Monthly Archives: August 2010

If no one reads it, does it make a sound?

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Susan Spann

A few years ago, U.S. Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin spoke at the Maui Writers’ Conference.  Before reading from some of his work, he expressed an opinion of poetry (and by extension, written works generally) that resonated with me – and … Continue reading →

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Read the instructions, Captain Awesome.

Posted on August 30, 2010 by Susan Spann

My fourth-grade teacher gave us a special activity on the afternoon before Parents’ Night.  She handed out a piece of paper with 36 numbered lines of instructions and asked us to complete it in pen. Line 1: Read all instructions … Continue reading →

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The Radio. Brought to You by Quaker Oats.

Posted on August 26, 2010 by Susan Spann

Seriously. Watching TV with The Son tonight (really have to find him a blog nickname) – and we landed on a Discovery Channel show about the history of cereal.  His choice (the rolled oat doesn’t fall far from the tree). … Continue reading →

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Then Again, Maybe I Should Have

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Susan Spann

Yesterday was National Waffle Day. I spent all day trying to decide whether or not to post about it.  I thought I would, but then, in the end, I didn’t. I just couldn’t stop waffling.

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Look! The cat swims!

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Susan Spann

This year’s homeschool curriculum includes first-year Russian – The Son’s language of choice for the rest of his high school years. I was psyched when he chose it, because I actually want to learn it myself.  I went to Moscow … Continue reading →

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Something Wicked (Cool) This Way Comes

Posted on August 21, 2010 by Susan Spann

While researching siege ladders for the current manuscript in progress (you get no more of a hint than that) I discovered this awesome website:  The Smith College Museum of Ancient Inventions. Which, of course, set me off on the usual … Continue reading →

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The Label is Wrong – on So Many Levels

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Susan Spann

Last night, checking the spam folder for an email confirmation that went astray, I noticed an email with the subject line “UPS Label Error.”  Gmail shows the first few words of a communication even if you don’t open it, so … Continue reading →

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Waiting for the Thunder

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Susan Spann

Whenever I reach the point in a manuscript where I’m just about ready to send it to the peer editor for evisceration review, I start “listening” for the topic of the next one.  Historical fiction takes quite a bit of … Continue reading →

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The First Day of School: Reality 101

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Susan Spann

This might be a good place to mention that we homeschool.  My son (who desperately needs a blog name since I’d rather not use his real one) is a fifteen year-old nominal tenth-grader, but we discovered during the sixth grade … Continue reading →

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Carpe Meteor

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Susan Spann

Last night, after finishing a three-hour editing session that left me more than ready for some sleep, I shut down the computer, closed up the office for the night – and remembered the Perseid meteor shower.  I’d reminded myself three … Continue reading →

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