Are You Speaking English?

English is my native tongue and that of more than 200 million others in this country. We should be fluent in its usage, being that we've been using it since we could speak and learning all about it since kindergarten. But, no...

The English language is butchered by most Americans, including one President Bush, on a daily basis. Most of us can't even construct a simple sentence correctly. Subject-verb agreement? Pronoun references? Correct verb tense? Does anyone even know what this means anymore?

These are my pet peeves; it seems to me that we no longer speak the English language as it was taught to us in school. We have "Americanized" it so much that words and sentences no longer make sense. Example: Me and him ain't going to no store today. Example: I'm gonna get me some dinner.

Arghhhhhh! What has happened to us? Why can't we speak properly? And why don't most of us even care?

Where Have all the Words Gone

Technology brings many changes, some good, others not so much. One such example of the latter: text messaging. Text messaging is technology shorthand that is single handedly ruining a generation of English language users. Kids can't even write letters, putting pen to paper, without using "CUL8R," "RU?," or "GTG." What happened to actually using entire words, preserving the essence of the message with correct grammar, and knowing how to spell?

These are vital skills, ones which employers expect you to have and know how to use. There simply is no room in standard writing for text shorthand. Using it in place of actual words can become a bad habit, one that you find difficult to break once you are in the "real world" of adults and employment.

That's not to say there isn't room for text messaging shorthand. It has its place--with cell phone usage. And honestly, that's why it was invented...to leave quick, short messages using your phone.

For everything else, proper English, please.

Excuse Me Doctor, I'm in the Middle of a Nervous Breakdown

Times have been tough lately in the world of writing. Too many writers, not enough gigs. That's right, I used the word 'gigs.' Kinda like it, too.

So, work is slow, and the day-job ends at the end of the month...what's a girl to do? Interview like heck, and scour the ends of the earth for freelance work. It's out there. There's a ton of it out there. You just have to know where to look and who to ask. You must be fierce. You have to be relentless in your pursuit. I'm getting there. I've got some solid leads and a few projects lined up. Not worried...yet. In a month, well, that's a month away and I simply don't have time to think about it right now.

Which leads me to the point of this entry, along with its aptly named title. Recently, I went to my doctor and told her that I had an "ear ache, migraine headache, and oh, I think I'm having a nervous breakdown." That got her attention. And it got me a little help, because, quite frankly, I do not have time for a nervous breakdown right now. Maybe not ever. But when the time is right, I'll schedule it in. Until then, I have to push on. Stay the course, as ole' President Bush is fond of saying.

On second thought, quoting President Bush is never a good thing.

Interviews

Interview: the process of marketing (read: selling) yourself to complete strangers in the hopes of landing a much-needed job.

I have been interviewing a lot lately. More than I like; more than I'm used to. Interviewing is a form of marketing yourself, a known commodity unto you alone, to those who may very well know nothing more about you than what appears on your resume. Not an easy task. Somewhat uncomfortable. After a while, a bit sleazy. Or at least it feels that way.

It really is a necessary evil though, and if approached correctly, can really put you in the best light possible. It's a way to present yourself and your skills and snag the job of your dreams.

At the moment, I'm still waiting...

Serendipity

Serendipity: the making of fortunate and unexpected discoveries quite by accident. Is it fate, or sheer luck that comes into play when serendipitous acts occur? I'd like to think it was fate that had a hand in this, that God is somehow moving people into places so the circumstances can play out in just such a way that the outcome is fortunate to those involved. Is that too much to hope for? I don't think so. My faith tells me otherwise.

Inspiration: Life Unfolding

One simply can't be a creative writer unless one is inspired, and I can't think of any better inspiration than to watch life unfold and play out right before your eyes. There's always something happening. Always something to observe, which may end up being the inspiration you need to complete your assignment.

Unfortunately, I have yet to find such inspiration today, so I'm not getting very far writing this poem series. That's okay; I'm not panicking yet. I still have the rest of tonight and all day tomorrow to get inspired by something happening around me. And it will happen. It always does.

Today's Assignment Is...

Another freelance job. This time I am tasked with writing several "poems" on the topic of family, starting today, and to deliver said copy on ... Monday. No problem. And I can actually say 'no problem' and mean it because the poetry in question isn't exactly what one might call great works of literature. No, they're more like the all-American, inspirational greeting-card type of poems that so many people love and adore. Don't get me wrong. I like the assignment; afterall, it's writing. I just mean that because these aren't great works of literature, they can be created fairly quickly and still be good. Deadline will be met. No problem.

I Love to Write

I love to write. I love it so much, that I write even if I haven't an assignment. It's in my blood. My mother was a writer; very prolific at that. And my father could write philosophically for days on end. It really is a family passion, one of which I have in turn passed on to my youngest.

Words are sacred. I truly believe this to be true. They pack so much power. They can persuade, inspire, uplift, invoke, hurt, anger, and bring one to his knees. Words, when used effectively, can move you to tears, force you to act, or call you to arms. All this from a simple combination of letters, used in such an effective way that they grab attention, cause a reaction, and get a response.

Yes, it's true. I love to write. I love the written word.