[Blindtlk] Suggestions on being a better writer being blind later in life

[Peter Wolfe]

    Thank you all for your suggestions and feedback. Notably thank you
Julie and Jewell for your excellent recommendations. I am going to
look into Hadley School for the Blind just as I have time for it that
I will. I feel very insecure about my writing because of being starved
as a little boy and all.


Thank you and God bless,
Emily May

On 2/25/13, Jewel <herekittykat2 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I would like to suggest taking classes through Hadley School for the
> Blind. THey have classes on grammar, punctuation, and writing. Check
> out their catalog and give it a go; it's free to all blind people and
> you can go at your own pace. I hope you give it a try.
> ~Jewel
>
> On 2/25/13, Julie J. <julielj at neb.rr.com> wrote:
>> I think you have the potential to be a great writer!  You express your
>> feelings and your thoughts very well.  You are right, your grammar could
>> be improved.  I think things like spelling, grammar and punctuation are
>> easily learned though, much easier than learning how to express yourself.
>>
>> You said that you are tired of being ridiculed on lists because of
>> something beyond your control.  Firstly I applaud you for recognizing
>> something that could use improvement and taking steps to work on it.
>> that takes courage.  But, I think it's also important to recognize that
>> you do have control over this aspect of your life.  You can learn
>> spelling and grammar.  I think you know that though. *smile*
>>
>> I don't consider myself to be a great writer, or even really good, just
>> average.  I'm horrid at using commas correctly. *smile*  So I have had
>> to learn to be aware and think more deliberately about my writing in
>> order to improve.  things that I have found that have helped me:
>> *read, like a lot.  Read the classics and well respected writers.  I
>> paid attention to how they put sentences together.   I read books on
>> writing.  NLS has some.  I found quite a few from Audible.  There are
>> also loads of free resources on the internet.  I subscribe to 6-8 blogs
>> on writing. I like audio books for learning concepts and ideas, but for
>> learning spelling and punctuation I think Braille works better.
>> *write, every day.  I don't think it matters too much what you write,
>> email to friends, journal entries, chapters in a fiction book you are
>> creating...just write.
>> *get feedback, this one was a bit tough for me.  I still struggle, but
>> less so than in the very beginning.  I have spent the past three years
>> writing a book.  It was one of my life goals. It was time consuming and
>> a lot of hard work. Actually printing it for the first time and handing
>> it over to friends for them to read and provide honest feedback, now
>> that was brutal. People were kind though.  I had built up all these
>> imaginings of how horrid they would think the book was and how I was a
>> writing failure and on and on and on.  In the end it was only my
>> thoughts that were getting in the way.  I got some very nice comments
>> and lots of really good suggestions on improvements I could make.  I
>> have one more round of editing and then it's on it's way to publishing.
>>
>> I think Hadley is an awesome resource and fits in very well with your
>> goals and needs.  I highly recommend them.  I've mentioned a few
>> resources above.  have you explored services through your state
>> rehabilitation agency.  I don't know if that is a possibility or what
>> exactly they might be able to offer, but it's a thought.  You could also
>> look for a tutor through a local high school or college.  A lot of times
>> students need to get in volunteer hours or professional experience
>> hours.  The NFB has a writer's division.  There is an email list and a
>> monthly telephone seminar with various writing topics.   The Writer's
>> Division is geared more toward writing as a career, but I'm sure you
>> would be welcome there.
>>
>> HTH
>> Julie
>>
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>
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-- 
Cordially,
Peter Q Wolfe, BA
cum laude Auburn University
e-mail: yogabare13 at gmail.com
"If you don't stand up for something your willing to fall for anything"
Peter Q Wolfe
"Stand up for your rights"
Bob Marley