[stylist] Submission "untitled" Re: new writing assignment?

[Brenda]

> After reading Chris and Barbara's posts about the lack of response to 
> writing prompts, I figured I'd come up with something.I was absent for 
> a week due to a family funeral and when I am home there is always 
> something going on and sometimes there are a few reports to type to 
> earn a few bucks.I keep saving posts from Stylist members to read and 
> comment on, but something always gets in my way.I do need to manage my 
> time better, just haven't grasped the concept.Usually I do one thing 
> and only that thing until it is done and then go on to the next.I do 
> appreciate the feedback I have received from people on this list.This 
> is a very valuable list and to do it right takes the time management 
> you would use if you were taking a college course.
>
> Below is my response to the "crying" writing prompt.I read and rewrote 
> it as I went and maybe tomorrow I will make more changes or maybe I 
> will just consider it a journal article.Most articles I write have the 
> potential of going into a book of personal essays and stories.Brenda - 
> see below
>
> As the letters on the computer screen disappeared, no longer visible 
> with my scope glasses, I knew I had to do something.The rehab agency 
> had wanted me to use screen magnification, but large print had never 
> worked for me.As a child my high-partial vision enabled me to read 
> print, but I could not convert the large letters into words and 
> phrases quickly enough to read proficiently.When I refused large print 
> books and read standard print holding the page to my face "sniffing it 
> out," as my younger brother used to say, I entered the world of the 
> sighted and lived there for many years.The time had come for me to 
> leave that world so my husband and I packed the car and headed to 
> Indiana for screen reader training.
>
> "Window Eyes, makes me cry," said my husband in a sing-song voice 
> breaking the silence of the car ride to Fort Wayne for my training 
> class at GW Micro.He liked the way it rhymed, but it was true.
>
> "With tears of joy," I responded.I knew that a screen reader would 
> give me everything I needed allowing me to keep my medical 
> transcription job and communicate with the outside world.When we came 
> to the part about Braille interface with Window eyes, I told my 
> instructor that I would never need to learn Braille because between 
> Window Eyes, my KNFB reader and my Penfriend there was no reason to 
> read Braille.
>
> Window Eyes gave me my computer back, reading emails and articles on 
> the internet and medical reports.My KNFB Reader reads most of my mail 
> and my Penfriend will tell me items I have labeled.But the voices in 
> my head won't leave me alone, and I want to cry.Sometimes they don't 
> even read the words right.I grit my teeth, close my eyes tight and 
> reach for a tissue.
>
> Tears of joy are coming again.I'm learning Braille.I Brailled my name 
> with my labeler and read it back to myself.I read "Alphabetical List 
> of Braille letters, numbers and punctuation marks" without the shadow 
> of another voice and grabbed a tissue before exploring the other 
> goodies in the box of course materials from the Hadley School for the 
> blind.It is so much easier to grab a can and see what it is with out 
> chasing down my Penfriend. Soon I will be reading books in the silence 
> of my own mind again.The only cause for sad tears is that a Braille 
> display is far too expensive so I will still have to listen to the 
> voices at times - but not all the time.
>
> Now Stylist list, I'm going to get some lunch and start Braille lit 3 
> uncontracted Braille and the use of a slate and stylist.
>


On 3/2/2012 11:45 PM, Barbara Hammel wrote:
> I agree with you, Chris.  It must have just been the desire to make 
> some new beginnings with the new year, but once it came we fell back 
> into old habits. I would like to find a group who is serious about 
> improving their writing skills.  I guess if you and I are the only 
> ones going to do this, it may not even be worth our time?
> It makes me sad to see this because I was immensely enjoying all the 
> different writings.  I tried to make the effort to comment on people's 
> things.  If we can't learn how to critique a piece--or take criticism 
> about our own--how can we improve our own skills?
> And if folks don't like our remarks and think their work is fine the 
> way they wrote it, we have to accept that, too, because ultimately 
> they are the ones who wrote it and so it's their baby.
>
> I liked Brad's comment about not having the time to do it this time so 
> I should just go chop up an onion.  That was cute.
> I wonder just how many students are on this list who are busy with 
> homework.
> Barbara
>
>
>
> Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance. -- Carl Sandburg
> -----Original Message----- From: Chris Kuell
> Sent: Friday, March 02, 2012 8:09 AM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] new writing assignment?
>
> Barbara,
>
> I think your March writing prompt is fine, and I'll toss it around and 
> see
> if I come up with anything. But, this is an apathetic group, and it's 
> not as
> interesting when people don't participate. I think we had 8 people
> contribute in December, 5 in January and only three in February, and even
> fewer bothered to read and critique. I'm not sure how many people 
> belong to
> this list, but that's a poor response rate, no matter how you look at it.
>
> chris
>
>
>
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