

Let us know that times may change, but

Human folly, hatreds

Still infect us,

Shakespeare.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Spring Ahead

Spring Ahead

Time change.

Spring ahead, so

Reset all clocks one hour

To be on time for that meeting,

Important date or key appointment, if

Time really matters much these days.

Let's hope this move will bring

Real spring, real warmth,

Time change.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Annual Dilemma

Annual Dilemma

Tax forms:

Mystery blanks,

Paper, on disk, on line,

Demanding, frustrating, unclear.

Adjusted gross income, deductions, tax,

Terms and payments, unknown details.

Somehow I cope; I must

Master all those

Tax forms.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Seeking Spring

Seeking Spring

Sunshine:

Cheerful, tempting,

Good to see, sign of hope

That ugly winter soon will end

Its hold on all of us who live and work

While dodging ice or staying in.

We need your light, your joy,

Your hope of spring,

Sunshine.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Volunteer Routine

Routine

Routine.

Just volunteer,

But needed, welcome work

To stay connected to the world

Where people walk and talk and do their jobs.

Relaxing and writing are good

But still I need to have

Your discipline,

Routine.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Seductive Candy

Is anyone joining me in this experiment? Remember: it's not too late to begin, and you don't have to use the same odd poetic form. The point is self-expression, not poetic art.

Seductive Candy

Candy:
Tempting. Too good.
Chocolate, caramel,
Peanut butter, almond, raisin.
Bane of teeth, producer of fat, best friend.
How convenient to buy it,
Calling me from each shelf.
Must resist it,
Candy.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne.

It's National Grammar Day!

This sounds like a day of celebration for stodgy old English profs like me, but--not really. I approach so-called Grammar Gurus with caution. I've come to realize that too much emphasis on grammatical correctness can stifle writing efforts completely. I favor a more relaxed, common-sense approach.

According to Nathan Bierma in his article "Don't get carried away on National Grammar Day" in the February 26 Chicago Tribune, the "policewoman" behind the sponsoring group, SPOGG, or the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, is Martha Brockenbrough of Microsoft's Encarta web site (http://www.encarta.msn.com/). She writes a column there entitled "Grumpy Matha's Guide to Grammar and Usage."

Like almost everyone, I laugh at extreme examples of poor writing. Here's one from Courtney Love's blog, as quoted by Brockenbrough:

"ive been nbot working the tightest program and been multi tasking and managing time horribly- so i was on the phone and i said i wanted pretty short bangs- not NO bangs and she cut them when i was on the phone with one of these whakcjob banks that heres some trust and some joint bogus account and some insane mortage in- these f***s for years and years and years=- in anycase anyone know exactly how many records Nirvana has sold all in worldwide since Nirvana started?"

"Grumpy Martha" provides a translation, but I'll let you look it up or do the translating yourself. 'Nuf said. Nobody should write like that. If Love's fans think that's adequate writing, I'm glad I belong to an older generation. Still, it's possible for grammatical criticism to go too far. Martha even takes Elvis to task for singing "I'm all shook up" rather than "I'm all shaken up." It just wouldn't be the same.

Nathan Bierma goes on to quote Mignon Fogarty, whom he describes as "a more level-headed grammatical authority" known as Grammar Girl (http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/) . Fogarty hopes that "participants [in National Grammar Day will] focus on spreading the word about the style points and grammar myths that many people latch on to as truth. For example . . . it's OK to split infinitives, and sometimes it's acceptable--even preferable--to end a sentence with a preposition. It's shocking, but true!"

National Grammar Day is promoted as a chance to flag any violation of standard English usage in any situation, to write notes to storekeepers about misused apostrophes in signs and to set errant newspaper writers straight with "friendly" emails. However, I agree with Mr. Bierma that "Such corrections are seldom friendly, welcome or necessary. They are usually self-righteous, irritating and misinformed."

If you note some personal conflict here, you're right. I believe in good, correct writing, but I also believe in honest self expression. Let's hope that the two can coexist. Let's just be a bit careful!

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a Day: Dental Dread

Dental Dread

Dentist:

Kindly, busy,

Architect of my smile.

Why does just a simple visit

Fill me with fear and dread of pain, of costs?

The news was good last time I went,

But now dread starts again.

I'll see you soon,

Dentist.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

September University: Worth Checking Out

Like most people with an Internet presence, I Googled my own name recently. There are certainly a lot of references to me, many of them very minor. It's an interesting exercise, however.

This time, I found a new review of my book Seniorwriting on a senior site I've been aware of, but not visited very often. I was reminded that this site is worth checking out. You can find the review of my book (with a mention of Reinventing Myself as well) at
http://www.septemberuniversity.org/booksaging.html. Take time to examine the rest of the site as well.

The reviewer mentions the relatively brief length of my books. I'm happy to say that he did not condemn that quality: instead, he wrote, "Ironically short books are much harder to write than long ones and Seniorwriting contains all of the elements you need to begin writing." I guess it's not bad to be a woman of few words!

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Portrait of a Cat

Portrait of a Cat

Gracie.

Neighbor's cat I

Tended yesterday. You're

Mature, determined, mysterious,

Dignified, relaxed, self-confident that

Things will turn out well each day for

All. Do you know something

We should know too,

Gracie?

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne