The Learning of a Language

My almost-two year old learns words like he's picking up Cheerios and popping them into his mouth.

Today, over lunch, he was making his car "fly" and he said, "Momma, fly-un cah." I've never once heard him attempt the word "flying" before.

While reading him a book before his nap, he pointed to a duck and said, "Duck. Qua Qua." (That's supposed to be "quack quack.")

While watching Curious George, he said, "Opeen door monkey" as George pushed a door open on a little clock that looked like a house. He's never said "door" before that I know of.

So...no practicing first. No hesitation. No coaching from me. Just out with the new words like they've always been there. And sometimes they come out in rudimentary sentences.

It's amazing to watch a child develop language. I don't remember me trying to learn French in high school as being half as interesting (or successful).

Submit to literary journals? Read this.

Thanks to Pen Parentis for the heads up on this story:

My Stint as a Literary Doorman by David Cameron

From the article, a conversation between Cameron and a representative from Tin House (a favorite journal of mine):

“About how many unsolicited short stories do you get a month?” [Cameron] asked.
“Over a thousand. Easily.” 
“How many get published?”
“Oh, I’d say about one or two every three years.”

Best Books of 2011?

I know a lot of people dislike this time of year and all of the "best of" lists that get tossed around, but I love the glut of "Best Books of 2011" roundups.

Here are a few:

Publishers Weekly

The Washington Post

Kirkus Reviews

The New York Times

Slate

Ann Patchett's State of Wonder seems to hit many of them so I'm going to have to add that to the other list that takes center stage for me personally this time every year: my "books to read" list for the next year. (It's an Excel spreadsheet that I keep on my computer and update any time I hear/read about a book that interests me. Yes, it's very detailed. Yes, it's more than five pages long and keeps getting longer. No, I don't show it to anybody. Yes, I'm a geek.)

Happy New Year!

A Very Merry Library

Here's how my local library celebrates Christmas:

I love it!

And I love libraries!

If you're thinking about ways to give this holiday season, or need a last-minute gift idea, consider donating to your local library in someone's honor.

Merry Christmas, book lovers!

When I Don't Feel Like Writing

There are just some days when I don't want to write. So, to still feel like I'm moving forward with my writing goals when I'm not writing, I use these days to:

• research markets
• go through my previous short stories and poems, and submit them to appropriate markets
• read poetry (which often leads me to writing that poem that's been in my head that I haven't put on paper yet)
• read a chapter or two from one of my favorite writing books ("On Writing" by Stephen King, "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott, "Wild Mind," by Natalie Goldberg, etc.)
• listen to podcast interviews with authors or read a writing magazine
• edit current work

I'm only human, though. Sometimes when I don't feel like writing, I just bake something. (The latest was pumpkin spice cupcakes with buttercream frosting.)

11/22/63

Stephen King has a new book out today. "11/22/63" is about an English teacher who has the opportunity to go back in time to stop the Kennedy assassination. I always say I'm not one for fantasy or sci fi or whatever, but my recent reading list doesn't really back that up. I loved "The Hunger Games" for instance, and I'm intrigued by King's latest. So this book will probably make my Christmas list, if it doesn't land on my Nook first.

Speaking of King, I can't help but mention what I think is one of the best books about writing I've ever read, and it's written by King. "On Writing" is awesome. Check it out if you haven't already. It's part King memoir, part writing advice. And it's perhaps the most practical, practicable advice you can find.

E-book Bargains

I'm reading a new book on my Nook: Husband and Wife by Leah Stewart. And I bought it for $2.99 thanks to this great deal on Book Club Girl. Check it out. Twelve e-books for $2.99 each throughout October. Only a few more days left. And since I've noticed lately that e-books that used to sell for $9.99 or less are suddenly $12.99 or more through retailers, it's certainly a nice treat.