South Carolina writer Jan Igoe is one of the finest humorists writing today. Her humor column "Earth to Jan" appeared in The Sun News, the Myrtle Beach, S.C. daily, a few years back and touched on family, children, jobs and idiosyncrasies that had people nodding and saying, "That's so true. That's how it is."
Jan moved on to other publications and continues her humor writing as a columnist for South Carolina Living magazine. The current issue carries "Lazy until proven active," a prime example of how Jan gets to the heart of the situation. She cites Bloomberg Businessweek's 2010 ranking that states South Carolina is the eighth laziest state in the Union. Speaking as a South Carolina resident, Jan agrees and tells why!
How can a writer project the humor that people appreciate?
1) By making themselves the object of the humor
2) By seeing the humor in an otherwise undesirable situation
3) By using specific examples
Check out the article in South Carolina Living magazine on Facebook or go to www.ecsc.org.
If you're interested in humor writing, see if you can take a rather ridiculous accusation, situation or circumstance and write a piece that makes people laugh.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Writing resolutions for 2011
How do you motivate yourself to write in 2011?
1) Consider your goals. If the desire to write something--anything--dominates your thoughts, this is the year to start. On the other hand, if the passion to write an article, novel or poem isn't primary in your mind, store the idea away until Jan. 15 or Feb. 1. Revisit the idea then.
2) Choose a project. Do you want to write your autobiography? a novel? an article for a specific magazine? a poem? Focus on the project. If you don't know how to start, do a Google search and get some help. Dozens of books, magazines and college and online classes are available.
3) Put time aside to write. Take a minimum of an hour, more if possible. Determine to write 500 words in that time. You can always increase the amount.
4) Write at the same time every day. Be faithful to the time. Don't take any minutes or days off. Be persistent.
5) Believe in yourself and your goal. You can reach it.
1) Consider your goals. If the desire to write something--anything--dominates your thoughts, this is the year to start. On the other hand, if the passion to write an article, novel or poem isn't primary in your mind, store the idea away until Jan. 15 or Feb. 1. Revisit the idea then.
2) Choose a project. Do you want to write your autobiography? a novel? an article for a specific magazine? a poem? Focus on the project. If you don't know how to start, do a Google search and get some help. Dozens of books, magazines and college and online classes are available.
3) Put time aside to write. Take a minimum of an hour, more if possible. Determine to write 500 words in that time. You can always increase the amount.
4) Write at the same time every day. Be faithful to the time. Don't take any minutes or days off. Be persistent.
5) Believe in yourself and your goal. You can reach it.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Christmas Stories
The Christmas, Hanukkah and other holiday seasons offer a challenge to writers. It's important to get stories written, but how can they get written when shopping, baking and other tasks need to get done?
Now is the time to formulate your 2011 holiday stories. Many publications accept Christmas stories a year before. The ideas will be fresh in your mind. If anything unusual happens, any surprises, any humorous experience, now is the time to write those down.
Here's a check list:
* Write about the hustle/bustle of getting ready for the holiday
* Write about visiting family during the holiday
* Write about what the holiday is like away from home
* Write about who is absent
* Write about your ideal Christmas, Hanukkah or whatever your favorite holiday is
You can come up with many more ideas. Then write the story and send it to the publication you know will publish it.
Now is the time to formulate your 2011 holiday stories. Many publications accept Christmas stories a year before. The ideas will be fresh in your mind. If anything unusual happens, any surprises, any humorous experience, now is the time to write those down.
Here's a check list:
* Write about the hustle/bustle of getting ready for the holiday
* Write about visiting family during the holiday
* Write about what the holiday is like away from home
* Write about who is absent
* Write about your ideal Christmas, Hanukkah or whatever your favorite holiday is
You can come up with many more ideas. Then write the story and send it to the publication you know will publish it.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
www.ed2go.com
One of the best ways to supplement your education is by taking online courses, and one of the best sites that offers a myriad of diverse, continuing education courses is http://www.ed2go.com/. I have taken five courses from the site and enjoyed them, learned what I set out to learn and had a wonderful time completing them--and it's on a time schedule I set for myself.
I started with Introduction to Photoshop, moved to Power Point, then Quicken, Intermediate Word and finally Romance Writing Secrets. The format for each course is the same: 12 lessons over six weeks with lessons available on Wednesdays and Fridays. Each lesson includes a quiz, which can be taken as many times as you like. You are given two weeks to complete the final exam at the end of the course; however, it can only be taken once. A certificate of completion used to be mailed to your home, but after I submitted the final exam for Romance Writing Secrets, which ended Nov. 26, I was able to print out the Certificate of Completion immediately. You do not earn college credits for the courses, but some employers may accept the Certificate of Completion as proof of continuing your education.
Ed2go.com divides its courses into four categories: Career and Professional; Computers and Technology; Writing and Publishing; and Personal Development. Within each category are dozens of courses. Want Accounting? Criminal Law? GED Preparation? French, Italian or Spanish? A host of Microsoft Suite courses are offered. Take a look at the selections, and you'll want to sign up right away. Cost of courses varies, but I don't think they are deal breakers.
