tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post3949719367857464491..comments2023-10-21T11:44:45.588+01:00Comments on ResidentAlien: Powerful WordsMary Witzlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-17183124411737857982008-01-01T17:45:00.000+00:002008-01-01T17:45:00.000+00:00Phil -- Thank you for your comment, and Happy New ...Phil -- Thank you for your comment, and Happy New Year to you!<BR/><BR/>I fully understand your position! One of the reasons I quit GW and haven't opened a Face Book account is because I believe my family would have a fit if I spent any more time at the computer. As it is, I'm so pressed for time that I allow myself one diversion from real writing, and my blog is it. What I really need is real job, but fat chance I'll be getting one of those soon.<BR/><BR/>Angelique -- Happy New Year to you! <BR/><BR/>As for killing words, I really have to start doing more of this. I tend to horde words that ought to be weeded out, fearing that I am becoming too terse and sparse with them. As if I ever could.<BR/><BR/>Debra -- Happy New Year to you, and happy potting, too. I loved your little blue Santa Claus.<BR/><BR/>Kim -- As I've said, if ever I let these various accolades go to my head, I've got a handy collection of rejection letters to help me get back on track. I'll be collecting my award soon, and thank you for it!<BR/><BR/>Sam -- It is nice thinking that I've got a counterpart there in California, being an expatriate Scot in the Land of Plenty of Sun to my expatriate Yank in the Land of Plenty of Moisture. Your blog is great and your writing is fine indeed -- and that is not just an exchange of compliments. Happy New Year to you, and Slainte mhor! (Sorry if that's redundant...)<BR/><BR/>Individual Voice -- Happy New Year to you, and I hope to make it over to your blog more. I am still giggling at the memory of those smiling 50s ladies ever so happy to be taking their roasts out of the oven and waltzing about their gleaming kitchens.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-4177107557180836662008-01-01T16:53:00.000+00:002008-01-01T16:53:00.000+00:00Love fire of indignation and kill it dead. Will ha...Love fire of indignation and kill it dead. Will have to check out the other winners. More good reading to come!xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17866348942612559536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-32429635368145522972007-12-31T21:13:00.000+00:002007-12-31T21:13:00.000+00:00Well done! You thoroughly deserve it - your writin...Well done! You thoroughly deserve it - your writing is compelling and beautiful.<BR/><BR/>It's been great getting to know you this year. Wishing you all the very best for 2008. <BR/><BR/>Slainte mhor!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-72347284563281947012007-12-31T19:16:00.000+00:002007-12-31T19:16:00.000+00:00All these awards - they'll soon be going to your h...All these awards - they'll soon be going to your head, no doubt. Just to prove it, I've given you one too - pop over to my site to collect it :)Kim Ayreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-49331702464948847902007-12-31T13:56:00.000+00:002007-12-31T13:56:00.000+00:00Congratulations on this honor, Mary. Well deserved...Congratulations on this honor, Mary. Well deserved, I say. And a happy, healthy, peaceful New Year to all.debrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17676300309029588465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-25873156888515212772007-12-31T01:32:00.000+00:002007-12-31T01:32:00.000+00:00Mary:You are more than deserving of this award!I l...Mary:<BR/><BR/>You are more than deserving of this award!<BR/><BR/>I loved your thoughts on writing, especially about willing to commit murder (word-a-cide?) when necessary. <BR/><BR/>Congrats! :) And happy almost new year!<BR/><BR/>AngeliqueThe Quoiblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13632853309100258560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-65960516732685524212007-12-30T18:00:00.000+00:002007-12-30T18:00:00.000+00:00Always a pleasure to read Mary. Even though I'm no...Always a pleasure to read Mary. Even though I'm not into this blogging thing, your comments about other bloggers does tempt me to go and have a look. However, I already spend far too long online and fear divorce proceedings if my interests spread wider still.<BR/><BR/>Have a good New Year.<BR/><BR/>All the best,<BR/><BR/>Phil.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14545929481216461218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-62176212450670524392007-12-30T14:34:00.000+00:002007-12-30T14:34:00.000+00:00Danette -- Thank you. That story about boys was 10...Danette -- Thank you. That story about boys was 100% true, and I often wish I knew why that particular boy gave us the candy. My sisters and I speculated later that perhaps he stole the mints and decided that by giving them to us he was lessening his crime. Who knows? In some respects, it is probably better to imagine that he was motivated by nothing more than generosity.<BR/><BR/>Kim -- You deserved the award too, but I don't think you'll have to wait long to get it. You also deserve an award for walking me through how to set up a blog, kindly and patiently answering half a dozen stupid questions, then showing me how to record a story using Audacity. <BR/><BR/>Eryl -- I hope you'll do what I did and get all long-winded in doling out advice. I love to be asked what my opinion is, and then be able to hold forth for as long as possible. I'll be back to your site to check that you've indulged in this too...<BR/><BR/>Carolie -- You absolutely deserve this award, given the quality of your writing and how interesting your stories are. But I think it is only a matter of time before you get it, too.<BR/><BR/>Anti-wife -- Thank you, and a Happy New Year to you, too!<BR/><BR/>Ello -- The reason I managed to accumulate the cranes was that I was trying to do one thousand of them -- God knows why. I got to over a hundred, then ran out of steam but kept churning them out as we had tons or origami to use up. You are good to take them off my hands!<BR/><BR/>Church Lady -- The story of how the slave trade was ended in the U.K. is one of the most incredible tales I can imagine. Even Hollywood could not improve it, and it is absolutely true. By all means read about Thomas Clarkson and his part in this. I love his quotation 'A fire of indignation kindling within.' Having a passion that will not let you go is how great things get started; the amazing thing is that so many people followed this through so bravely and so persistently. It took decades, but it paid off in the end. And yet today, too few people know their story.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-74908990831164053632007-12-30T13:17:00.000+00:002007-12-30T13:17:00.000+00:00Congratulations and Happy Holidays!!I soooo agree ...Congratulations and Happy Holidays!!<BR/><BR/>I soooo agree with number one. And what a nice story to accompany it. I have to look him up now...<BR/><BR/>:-)Chris Eldinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794946908789120139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-55916411632810126252007-12-30T03:31:00.000+00:002007-12-30T03:31:00.000+00:00So excited about the cranes! But don't worry - tak...So excited about the cranes! But don't worry - take your time. I'm still happy to get them from you!Ello - Ellen Ohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18311917335471167591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-86077940751036304212007-12-30T02:03:00.000+00:002007-12-30T02:03:00.000+00:00Congratulations and very well deserved! Happy New...Congratulations and very well deserved! Happy New Year!The Anti-Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027321787352577548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-46778703237600879482007-12-29T09:53:00.000+00:002007-12-29T09:53:00.000+00:00Congratulations upon receiving such a well-deserve...Congratulations upon receiving such a well-deserved award...and thanks for awarding five more blogger/authors, whose blogs I must immediately check out!Caroliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11637418089860927715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-53271219196580324992007-12-28T22:07:00.000+00:002007-12-28T22:07:00.000+00:00Great advice Mary. I recently came across a defini...Great advice Mary. I recently came across a definition of art as 'something created by talented individuals with a point of view.' (can't remember where or who). <BR/><BR/>Thank you for the award, it might take me a while to think of any advice of my own but I will try.Eryl Shieldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01818102006775827503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-47589292671914182912007-12-28T20:13:00.000+00:002007-12-28T20:13:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722567671925063706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-76042163682143427012007-12-28T16:32:00.000+00:002007-12-28T16:32:00.000+00:00Congratulations!Congratulations!Kim Ayreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-63088821323232416322007-12-28T16:06:00.000+00:002007-12-28T16:06:00.000+00:00Mary,I love your blog! Every post is a short story...Mary,<BR/>I love your blog! Every post is a short story. You're very good at creating atmosphere and transporting the reader. I think my favorite post is the one where you and your sister decided that maybe not all boys were bad.Danette Haworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13220718895967380788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-10111587883454635442007-12-28T11:24:00.000+00:002007-12-28T11:24:00.000+00:00Kara -- Don't feel bad that you get mushy about th...Kara -- Don't feel bad that you get mushy about this: I do too. I am dismayed and depressed by how well everyone else writes, but I have to admit that there are plenty of people even more deserving than myself of praise and awards. And for all that a lot of writer/bloggers would happily stab each other in the back, I have found that most of us have kind words and good advice to offer other would-be published writers, and that is very mush-making. Very. <BR/><BR/>And don't think I haven't felt very glum over your talent, either.