Writer Granny's World by Nancy Julien Kopp

Beautiful, Nancy. Critiques truly are gifts. I'...

2012-05-29T15:25:06.702-05:00

Beautiful, Nancy. Critiques truly are gifts. I'm thankful for every single one! Good luck with your rewrites -- and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hugs to you.

Happy birthday! Critiques can be hard to digest, s...

2012-05-29T13:58:43.845-05:00

Happy birthday! Critiques can be hard to digest, so it's often easier for me if I take it in bits and pieces. I actually think the more input, the better. If a reviewer only gives me a few comments, I figure they really didn't care for it and didn't want to put in the effort to make it worthwhile. ;-)

Beautiful post. I think it would be hard to have ...

2012-05-29T11:30:21.649-05:00

Beautiful post. I think it would be hard to have a loved one buried overseas, but to leave him with all his companions seems a good thing to do.

It can be hard to receive a critique of your writi...

2012-05-29T10:53:03.504-05:00

It can be hard to receive a critique of your writing, but in my experience a thoughtful, in-depth review is far better than comments like "that's nice," "I like it" - pleasant but useless!

My Dad was a disabled (non combat) veteran of Worl...

2012-05-28T09:03:01.219-05:00

My Dad was a disabled (non combat) veteran of World War II. Thank you for sharing. I will be tweeting this.

Beautiful post, Nancy. Thank you for sharing. It b...

2012-05-28T08:41:40.236-05:00

Beautiful post, Nancy. Thank you for sharing. It blows the mind the sacrifices these soldiers make and continue to make in the name of freedom. - A fellow blogathoner

What a wonderful post. I am a new blogger and hav...

2012-05-26T20:14:30.799-05:00

What a wonderful post. I am a new blogger and have found so much inspiration from reading the posts from the blogathon participants. Until two months ago, I had never written anything beyond corporate reports and business letters. It never even entered my mind. Then I was telling a story to two women at lunch and "spark" I said, I think I'll start a blog to write just for myself. I started that day. I am having the best time exploring life at 60+ with a retired husband who wants to sell everything and become citizens of the world with just our backpacks and rollies. I have much to learn but this, too, is a fantastically fun second act for me. I'll be following as I know I have much to learn. Thank you!

So true! This is especially important in freelance...

2012-05-24T12:15:04.661-05:00

So true! This is especially important in freelance writing. If you submit work that has misspellings or improper grammar, you're not likely to continue getting assignments from that client or publisher.

Very good advice! I think it's even true for...

2012-05-24T09:47:15.324-05:00

Very good advice!

I think it's even true for blog posts. The occasional misspelling or use of 'there' for 'there' can happen, even when you run your blog post through a grammar & spellchecker.

I'm on the verge of unsubscribing from a couple of book blogs whose writers never seem to use these free and easy tools, leaving their posts punctuated with sloppy errors which distract readers. There are too many great blogs out there for readers to put up with poor-quality writing!

**Katy M
Recommending YA books beyond the bestsellers at
http://BooksYALove.blogspot.com
Follow me on Twitter @BooksYALove

I think my "I would" statement would be ...

2012-05-24T08:25:50.617-05:00

I think my "I would" statement would be something like "have quit while I was ahead." I think I'm on about year 7 at my current blog. I blogged for 3 years prior to that at a site that is now lost. Maintaining a theme as you do to your blog is an excellent way to maintain readership. At one point I made the decision to just maintain one blog to simplify my life. Good "scrapbook" type storage for my thoughts, but otherwise not good for maintaining readers beyond family and friends. But I guess that's okay too.

Nancy, your blog name is just fine. It sounds comf...

2012-05-23T13:18:13.085-05:00

Nancy, your blog name is just fine. It sounds comfortable and cozy and to me, that's often exactly what I want.

You are my blogging inspiration, so I am just foll...

2012-05-23T09:18:17.318-05:00

You are my blogging inspiration, so I am just following you!

Wow, your haikus are really beautiful. I especiall...

2012-05-22T11:35:04.622-05:00

Wow, your haikus are really beautiful. I especially like the one about gravestones in France, it goes perfectly with the picture you've chosen. You are a true poet!