Ed2go.com is associated with 1,800 colleges and universities across the country. When you sign up, you find the college closest to you that is a participating school. Brunswick Community College in Supply, N.C., the only higher education school in Brunswick County, participates.
Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, N.C., Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, N.C. and University of North Carolina at Wilmington are also participating schools. I'm from Joliet, IL, and Joliet Junior College participates. It won't be hard to find a school near you.
Ed2go.com is a way to enrich your life and learning. Just writing this blog inspired me to sign up for at least three more courses: Introduction to Excel, Photography Secrets and Get Funny, which would have me in writing humor.
Ed2go truly makes learning fun.
I started with Introduction to Photoshop, moved to Power Point, then Quicken, Intermediate Word and finally Romance Writing Secrets. The format for each course is the same: 12 lessons over six weeks with lessons available on Wednesdays and Fridays. Each lesson includes a quiz, which can be taken as many times as you like. You are given two weeks to complete the final exam at the end of the course; however, it can only be taken once. A certificate of completion used to be mailed to your home, but after I submitted the final exam for Romance Writing Secrets, which ended Nov. 26, I was able to print out the Certificate of Completion immediately. You do not earn college credits for the courses, but some employers may accept the Certificate of Completion as proof of continuing your education.
Ed2go.com divides its courses into four categories: Career and Professional; Computers and Technology; Writing and Publishing; and Personal Development. Within each category are dozens of courses. Want Accounting? Criminal Law? GED Preparation? French, Italian or Spanish? A host of Microsoft Suite courses are offered. Take a look at the selections, and you'll want to sign up right away. Cost of courses varies, but I don't think they are deal breakers.
Ed2go.com is associated with 1,800 colleges and universities across the country. When you sign up, you find the college closest to you that is a participating school. Brunswick Community College in Supply, N.C., the only higher education school in Brunswick County, participates.
Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, N.C., Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, N.C. and University of North Carolina at Wilmington are also participating schools. I'm from Joliet, IL, and Joliet Junior College participates. It won't be hard to find a school near you.
Ed2go.com is a way to enrich your life and learning. Just writing this blog inspired me to sign up for at least three more courses: Introduction to Excel, Photography Secrets and Get Funny, which would have me in writing humor.
Ed2go truly makes learning fun.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Baked Salmon on Thanksgiving Day
I remember years ago when a friend of mine asked if I thought people would accept salmon as their Thanksgiving dinner instead of the traditional turkey. My first thought was that she was crazy. What citizen of the United States would want salmon instead of turkey? At the least, serve beef!
I hesitated and my blank stare prompted her to say that many people don't like turkey, and she had this huge salmon in her freezer that her husband had caught on a fishing trip that summer.
I told her I'd call the guests and find out from them if they would accept the nontraditional on the most traditional dinner day in America. She mentioned to a few guests before Turkey Day that she was serving salmon. Some gagged, but she went ahead and baked the "king of fish" anyway. She really wanted to get rid of the thing that took up too much room in her freezer.
After Thanksgiving, she said the people liked the change of menu, so if anyone is looking for a nontraditional entree such as salmon, go to Patricia Gambarelli's blog at www.patriciagambarelli.blogspot.com and get one of Pat's favorite recipes: "Baked Salmon with a Cranberry Crust."
What's great about the recipe is that it has the traditional Thanksgiving Day twist with the cranberry addition. It sounds easy and fast, so for the nontraditional celebrating a tradition, it might be the perfect entree.
To get more of what Pat's about, go to www.patriciagambarelli.com.
I hesitated and my blank stare prompted her to say that many people don't like turkey, and she had this huge salmon in her freezer that her husband had caught on a fishing trip that summer.
I told her I'd call the guests and find out from them if they would accept the nontraditional on the most traditional dinner day in America. She mentioned to a few guests before Turkey Day that she was serving salmon. Some gagged, but she went ahead and baked the "king of fish" anyway. She really wanted to get rid of the thing that took up too much room in her freezer.
After Thanksgiving, she said the people liked the change of menu, so if anyone is looking for a nontraditional entree such as salmon, go to Patricia Gambarelli's blog at www.patriciagambarelli.blogspot.com and get one of Pat's favorite recipes: "Baked Salmon with a Cranberry Crust."
What's great about the recipe is that it has the traditional Thanksgiving Day twist with the cranberry addition. It sounds easy and fast, so for the nontraditional celebrating a tradition, it might be the perfect entree.
To get more of what Pat's about, go to www.patriciagambarelli.com.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Sunset Beach Bridge Walk
What a great time it was Nov. 1 when hundreds of people showed up for the Sunset Beach Bridge Walk. With the sun shining and the temperature in the mid-sixties, Sunset Cyclists and Cape Fear Cyclists led the gathering across the bridge. Young mothers pushed strollers, residents had their dogs on leashes, people talked on their cell phones and dozens of people came to the railing to take pictures.
