70 Soluciones para los errores comunes de un escritor

El libro del autor Bob Mayer, "70 solutions for a writer's common mistakes" es una buena lectura, particularmente cuando se es principiante en la practica de la escritura. Como un "servicio a la comunidad", me he propuesto traducir el texto y agregar ejercicios para aquellas personas que se interesen en mejorar sus tecnicas.

Error No. 1: No Comenzar a Escribir.

Por que esto es un error: si no comienzas, nunca terminaras. Completar cualquier proyecto literario, en particular las novelas, es un prospecto desalentador. Mucha gente se congela ante ello. Otros siguen esperando a que sea "el momento adecuado". Algunos esperan a que la chispa de la inspiracion aparezca. Aun los escritores experimentados encuentran que es mas facil hacer cualquier otra cosa que sentarse a escribir.

Mucha gente dice, "Yo siempre he querido escribir una novela o un libro de como hacer las cosas, o un libro de ficcion historica, o un articulo de revista". Estas personas se llaman wannabes (fanfarronas). No seas una de ellas.

¿La solucion? Comienza donde sea. Mientras que la primer pagina, la primera linea sigue siendo critica en cualquier texto, recuerda que siempre puedes cambiarlo una vez que has hecho la segunda revision. Asi que una vez que te hayas acomodado correctamente, elige el mejor punto de inicio posible en ese momento y solo hazlo. El tiempo correcto es aqui y ahora. Este minuto. El tiempo correcto puede ser cuando estes sentado en el aeropuerto esperando a que llegue tu vuelo, que es justo donde yo estoy escribiendo esto.

Tienes no solo la chispa de inspiracion, sino el combustible para sostender esa chispa. 

No puedes esperar mas para iniciar esto. 

Nadie mas hara que te pongas a escribir. 

Si estudiamos a todos esos escritores exitosos, encontraremos que muchos comenzaron a escribir en tiempos donde casualmente algo bastante desafortunado esta ocurriendo en sus vidas -- no cuando todas las estrellas se alinearon y las cosas eran perfectas. Este pudiera ser justamente el mejor tiempo para ponerse a escribir. Si estas esperando al tiempo perfecto, nunca llegara. Pongamoslo de otra manera: has comenzado a leer un libro acerca de errores al escribir. Si siempre has querido escribir pero nunca has escrito lo que quieres, has hecho el primer error y esto es facil de corregir. Abre un documento de Word en blanco; toma un papel en blanco y un lapiz (no todos somos perfectos); abrete una vena y empieza a sangrar en esa pagina.

Pandarrific Weekend Y'All!

Well, it's monday and that means that it's time for a recap of all the things that have happened in the weekend...

WEEKEND UPDATE with RAINY -- WEEKEND UPDATE with RAINY --- WEEKEND UPDATE with RAINY

1. This weekend it was my turn to be in the student's place as my MA started. I have two classes: Communications and Leadership. In my Leadership class I have to do research of three figures in leadership. One religious, one political, and one in the Mexico history archives. I have chosen Krishna, Benjamin Franklin, and Sergio Mendez Arceo.

2. I need to watch more TV in Mexico instead of cable TV. One of my teachers is a news anchor person in Univision channel 26, El Paso, TX., and I did not know him, so I am not at all starstruck about it. He was more than amused by this pesky little fact. "Don't you watch TV?" he asked. "Yes... I watch GOOD TV... like Sony channel, Warner Channel... and Animal Planet".

3. Me, mom, and dad are going to hell at no more than 10 munches an hour. My mother's B day was on Saturday and we decided to make a BBQ cook-out. Me and the folks, ate like there was no tomorrow. You're not supposed to eat meat because of Lent, but then again, Fish is meat... because it's an animal, right? So... WTF?

4. The ceneval is going to open coming in three weeks. I need to find teachers who are willing to sacrifice a few hours from their already busy schedule and teach them how to teach these classes. If all goes well, then we are going to have a lot of students coming here to take the courses on how to pass their University/College entrance exams. First step -- next... THE MOON!