<BR/><BR/>Charlie -- Logorrhea, that's what they call it, though fortunately I don't have the really worrying type where you keep repeating certain phrases (unless you count 'Clean your room this minute' and 'Come and get this goddamn hair out of the shower stall NOW'). The only treatment in my case is hair of the dog. My mother used to sit me down with a pencil and paper and let me work it out that way, and it's hardly ever failed me. And these blog entries are nothing: you should see all the other stuff I've churned out. No, come to think of it, no one should see that, but you get the idea. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, quality trumps quantity: I've read your writing and I'm fully satisfied that your words are good and powerful. <BR/><BR/>Merry -- Finding five bloggers to pass this on to isn't as hard as NOT giving it to everyone you think deserves it. <BR/><BR/>Just now I am finding it hard to tell when a manuscript is as finished as it can possibly be. I worry that NOTHING I ever do will ever feel entirely finished, and that is not a good thing. Starting a piece is like falling off a log, but knowing when to finally walk away from it really takes some skill. I tell myself that is probably better than always jumping the gun.<BR/><BR/>Kanani -- You are very welcome. I feel a little strange thinking of myself as a writer in Scotland, and yet that is exactly what I am, isn't it? Kim, Eryl and I all live in Scotland but are not exactly Scottish. Oddly, the only honest-to-God Scottish blogger I exchange posts with now is Sam, Problem Child Bride, currently living in California. Is that strange or what?<BR/><BR/>Ello -- You were one of the ones who got picked first, but I took you out of the running because you already had this award! So we are fellow lions, and we shall go roaring into 2008 with our manuscripts. And I haven't forgotten: I owe you some cranes! The bag they are in got put away when we tidied up for Christmas, but you will definitely have them before too long!Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-22446528073983281972007-12-28T04:57:00.000+00:002007-12-28T04:57:00.000+00:00VEry nice list! And I love your blog and you reall...VEry nice list! And I love your blog and you really deserve this award!<BR/><BR/>Happy new Year!Ello - Ellen Ohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18311917335471167591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-37024834434763802542007-12-28T03:39:00.000+00:002007-12-28T03:39:00.000+00:00Well Thank you! Yes, this is the first award I've ...Well Thank you! Yes, this is the first award I've ever gotten, after having found making up ones just so much easier! :0) <BR/><BR/>I think you came over to my blog after reading me smart off to someone on the agenting blog --can't remember the name. You brought over some of the best bloggers I've ever seens --the whole UK and Scotland group. Very cool, very literate, very fun people!Kananihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317494343177263398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-7253243953965524862007-12-28T03:17:00.000+00:002007-12-28T03:17:00.000+00:00Thank you, Mary! And congrats on your well deserv...Thank you, Mary! And congrats on your well deserved Roar! Your advice is sound, too - especially putting it away to gain some perspective... we know we have to do this, but it's easier said than done sometimes... especially on the long pieces what have been living in your head forever and a day...<BR/><BR/>Thank you again. I'll post mine as soon as I'm able... and as soon as I figure out five bloggers for to pass it on.Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-68053898865928431102007-12-28T01:36:00.000+00:002007-12-28T01:36:00.000+00:00I cannot imagine the amount of writing you've done...I cannot imagine the amount of writing you've done in one year; it bloggers my mind. You surely deserve this award, and any others that are out there. How about a "I could have beat the dickens out of Dickens writing a monthly serial" award?<BR/><BR/>I'm just kidding. I meant "cereal." Nope, just kidding again. I really did mean "serial."<BR/>Did I ever tell you how he lost a whole plot line in <I>Little Dorrit</I>?<BR/><BR/>All this blather is just stalling around because I'm shocked to receive the Roar Award from you. It's the first award I've won since 1952 (The <I><B>Finally</I></B> Potty-Trained Award), and I'm sitting hear shedding tears.<BR/><BR/>No I'm not, but I feel honored by the honor. Thank you.Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722567671925063706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-48247132571721133782007-12-27T17:25:00.000+00:002007-12-27T17:25:00.000+00:00Congrats!We bloggers are each other's best agents....Congrats!<BR/><BR/>We bloggers are each other's best agents. If the support one finds in the land of blogging could spread to other areas of life...the world would be a better place.<BR/><BR/>Look at me getting mushy. Disgusting.karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01690274092026593186noreply@blogger.com