Celebrating National Handwriting Day!

Since more people are communicating electronically instead of writing and communicating by hand, penmanship has fallen in the trenches. The pride taken in one’s penmanship is not as detail-oriented as it was before the popularity of computers and electronic keyboard devices.

It is amazing that there is a continuing controversy about the role of handwriting lessons in schools. A great number of teachers support teaching children using keyboards, while other teachers feel that handwriting (particularly cursive handwriting) will have a better impact on a child’s ability to read and write. How can we expect kids to understand how to read cursive writing, if they are not taught how to write and understand the aesthetics of it?

Personally, I am an advocate for good, legible handwriting although I use my keyboards a lot as an adult. Throughout elementary school, writing was a very instrumental piece of our learning process and communications. I feel that it should be taught in schools like it once was, because in reality it seems to be a dying art. We always seem to be in a rush when writing and it clearly shows that when others try to read it.

I witness everyday evidence of handwriting that many of my schoolteachers would cringe at. My mother used to call it “chicken-scratch” and while growing up, she was adamant about all of her children learning to write legibly and to develop good writing habits. Good handwriting promotes an organized approach to communication and creativity. Practice good handwriting habits and you just may find that it opens a core of creative opportunity that you never imagined.

Now-a-days, customer loyalty is not as it once was 15 or 30 years ago. Price and service competition is fierce and you must be cognizant of how extremely important customer service is to your reputation and profitability. Building long-term consumer relationships helps to increase repeat purchasing quotients that leads to long-term sales and financial growth. You may have a laundry list of customers who Read More…

Roget's Thesaurus

Today we celebrate the birthday of Peter Roget, author of the Thesaurus. Peter Roget was born on January 18, 1779.

A Thesaurus and a dictionary were two absolute must-haves in schools, universities and used frequently among those in the field of writing. The Thesaurus lists synonyms for words, unlike a dictionary that goes through detailed definitions and descriptions. Nowadays, we see where such a tool as the Thesaurus is greatly needed. We find so many misspelled and misused words that can be extremely costly for a job interview, a term paper or legal paperwork.

A Thesaurus keeps you from the mundane usage of words in whatever you are writing or referencing. This reference book is an invaluable addition to your library, whether its digital or a hard copy.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

Today we celebrate the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Although I was around 10 years old when Dr. King was assassinated, he still remains an iconic figure of our time and century, not only in the United States of America, but also around the world. Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is revered by many. To this day, it continues to be a movement among people of diverse races, cultures, creeds and languages.

He wrote numerous articles, speeches, sermons and letters that focus on his overall leadership concerning education, training, nonviolence and equality for all. There are so many of his quotes that inspire me to take action and be the best person and servant that I was created to be. Here is one of his quotes from 1963 that I wish many people I know would stop and respond to the call:

“The soft-minded man always fears change. He feels security in the status quo, and he has an almost morbid fear of the new. For him, the greatest pain is the pain of a new idea.”

Check out the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. Happy Birthday Dr. King!

Chilean Poet, Pablo Neruda

Today is National Poetry Break Day! At some point throughout the day, I invite you to stop and take a break to enjoy a poem or two. Today, I am sharing one of the amazing poems written by Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. Whatever you decide to read today or whatever collection you are reading, take a few moments to stop and enjoy a good “cup of poetry!”

“Your Laughter”
By Pablo Neruda

Take bread away from me, if you wish,
take air away, but
do not take from me your laughter.

Do not take away the rose,
the lance flower that you pluck,
the water that suddenly
bursts forth in joy,
the sudden wave
of silver born in you.

My struggle is harsh and I come back
with eyes tired
at times from having seen
the unchanging earth,
but when your laughter enters
it rises to the sky seeking me
and it opens for me all
the doors of life.

My love, in the darkest
hour your laughter
opens, and if suddenly
you see my blood staining
the stones of the street,
laugh, because your laughter
will be for my hands
like a fresh sword.

Next to the sea in the autumn,
your laughter must raise
its foamy cascade,
and in the spring, love,
I want your laughter like
the flower I was waiting for,
the blue flower, the rose
of my echoing country.

