Here be dragons!
I was a letter writer until my last older relative died, the Grandmothers and their sisters. I did write to my Grandfather sometimes but it was mainly the women who wrote back and gave me more reason to write back. It is much easier to reply to something in a letter than to break out … Read more
Next time you’re stuck trying to read the lines of word verification (CAPTCHA) somewhere think of a way to turn those words into something funny. Add an illustration. Make the word verification part of a cartoon. I’ve done it. I did cheat a bit. I refreshed a Blogger blog until I felt inspired by the … Read more
Writing an advice column sounds fun and easy. Until you think about being responsible for the thoughts and actions of the person who takes your advice. Then it gets a little scary. None of us are omnipotent, all knowing. After all, how often do you take your own advice? If you want to be an … Read more
My niece wants to write to penpals, just as I used to do when I was a much younger person. I started looking for sites where she and her Mother could find another child to write to, somewhere in the world. Friends by mail.
What are your thoughts about spelling: traditional or mutable? Consistent spelling was a great way to ensure clarity in the print era. But with new technologies, the way that we write and read (and search and data-mine) is changing, and so must spelling. Instead of trying to get the letters right with imperfect tools, it … Read more
Janet Blaylock: Ideas can be recycled. Your emotions or interests can produce an idea for a story. Ideas are anywhere and can be used over again. Be alert to your environment, your interests, and your emotions. Somewhere an idea will spark your imagination. Also using different viewpoints can be an idea for another story. Any … Read more
Lately I’ve been seeing more people who have had their Twitter account accessed by someone who sends out junk to their followers. If you get a private message which includes just a URL, don’t click it. Chances are the owner of that Twitter account has not sent it. The best way to prevent having your … Read more
August is winding down. If you aren’t down under you have access to sand, somewhere. Even the landlocked places can drive to a lake if they need a last dash for a summery day at the beach. Sand, water, seagulls and things washed up on the shore – those are the elements of the beach … Read more
Every letter on Dead Advice begins with the same first sentence: “Now that I’m dead, I want to tell you a few things.” Imagine, for a moment, that you have just died. If you had to look back over the arc of your life as it stands today, what stories would you tell? What lessons … Read more
I’ve written about letter writing before: Letter Writing and Letter Writing Fading to Black. But, it’s time for another look, to see what’s new, what I missed and just for the sake of the letter writers themselves (they who need to be appreciated). “Letter writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company.” … Read more