From a Teacher's POV

     I'm a newbie writer, but an experienced teacher, so take the following for what it is worth.  All the published authors out there have already made this mistake and moved on.

     I'm talking about head hopping - switching point of view (POV).  Don't know what I am talking about?  Let me help you.  Find a 2-4 page part of your novel between your hero and heroine (or two main characters).  Now, get out your highlighters!

     With your pink highlighter go through and mark anything your heroine is thinking (what is on her mind).  When you are finished, get out your blue highlighter...you got it...mark anything that the hero is thinking.

     Put your markers away.  Stand back and look at the pretty colors.  If you are like me you have a generous helping of both colors.  This is head hopping!  (And this is bad :-)

     Try going through a favorite novel (NOT a library book) marking a scene with two main characters interacting.  How is your work different from your favorite work?

     Master writers can get away with switching POV...that is why they are the masters.  But to those of us just getting started, it is best to keep it simple and focused.

     What have I learned from my experience?  Figure out who you want telling the story...the hero or the heroine.  Just write the scene from their head (POV).  If a scene changes, then you can change POV...just don't hop around too much.  If you are not sure, try writing the scene from one POV then write from the other POV.  See which you like best...you might be surprised...I was.

     I thought it was important for the reader to know everything that was going on in my story (both "heads" or POV).  After entering a contest all three judges commented how head hopping was confusing them.  I decided to listen.  I found out the reader doesn't necessarily want to know everything at once...they want to discover what is going on through your characters.

     Don't be stubborn.  I reluctantly changed my ways and immediately could tell a difference.  Give it a shot...what have you got to lose? 

Where are the Manners?

My tweenie-bopper answered her cell phone yesterday with "Yo, Grandma."  After I recovered from shock, it got me to thinking how all the manners we learned as children are no longer being used.  I see this with my students as well as my own children.

When we were kids we had a home phone, usualy one with a long cord that reached to the closet for privacy, if you were lucky.  We were taught how to greet the caller when answering since you never knew who might be on the other end.  Today, when someone calls, you look at the screen to identify the caller then decide whether you want to answer or ignore.  If we do not recognize the number, we simply do not answer. Where are the manners?

Just the other day, I bought stamps for the first time in probably five years.  I honestly don't remember the last time I wrote a letter.  And now I think about it, I don't remember ever having my children write/mail a letter.  Fortunately, letter writing is still taught in school, however, last year one of my students asked why bother since people email.  I didn't have a good answer, since I no longer write letters using the convenience of email.  We have gone from polite letters to "just the facts, please" emails.  I don't remember the last time I was asked how I was doing or how my family was.  Where are the manners?

Do not get me started on texting.

I admit I am just as guilty as the next person.  I hit that ignore button (sorry, Mom!), I crank out emails without a thought to who is receiving them, and texting is the best thing to busy mom's next to DVR.  So, where are my manners?

Technology is changing our lives so quickly, we can barely keep up.  We need to adapt.  Answer the phone and ask how the person is doing, thank them at the end for calling (sound familiar?).  Start an email asking how the person's family is doing or how their vacation was.  If we each take time to use the manners we were taught, others will catch on.  Our children will see the polite interaction and begin using it themselves.

Lord knows, in a few years I do not want to be greeted with "Yo, Grandma."

Never too old to change your mind!

When I was four, I knew I wanted to be a teacher.  Could have something to do with brainwashing I received from a wonderful neighbor (who was a teacher).  So, everything I have done in life has been geared toward education...high school cadet teaching, working at a Day Camp during the summers, college with an on site elementary school.  I can honestly say I love my job.  A lot of people can't say that.

After a couple of decades of teaching...that makes me sound old!...I find myself wondering what I am going to do next.  Starting my career at 21 brings my retirement fairly soon. 

I have always been a reader.  I love books...our school librarian says I can sense when she gets a new order of books for our library.  My classroom is filled with all kinds - a poetry section, a wall of nonfiction organized by topic, and fiction scattered everywhere organized by favorite authors, series, or specific genres.  We recently moved to a new home and it took longer to unpack my books than it did my clothes!

When it came to writing, I have always dabbled.  My younger years for pleasure then later to learn the craft so I could teach my students. 

So, a couple of years ago, I got to thinking...what if?  What if I tried to start writing for enjoyment again? (check)  What if I tried to write a book?  (check)  What if I started gearing my life toward a future of writing? 

What if I decide to be a writer when I grow up???