5. These are images I have uploaded into DeviantART. Apparently, they're good and have received a lot of Favorites in them. What do you think?





The two images are based upon the fact that the Graphic Designers question the ability of someone outside the design school being able to do art using photoshop brushes... I rest My case.

Bang a Drum, Bang it Loudly!!!

"Say it with your heart and soul and believe it"

Today was round number 4 or 6 or whatever, I am so excited because AT LAST, the books were paid for!!!

(party party party)

And I mean, com'on... you pay notes that you're not supposed to? PLEASE... So, happy to have that ordeal out of the way. Next one? TKT.

I have good feelings about it. I am gonna keep all my positive attitude so that everything goes on smoothly.

Agh! The English VII students are driving me crazy! Their new teacher, Mr Paul did not come on Tuesday. Granted... but why in the world did they think it was a good idea to miss class on Wednesday, Thursday, and today? Three days? Those are three absences --- OUT OF FIVE!!! It's just screwed up... we contacted them and finally got a hold of one. He swears on his grandmother's Bible that the teacher has not come all week. Me and the Administrative coordinator just looked at eachother and then at Mr Paul. "Well," Gaby (the A.C.) said, "then I've been seeing a ghost all week or what?"

Monday -- a rumble on the bronx.

Ooooh! I got invited to the Congreso Latinoamericano de Literatura Contemporanea!! Yeah! I get to see the newest in the Mexican Literature... and if I'm lucky, I might get some cards to send the book over. Yessss....

Bang a drum.. bang it loudly!!!

It's a matter of PRIDE

Well... I don't know what's wrong with this blog. Can you read it properly? Because it keeps coming back all fuzzy or with no words. Please, let me know so I can poke the blogger people's ribs.

Today on school I finally had it. The matter of me versus the accountants (Edith and Coral) has gone to new levels. It was like this: last September, the English classes began and as usual, I ordered some books. The books came, I gave the accountants the receipts so they could pay them. The procedure goes like this: students go and pay their books with Edith and then they come to me with their paper slips (to prove they have paid) and I take the little paper and give them the book. All books delivered to student's hands were books that were paid. Now, books that did not sell, were returned to book provider. With me so far? Good. Now, book provider tells Edith that she is one payment missing. She then goes ahead and tells the book people that the one in charge of all that is moi. Book people contact me and ask me about this. I say, "well, let me see what's going on here".

Edith swears (almost to her mother's grave) that there is no more money to pay for those books. O____o How---what---HUM? I-- I don't understand. I mean, those books were PAID FOR by students, what do you mean no more money??? Well, no. And she doesn't know why or how, but somehow I have to fix it. December came, everyone went on vacation, I told her to give me all her original payment slips. Coral did. Coral even went as far as to help me out to see how many books we sold. Our numbers did not match Edith's. In fact, NO ONE'S NUMBERS match Edith's. So today, in round number 4 of the match, the Dean of the school came in and I told him I needed to talk to him. I explained what had been going on with the books (and to my surprise, Edith and Coral had not updated him on the issue) and asked if it was my responsibility to deal with this since a). I had NOTHING TO DO WITH MONEY OR PAYMENTS MADE TO THE SCHOOL and b). I had the proofs that book paid, book delivered. He was sort of shocked to hear that Edith had leaned the responsibility of this to me (since I had nothing to do with the money handled) and called upon an urgent meeting to deal with the problem. Edith started to say that she had no money and that there was no possible way to prove that the school owed that money. I pulled out the statements that the book dealer send via fax to her (and that she dumped over to me) and went with evil French laugh "On Contraire!!!"

Round 4 goes to the panda girl.

Tomorrow the conclusion of the Book Adventure.

Now, to take the OTHER bull by the horns...

The TKT Certification Exams... Teachers have not paid. I cannot order the exams if teachers do not pay...

More on that... later....