Laugh at the night,
at the day, at the moon,
laugh at the twisted
streets of the island,
laugh at this clumsy
boy who loves you,
but when I open
my eyes and close them,
when my steps go,
when my steps return,
deny me bread, air,
light, spring,
but never your laughter
for I would die.

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Talking Books is a free library service available to U.S. residents and citizens living abroad whose low vision, blindness, or physical handicap makes it difficult to read a standard printed page. Local cooperating libraries throughout the United States mail NLS audio books, magazines, and audio equipment directly to enrollees at no cost. Braille books and magazines are also available to patrons at no cost. Find out more about Talking Books: https://www.nlstalkingbooks.org/talkingbooksform/.

Book & Poetry Events

For all of you literary enthusiasts, poets and authors, we have a calendar of January Poetry Readings and Book Festivals, Conferences and Seminars, for you to check out in your neighborhood. Now that we are in the midst of 2012, let us reach out and support our fellow authors and poets. Cheers!

January 1, 2012
38th Annual New Year’s Day Marathon Benefit Reading
St. Mark’s Church, 131 E. 10th St., New York, NY
212-674-0910
info@poetryproject.org
http://poetryproject.org

January 1, 2012
Meg Kearney & M.L. Liebler
Founder’s Room, 400 Heath Street, Chestnut Hill, MA
617-731-7697
mfa@pmc.edu
http://www.pmc.edu/mfa

January 4, 2012
Italian-American Poetry
St. Mark’s Church, 131 E. 10th St., New York, NY
212-674-0910
info@poetryproject.org
http://poetryproject.org

January 4, 2012
Steven Huff
Founder’s Room, 400 Heath Street, Chestnut Hill, MA
617-731-7697
mfa@pmc.edu
http://www.pmc.edu/mfa

January 5, 2012
Dzvinia Orlowsky
Founder’s Room, 400 Heath Street, Chestnut Hill, MA
617-731-7697
mfa@pmc.edu
http://www.pmc.edu/mfa

January 5-8, 2012
30^th Annual Key West Literary Seminar
Key West, Florida
http://www.kwls.org/

January 13, 2012
Tania Runyan
The Art Center of Highland Park,
1957 Sheridan Road – Highland Park, IL
847-681-8595
jennifer@highlandparkpoetry.org
http://www.highlandparkpoetry.org

January 18, 2012
Edmund Berrigan & Tom Savage
St. Mark’s Church, 131 E. 10th St., New York, NY
212-674-0910
info@poetryproject.org
http://poetryproject.org

January 19, 2012
Eliza Griswold
Poetry Foundation, 61 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL
312-799-8065
kesch@poetryfoundation.org
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/programs/event/1005

January 21, 2012
18^th Annual Book Mania!
Jensen Beach High School
Jensen Beach, Florida
http://www.martin.fl.us:7778/web_docs/lib/web/files/events/BM2012Program.pdf

January 22-30, 2012
Zora Neale Hurston Festival
The Rise of Community: The Town of Eatonville Models 125 Years of Self-Governance
Eatonville, Florida
http://www.zoranealehurstonfestival.com/

January 27, 2012
Foundry Art Centre Poetry Reading
Foundry Art Centre, 520 North Main Street, St. Charles, MO
636-255-0270
michael@classicsandcheese.com
http://www.foundryartcentre.org/Home.aspx

Happy New Year!

To all of my literary friends and family, I want to take this time to reflect on 2011. This was a year that by no means left us short of topics to write about. There were a few flubs, but more importantly there were more monumental and celebratory writing moments that gave us the courage to continue writing.

As we enter 2012, let us not waver on building upon that foundation of writing with passion. So many people discount writers as blasé and we sometimes find our craft disrespected and coming under great scrutiny at times. Thank goodness those of us who are serious about the quality of writing we produce and publish do not allow that negativity to penetrate our spirits. Let’s not get discouraged by what naysayers blurt out, but let us gain momentum from it. We know what we love and enjoy doing, so let’s continue to perfect what we write and silence those who only stand on the sidelines criticizing.

May 2012 be a year of great productivity and prosperity for you and your loved ones! Happy New Year everyone!

From Behind the Pen,
Kym