| An Excerpt from the Article Keeping Descriptions Consistent |
Have you ever been reading a novel, a real page-turner, and realized the author's description of a person,
place or thing changed somewhere along the way? Sure you have. You're reading along caught in the
pull of the story and suddenly realize the discrepancy. You stop, search back through the preceding
chapters and discover, yes, in chapter two the main character lived in a, "manicured Tudor with brick
walkways," and in chapter seven he is defending his, "stylish Victorian home," from robbers. The flow of
the story has been interrupted and you wonder if the novel received proper editing. How embarrassing,
you think, I'm glad I didn't write this one.
You can avoid such discrepancies by using visualization and graphic representation techniques
throughout your writing process. Actively visualizing the characters, settings and property (props) involved
in a story as you write the initial outline fixes the images in your mind and allows you to make notes as to
their description. Likewise, creating graphic representation of these elements strengthens the picture of
them in your mind's eye and provides you with a hard-copy reference. These methods are particularly
useful for writers who prefer visual or kinesthetic memory aids.
Here are the methods I use to keep the descriptions of my settings, characters, and property clear and
consistent.
place or thing changed somewhere along the way? Sure you have. You're reading along caught in the
pull of the story and suddenly realize the discrepancy. You stop, search back through the preceding
chapters and discover, yes, in chapter two the main character lived in a, "manicured Tudor with brick
walkways," and in chapter seven he is defending his, "stylish Victorian home," from robbers. The flow of
the story has been interrupted and you wonder if the novel received proper editing. How embarrassing,
you think, I'm glad I didn't write this one.
You can avoid such discrepancies by using visualization and graphic representation techniques
throughout your writing process. Actively visualizing the characters, settings and property (props) involved
in a story as you write the initial outline fixes the images in your mind and allows you to make notes as to
their description. Likewise, creating graphic representation of these elements strengthens the picture of
them in your mind's eye and provides you with a hard-copy reference. These methods are particularly
useful for writers who prefer visual or kinesthetic memory aids.
Here are the methods I use to keep the descriptions of my settings, characters, and property clear and
consistent.
| This article was originally published in the Writer's E-Zine, an online publication of Writer's Village University. |
| An Excerpt from the Article Slips, Trips and Falls: Is Your Home Safe? |
Falls are the second leading cause of death by unintentional injury and the most common cause of
nonfatal injury in the United States. Every year, one person in 20 is taken to an emergency room as a
result of a fall. Falls typically result in fractures, sprains, strains, head injuries, spinal cord injuries and
damage to internal organs. Most falls are reported to occur in the home.
As an occupational therapist, I am frequently asked to evaluate homes for safety. This request is
usually made after an occupant has sustained a disabling fall. Such accidents can often be prevented
by making some simple home modifications and starting a few safe habits. By paying heed to the
following suggestions, you can make your home a safer place.
nonfatal injury in the United States. Every year, one person in 20 is taken to an emergency room as a
result of a fall. Falls typically result in fractures, sprains, strains, head injuries, spinal cord injuries and
damage to internal organs. Most falls are reported to occur in the home.
As an occupational therapist, I am frequently asked to evaluate homes for safety. This request is
usually made after an occupant has sustained a disabling fall. Such accidents can often be prevented
by making some simple home modifications and starting a few safe habits. By paying heed to the
following suggestions, you can make your home a safer place.
| This article was originally published in the Let's Live, magazine. |
| An Excerpt from the Article Mountain Driving |
I have discovered that Mountain Driving is a major separator of mountain folks and "the rest of
them." Mountain Driving is an art, a sport and, at times, a spiritual experience. As such, many
people base a large part of their ego strength on their ability to negotiate curves and
switchbacks at speeds that turn a flatlander to green, quivering, mush. The importance of being
an adept Mountain Driver is very clear. Just as clear as those SAAB headlights shining in your
rear window.
My first experience as a mountain resident came on November 8, 1989, as I drove, for the first
time, up Boulder Canyon. I was driving a 1986 Chevy, half ton, two-wheel-drive, automatic
transmission, pickup truck. You may remember me, I was driving about 20 miles an hour.
I drove that truck a total of four round trips in Boulder Canyon. Those were four too many. I
learned, by the time I reached the Red Lion Inn, one component of being a Mountain Driver is
vehicle strength.
One cannot emphasize the importance of vehicle strength. You must have a vehicle capable of
control, power, traction and flash. Without such a method of transport, you are left sitting along
the right side of the road waiting in disgrace for a line of appropriately equipped mountain folk to
victoriously drive by. Yes, vehicle strength is the second most important component in
successful Mountain Driverhood. The most important component is guts.
We all know this is true. It takes guts to drive in the mountains. Here you are steering a ton or
so of metal, balanced on four skinny rubber balloons, around blind curves, with sunlight
splintering in your eyes and Evel Knievel breathing down your tailpipe. To this you can add
snow, loose rock and tourists. This activity takes guts. Some of us are blessed with guts.
Some of us are insane. I won't venture to go into this further.
The third and final component of being a true Mountain Driver is, yes, you guessed it, ability.
Some of us are better drivers than most of us. I am certain we can agree on this. What I
discovered, through exhaustive research, is 98 percent of us think we drive better than anyone
else. [Uncle John's Second Bathroom Reader, p. 35] This fact, while scary, is easily supported
by a view of Coal Creek Canyon any weekday morning between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. You would
think you had just been transported to the Grand Prix. The automotive feats displayed during a
single commute are often breathtaking, literally. The fact that dozens of people don't lose their
lives or become seriously injured each day along beautiful Coal Creek attests to the fact that
persons of high driving ability do indeed inhabit mountainous areas. The few who become a
statistic are, probably, just that 2 percent.
So, there you have it: vehicle strength, guts and ability, the three ingredients to achieving the
pinnacle of mountain macho: Mountain Driving. Ya all be careful out there.
them." Mountain Driving is an art, a sport and, at times, a spiritual experience. As such, many
people base a large part of their ego strength on their ability to negotiate curves and
switchbacks at speeds that turn a flatlander to green, quivering, mush. The importance of being
an adept Mountain Driver is very clear. Just as clear as those SAAB headlights shining in your
rear window.
My first experience as a mountain resident came on November 8, 1989, as I drove, for the first
time, up Boulder Canyon. I was driving a 1986 Chevy, half ton, two-wheel-drive, automatic
transmission, pickup truck. You may remember me, I was driving about 20 miles an hour.
I drove that truck a total of four round trips in Boulder Canyon. Those were four too many. I
learned, by the time I reached the Red Lion Inn, one component of being a Mountain Driver is
vehicle strength.
One cannot emphasize the importance of vehicle strength. You must have a vehicle capable of
control, power, traction and flash. Without such a method of transport, you are left sitting along
the right side of the road waiting in disgrace for a line of appropriately equipped mountain folk to
victoriously drive by. Yes, vehicle strength is the second most important component in
successful Mountain Driverhood. The most important component is guts.
We all know this is true. It takes guts to drive in the mountains. Here you are steering a ton or
so of metal, balanced on four skinny rubber balloons, around blind curves, with sunlight
splintering in your eyes and Evel Knievel breathing down your tailpipe. To this you can add
snow, loose rock and tourists. This activity takes guts. Some of us are blessed with guts.
Some of us are insane. I won't venture to go into this further.
The third and final component of being a true Mountain Driver is, yes, you guessed it, ability.
Some of us are better drivers than most of us. I am certain we can agree on this. What I
discovered, through exhaustive research, is 98 percent of us think we drive better than anyone
else. [Uncle John's Second Bathroom Reader, p. 35] This fact, while scary, is easily supported
by a view of Coal Creek Canyon any weekday morning between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. You would
think you had just been transported to the Grand Prix. The automotive feats displayed during a
single commute are often breathtaking, literally. The fact that dozens of people don't lose their
lives or become seriously injured each day along beautiful Coal Creek attests to the fact that
persons of high driving ability do indeed inhabit mountainous areas. The few who become a
statistic are, probably, just that 2 percent.
So, there you have it: vehicle strength, guts and ability, the three ingredients to achieving the
pinnacle of mountain macho: Mountain Driving. Ya all be careful out there.
| This column was originally published in the Mountain-ear, newspaper in Nederland, Colorado. |
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Featuring the work of Patricia A. Henisse