Who or What Inspires Your Story, Art, Career, Etc.?

  “Who or What Inspires Your Story, Art, Career, Etc?”

I’d like to give a shout out to Melissa Barr, a zoo keeper who inspires me. 

If you’ve never met Melissa Barr, a zoo keeper at the North Carolina Zoological Park in Asheboro, NC learn about her here:  https://lindamartinandersen.wordpress.com/2012/07/14/meet-melissa-barr-a-zookeeper-at-north-carolina-zoological-park/

       Melissa Barr,

• Happy Zoo Keepers Week (July 19-25)
• Congratulations on a recent promotion to lead keeper at the zoo.
• Thanks for agreeing to interviews on my blog, not once, but several times. I expect you’ll return again.
• Thanks for inspiring my current work-in-progress–a zoo story.

 

I’d like to give a shout out to Roxanne Hannah, a fellow blogger who inspires me. 

       Roxie Hannah,

• Thanks for posting your recent spider photo.  It inspired me to write a manuscript which includes a spider.    https://roxieh.wordpress.com/2015/06/28/lifes-garden/
• Congratulations.  Your publishing dream is a reality:   “Sunscribe is a traditional publishing company founded by me, Roxanne Hanna, a writer with over 30 years experience as an assigned ghostwriter or editor of custom writings and projects for individuals and corporations.”

       Check submission details here:  http://sunscribe.net/submissions/

• Chapter Books July 20 – 24, 2015
• Short Story First-person Nonfiction Narratives July 27 – 31, 2015

I’d like to give a shout out for blogging.  It inspires me. 

Sometimes, I question:  Is blogging a wise use of my time?  

My answer:  Yes, keep blogging.  It inspires me to reach out and meet zoo keepers and poet pilots, forester artists, author publishers, and others.  Blogging broadens my world.  What about yours?

I could spotlight other people or things that have inspired my writing.  How about you?  Who or what inspires your stories, art, career, etc?

I hope you’ll leave a comment.  Thanks for stopping in.  Come again soon and bring a friend.  Please remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them. Thank you!

 

Contribute to a Summer Notebook Project for KIDS

 

 

 “Contribute to a Summer Notebook Project for KIDS.”  This project is organized and coordinated by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater.  Reported by Linda Martin Andersen

Calling all ages, all professions..Amy Ludwig VanDerwater is seeking volunteers to contribute one or more summer notebook activities for KIDS. 

Write it as if to kids.  Make your exercise specific.  The posts should contain a few sentences of what to do and then kids Try It.  Include a photo of your sample notebook page.  See the link below for activities that have been submitted.

http://www.sharingournotebooks.amylv.com/p/summer-notebooking-try-it.html

 I have accepted the challenge.  Will you?  At my last count, 38 activities were posted.  Check here for more information. 

http://www.sharingournotebooks.amylv.com/2015/05/summer-kickoff-notes-from-amy-lv.html

Amy adds, “If each contributor tags one…it will grow!”

 I hope you’ll post an activity to Summer Notebooks.  Kids will appreciate it.

Thanks for visiting.  Come again soon and bring a friend.  Comments are appreciated.  If you’re under 13 years old, please ask a trusted adult to post for you.

 

 

 

 

Seventy-five is Five Fifteens

“Seventy-five is Five Fifteens” by Linda Martin Andersen

I have a good friend who turns seventy-five-years-old today.  Happy birthday, to my unnamed friend.  She remains unnamed because a lady never shares a friend’s age.  I hope the birthday girl enjoys my silly take on turning seventy-five and that she and other readers will play along with me.  Here goes…

Clip art sample 2015

 

Seventy-five is five fifteens.  75=15+15+15+15+15

Brain Teaser for Today:  Which is harder–turning seventy-five or living the life of five fifteen year olds? Don’t answer too hastily.

What are fifteen-year-olds like, you may ask.  Sorry, but thinking back on your life at fifteen doesn’t cut it.  Today’s fifteen-year-old is different.  And remember we’re talking about living the life of FIVE fifteen-year olds.

Questions to consider before answering this brain teaser:

Which name would you prefer to be called:  a teenager or a senior citizen?  Both get a bad rap at times, especially from comedians.  Furthermore, most of us have made cracks about their driving skills.  One group gets discounts more than the other.  Which one?

Which carries more weight? (meaning influence, not pounds)  One seventy-five-year-old or five fifteen-year olds?  Depends on the market.  For example, AARP has little interest in teens, while fashion designers probably have little interest in catering to seniors.

What about being compared to a century? (100 years)  When a reporter is sent out to find the secret of longevity, who would he prefer to interview?  Someone who has lived 3/4 of a century or five teens who have each lived 1/15 of a century?

Which would you rather bake?  Five birthday cakes or one?  (assuming all five teens share the same birthday and are celebrating together).  Either way, you need a total of seventy-five candles, unless you use numbered ones.  In that case, ironically, there is more need for the Fire Department to be on standby for the teens’ cakes. 

Who would you rather feed?  Five fifteen-year-olds or one seventy-five-year-old?  In my mind, there’s no contest on that one. 😉

Do you have other questions to add?

Want to know more about fifteen-year-olds?  Check these topics:

Diet, exercise, stress:

http://parentingteens.about.com/od/agesandstages/a/Behavior-And-Daily-Routines-Your-15-Year-Old-Teen.htm

Social and Emotional Development:

http://parentingteens.about.com/od/agesandstages/a/Emotional-Development-Your-15-Year-Old-Teen.htm

Once again, the Brain Teaser for Today is:  Which is harder–turning seventy-five or living the life of five fifteen year olds?

Want a different challenge? 

• Writers need to know their audience.  Please share tips for creating strong teen characters in stories.
• If you’re a teen, please share character traits you like to read about in books.
• Share an experience from when you were 15.

Thanks to readers of all ages for joining the fun and helping me celebrate my friend’s birthday.  A celebration like no other! 

I look forward to your comments.  Come again soon and bring a friend.

I’d like to add an extra special birthday wish for my good friend!  I hope she enjoys her birthday tribute. 

Children 13 years old or older may leave a comment. Read more about the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA) See: http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm