END OF SUMMER

I used grammarly.com to check this because:

Though poetry is subjective,

Readers still spot misspelled words.

I would rather write it right

So I won't be corrected.  

End of Summer

Summer's waning,

But Daylight Saving Time

Still provides

Long evenings.

As August creeps along

And Labor Day approaches,

Children reluctantly

Return to their classrooms.

Beachgoers return home,

And settle in

For the chilly days

Of fall.

Work resumes

At a faster pace.

Multitasking sometimes

Causes waste.

Writers try to tell

Of the beauty

Seen in the changing

Of the leaves.

But no words

Can adequately describe

The pictures

God draws on the wall.

MSP

NITPICKING

"I used Grammarly to grammar check this post, because I don't want any nit-pickers finding errors in it.

NITPICKING

     It's always amazing how some of the worst readers, those who can't spell I, can find errors in books. Although such criticism can be instructive, it's often nitpicking.

     The source of the phrase is gross. It comes from the task of removing eggs of lice from someone's hair and clothing, a tedious job that requires close attention to detail. It's interesting to note that fifty percent of Civil War soldiers had lice, so one of their favorite pastimes was having lice races.

     Maybe that's what some readers are trying to prove--that they can find flaws in an author's writing, even though they themselves can't write a complete sentence. Such fault finders never seem to make any suggestions for improvement, either. Perhaps their goal is just to win the lice race by finding the most errors.

     Should authors listen to them? I'd say Yes. It's possible to learn something from anybody. However, don't be discouraged because your writing isn't perfect. You should also make your own final judgment regarding whether the criticism is justified with an eye to considering the source. Remember, monkeys nitpick all the time. 

To Mother with Love

For all the things I didn't say
The compliments not paid.
For times of night, and of day,
I could've been less staid.

I wish I'd told you that I cared
More often than I did.
So many things we might have shared
Were left alone, unsaid.

Perhaps you knew it all along,
And words unspoken came
To you in terms of things like song
Each time you heard my name.

Still there will be another day
When we both meet above
To have my chance to simply say
I'd like to share my love.

MSP

Presentation in Metairie

Doing the presentation to writers in the New Orleans area was very interesting. The  Fiction Writers' Group, which meets at the Jefferson Parish Library, has serious writers who are attentive. They liked the exercises I gave them and I also learned a few things from their responses and participation.

I sold a few copies of my most recent book, CHANCE FOR REDEMPTION, and the library is going to purchase copies of that and of my other titles.  It takes a little time to prepare a program for two hours, but making such appearances is great PR and it helps build a writer's platform. It's also fun and a great excuse to visit New Orleans.

I'm excited to announce that my latest book, CHANCE FOR REDEMPTION, a fantasy novella, is now in print and will soon be on Amazon.com. I will have copies available immediately--5/3/13. If you are interested, you can contact me at my e-mail address: mlsp1@bellsouth.net.

In this story, mercenary Jerome Strait discovers that his wealth will not help him get into heaven; to be redeemed, he must return to Earth and correct all of his mistakes. However, an angel named Ezekiel is sent to guide him.

It has been compared to IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. It would be "wonderful" if it is as successful as that story was.

I appreciate all who take and interest in my work.

On May 6, I will be doing a presentation to the Writers Group at the Jefferson Parish Library in Metairie, LA. It will focus on elements of writing such as lead-in's and cliff hangers as well as using figures of speech in novels.
If anyone is in the area, it starts at 7 p.m.

Thanks,

Mary S. Palmer

MOM MADE IT

I'd appreciate your posting this link and any likes or comments on my story MOM MADE IT. They help the judges decide on the weekly winner. 

Thanks for your interest in my work.

This is the notice I received:

Your story will be in our April 8 contest! You can preview our just-released, promotional video on our Video page.

http://midlifecollage.com/video/

Tell your friends! Email this link, post it on your Facebook page and on your Twitter account. If you don’t have a Facebook page or Twitter account, ask friends who do to post the link.  

Midlife Collage