Living Life Twice

  Emotional response is critically important in writing.    It’s part of the total package. Our emotional responses manifest themselves in many ways. Sometimes it's the writer. Sometimes it's the writing. Great writing evokes an emotional response from the reader, such is its power.  Sometimes it's the way writing is taught that stirs emotion. In this article I find myself reflecting upon my responses to a number of common classroom writing scenarios. My heart sings when kids enter classrooms announcing 'I know what I'm going to write about today.' It’s clear evidence of rehearsal in the writer's mind. I find myself  disappointed when a teacher doesn't instinctively allow a young writer to hold the pen during an editing conference. Ownership of this task is critical to the developing writer.   I rejoice when a teacher is brave enough to share their personal writing with their students.   I am warmed when a young writer demonstrates a willingness to per...

  Dealing With Double Trouble!   While reading Jeff Anderson’s 'Ten Things A Writer Needs' a while back, I discovered Jeff tells his students that tautology means ‘DOUBLE TROUBLE.’    This mention of tautology sparked a memory of how annoying it is to hear such redundancy, used so frequently, and so unwittingly.    Here are a few that immediately come to mind: At the present time Very unique Mystery puzzle Wet monsoon Past history Pair of twins Free gift Sad misfortune Invited guests End result Boat marina Will and testament ATM machine I'm sure you get the idea… Tautology occurs everywhere. While living in America some years back , the frequently used term, ‘TUNA FISH sandwich’ left me constantly bemused.  At JFK airport, I would sit waiting for my flight home to Australia and at regular intervals I would hear the announcement, ‘ This is the LAST and FINAL call for flight…’   and start twitching....