I liked the way all of your haikus flowed. They di...

2012-05-22T08:54:12.863-05:00

I liked the way all of your haikus flowed. They didn't seem forced. Nancy, I also liked the way you matched up your haikus with the photos. I got so caught up in the theme, I had my high school students write one describing the Supreme Court cases we discussed.

Hi Nancy, I found you on the Blogathon list and l...

2012-05-18T22:33:41.032-05:00

Hi Nancy, I found you on the Blogathon list and love your blog. Since a recent job loss this last year I have turned to my first love of writing and I think your blog is going to be super helpful and encouraging! Thanks!

I often wish I had a little camera in my forehead ...

2012-05-18T16:49:17.896-05:00

I often wish I had a little camera in my forehead that I could secretly press to capture those odd apparitions I spot while walking around town, or sitting at a Starbuck's counter. Invariably, they are too odd to be believable or to describe unless you have proof!

Another beautiful post, Nancy! It's inspiring...

2012-05-18T13:38:56.624-05:00

Another beautiful post, Nancy! It's inspiring to know that there really is no excuse for not following your passion, no matter when you discover it. Thanks!

Such excellent advice, Nancy! We who write, can no...

2012-05-18T11:57:46.507-05:00

Such excellent advice, Nancy! We who write, can not afford not to look at our environment. We can be inspired by so many little things as well as big events that are happening around us! If you have trouble remembering details, carry a small notepad and pen w/you. Jot down things that will help you remember those first feelings gleaned from your observations. This is an enormous boon to creative writing, and a very good bit of advice for sure. =)

Very nice, Nancy. So often it seems we find our &#...

2012-05-18T11:51:43.794-05:00

Very nice, Nancy. So often it seems we find our 'second wind' after all the work of life seems done. You were busy doing all those things that make it what it is, and now your days are busy with what it could be. And what it could be is an excellent writer, example to other writers, encourager and friend, as well as accomplished children's author. I too, published my first book, a life-long dream, in my second half of life, and now I am working on a children's poetry book...but have to set some goals. When we come late in life to do what our passion is, goal setting becomes more important than the casual 'go with the flow' of life we once possessed while just living and keeping up with daily routines. I am so thrilled you've found the niche' and actively pursued it. Born from dreams early in life, it is never too late to make them into reality. Always satisfying to find "the missing piece" of our puzzle.

People are fun to watch and give us good ideas for...

2012-05-18T07:04:29.721-05:00

People are fun to watch and give us good ideas for characters in writing. So glad you got out for the evening and enjoyed a dinner/play, Nancy.
Have a great weekend!
Blessings,
Diane

What a great idea and you got it from your watch d...

2012-05-17T17:54:24.448-05:00

What a great idea and you got it from your watch dog. Thanks for sharing.

ps, I tweeted this. :-)

2012-05-17T09:03:03.873-05:00

ps, I tweeted this. :-)

You make a good point here. I was having a debate ...

2012-05-17T09:00:17.531-05:00

You make a good point here. I was having a debate with a writer friend who was horrified that she didn't see many people reading on public transit. To her, that was a complete waste of time, to not pull out a book when there is nothing else to do.

I pointed out to her that being on the bus or subway was a wonderful place/time to people watch and listen to conversations all around. In fact, although I adore reading and do so at every opportunity, on public transit, my book or Kindle usually end up staying unopened because I enjoy the theatre of the people around me instead.

Very inspiring story. I am so glad I found you th...

2012-05-16T20:43:23.936-05:00

Very inspiring story. I am so glad I found you through the Blogathon. I always wondered about those "author" correspondence courses where they promised individual attention. I don't seem to see their ads anymore. I am in awe of the variety of writing you do. Your students were so lucky to have you as a teacher. What a Second Act!

I amhave so gladwe I found youryour blog. Your sto...

2012-05-16T17:37:35.296-05:00

I amhave so gladwe I found youryour blog. Your story has fueled my motivation. I am a middle school language arts teacher, I am interested in writing for a living, and I just entered my fifth decade of life. I am truthfully amazed at the similarities in our stories. Now, I need to get started making my dreams a reality.