What I especially like about the bridge is that it's wide! It has two bicycle lanes (which, I'm sure, will also attract walkers) and two vehicular traffic lanes. It rises high enough for people to see the marsh, Ocean Isle Beach and its high-rise building, boats on the Intracoastal Waterway and vistas that delight the imagination.
I got to the top of the bridge, which rises from 62-65 feet in the air and extends for a half mile, as the pontoon bridge was opening for water traffic on the Intracoastal. It was providential that we saw the sight in its waning days. Feelings are still divided about the new $32 million bridge vs. the 52-year-old pontoon bridge.
"We're tried of waiting in the traffic," said Nancy Sneska of Carolina Shores, N.C. At the same time, "We're anxious to see what they do about the parking."
"It'll be nice to get over here, but I would prefer the old bridge because it's historic. That's the charm and beauty of that bridge," added Pencie Crews of Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.
Jackie Headman and Pat Sheridan of Sunset Beach said they were happy with having a new bridge. "I'm thrilled," Pat said.
"As much as we know you have to progress, it's a sad time, too," Jackie said.
Chris Wilson of Sunset Beach is promoting the preservation of the pontoon bridge. Those who want to learn more or are in favor of the preservation can go to www.theoldbridge.org for more information.
No day or time is set as yet for the official opening of the high-rise bridge, but I am sure some people will be cheering and others will be crying.
What I especially like about the bridge is that it's wide! It has two bicycle lanes (which, I'm sure, will also attract walkers) and two vehicular traffic lanes. It rises high enough for people to see the marsh, Ocean Isle Beach and its high-rise building, boats on the Intracoastal Waterway and vistas that delight the imagination.
I got to the top of the bridge, which rises from 62-65 feet in the air and extends for a half mile, as the pontoon bridge was opening for water traffic on the Intracoastal. It was providential that we saw the sight in its waning days. Feelings are still divided about the new $32 million bridge vs. the 52-year-old pontoon bridge.
"We're tried of waiting in the traffic," said Nancy Sneska of Carolina Shores, N.C. At the same time, "We're anxious to see what they do about the parking."
"It'll be nice to get over here, but I would prefer the old bridge because it's historic. That's the charm and beauty of that bridge," added Pencie Crews of Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.
Jackie Headman and Pat Sheridan of Sunset Beach said they were happy with having a new bridge. "I'm thrilled," Pat said.
"As much as we know you have to progress, it's a sad time, too," Jackie said.
Chris Wilson of Sunset Beach is promoting the preservation of the pontoon bridge. Those who want to learn more or are in favor of the preservation can go to www.theoldbridge.org for more information.
No day or time is set as yet for the official opening of the high-rise bridge, but I am sure some people will be cheering and others will be crying.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Scrapbooking
What a phenomenal gathering I went to today. It was called "Scraptacular," a weekend retreat for people who scrapbook as a hobby. This bi-annual "crop" was in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and was hosted by Rayann Culp, owner of Scrapbooks by the Sea in Pawleys Island, and Linn Phillips, owner of Scrapbook Concepts in Florence, S.C. Eunice Alexander of MeMe's Scraps & Invitations in Hartsville. S.C. and Laurie Capps of Charleston Scrapbook Company in Summerville, S.C. were also there.
My daughter-in-law, Meghan, has scrapbooking as a hobby. She's given us several books, and we love them. It's a perfect way to be creative and to preserve heart-felt memories. I was covering the event for my story on scrapbooking. It's a huge topic. There's traditional, digital and hybrid scrapbooking. Then there's card making and other paper items to make, such as "pillow boxes," which are used for gift cards, cash or jewelry.
I label all my pictures and put them in photo albums, but what I do is primitive compared to scrapbookers. They use patterned, themed and colored paper. They add yarn, letters in all sizes and fonts and any other appropriate item. Most of the scrapbookers give the books as gifts. It's worth looking into as a hobby.
To read my story go to http://www.thesunnews.com/ and type in my name: Jo Ann Mathews. That's the fastest way to get the story--but you have to wait. It won't appear until Nov. 4.
My daughter-in-law, Meghan, has scrapbooking as a hobby. She's given us several books, and we love them. It's a perfect way to be creative and to preserve heart-felt memories. I was covering the event for my story on scrapbooking. It's a huge topic. There's traditional, digital and hybrid scrapbooking. Then there's card making and other paper items to make, such as "pillow boxes," which are used for gift cards, cash or jewelry.
I label all my pictures and put them in photo albums, but what I do is primitive compared to scrapbookers. They use patterned, themed and colored paper. They add yarn, letters in all sizes and fonts and any other appropriate item. Most of the scrapbookers give the books as gifts. It's worth looking into as a hobby.
To read my story go to http://www.thesunnews.com/ and type in my name: Jo Ann Mathews. That's the fastest way to get the story--but you have to wait. It won't appear until Nov. 4.
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