gdp's Comments

The Squashed Bologna: a slice of life in the sandwich generation : Top Ten Reasons Why I Don't Make Top Ten Lists

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:35:23 +0000

Lists are awesome. Don't overthink it. Here's my most recent one. http://freefringes.com/2011/11/14/grumpy/

Not Enough Patience and Never Enough Jewelry! : Vacation From The Holidays #MondayListicles

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:09:15 +0000

Sounds like vacation is your favorite time of year!

http://thereddressclub.blogspot.com/ : Nichole's Pick

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 21:25:58 +0000

The central conflict to this discussion has appeared: I am not a fan of the constant "one and done". Growing in writing, to me, means growing the piece that is worth continuing, not applying learning principles to the next one that may or may not have anything in common with the one before it. You, Cheryl and Nichole have an admirable project going here. Thanks for hearing me out.

http://thereddressclub.blogspot.com/ : Nichole's Pick

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 17:58:52 +0000

Thanks for making such good points.When I mentioned the role of the editor, I meant a trusted friend as a "second set of eyes" not a professional editor. I am simply hesitant to apply such a detailed grammar critique to rough drafts.

http://thereddressclub.blogspot.com/ : Nichole's Pick

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 17:57:02 +0000

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I agree with your points, and I apologize for using your comment space for a bit of a rant. I now understand your mission. Can I still participate using my unorthodox writing methods? Your community is pretty great.

http://thereddressclub.blogspot.com/ : Nichole's Pick

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 01:58:45 +0000

I am new to this space, and I am discovering such wonderful blogs along the way. So I am going to tread lightly here with my comment as I critique the critique: The writer is to worry about plot development, character development, continuity and, after making sure there is a central conflict, doing the best she can to manage the conflict as the story develops. There should always be a sympathetic character even if that character is the antagonist of the story. The reader needs someone to root for. The writer should care about each character as though they are all her children, even the evil ones. Once the central conflict is established and the sympathetic character has created a sense of empathy, there has to be a denouement, then the climax, then the conclusion. Not necessarily tidy and wrapped up, but the story must always end. Having said all that, there is one person assigned to the prepositions and semi-colons, and that's the editor. For all the lonely writers out there, that's usually a trusted friend with an eye for detail who respects the work of the writer. All the reworking of the clunkiness and confusion is left to the partnership of the writer and trusted editor. Critiquing what amounts to first drafts to such a degree bogs down the writer and restrains the creative process. There will be plenty of time for that as the piece develops.

free fringes : traveling for the holiday in a 17-mi. radius

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 07:49:52 +0000

Thank you! And thanks for leaving your RSS reader to comment. You're awesome...

free fringes : By the time you read this, I should be effing up our sweet potatoes

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:03:29 +0000

Totally worked! Baked for an hour instead of peeling for an hour and I sat on my butt while I waited, doing nothing. I need a cooking show called the Lazy Black Girl's Guide to Dinner that doesn't involve sugar daddies or blind dates.

free fringes : PTSD is a bitch and a handy excuse for my enabling tendencies

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:17:24 +0000

Michele, I have no idea where or how to start. It would be like A Million Little Pieces all over again! :) Maybe you can email me a few suggestions?

free fringes : PTSD is a bitch and a handy excuse for my enabling tendencies

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:15:34 +0000

No worries about finding the story funny. She\\\'s a teenager before all else. They lose stuff. The 12-hour incident? She was 11 and too young to own it. My fault and I have learned better techniques to help her keep up with her things.

free fringes : Keep Christ in Christmas. You snuck him in there while the rest of us were drunk at winter solstice,

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:41:02 +0000

Lemme think about withdrawing her. If we regift her gifts, that may work for now. She loves the teacher who leads the group and I think removing her would be cruel and unusual punishment. It\\\'s not like they are paying our rent and utilities every month. Just the car note and a few groceries. Heh.

free fringes : Saturday

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:34:30 +0000

It\\\'s the drum set to our Guitar Hero. There was so much noise from the other kids, Ehren was drowned out!

free fringes : Saturday

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:32:36 +0000

He also had a good time chewing the mic.

free fringes : My baby is trying to kill me

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:26:44 +0000

Like the firestation or something? I hear we can take them back home after we\\\'re \\\"feeling better\\\".

free fringes : Keep Christ in Christmas. You snuck him in there while the rest of us were drunk at winter solstice,

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:18:55 +0000

She has good friends in the program, so I am hesitant to pull her out. The irony is that since I have no current income, she does qualify, but we'd decided as a family even before my layoff we were going to have a light Christmas with one family gift and choose a post-Christmas charity for volunteering. I guess Jordan chose herself. Killing me.

free fringes : the fringe wayback machine

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:30:23 +0000

You always make my day funnier, even if your son is cranking it out on my lap. Adding your notations asap.

free fringes : I can't feel my left brain

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:19:19 +0000

That's a good way of looking at it. Think I lost my right brain earlier in the month, though.

free fringes : desperately seeking a better boxed brownie recipe

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:35:00 +0000

I wonder if I can find it here next to the Ghiradelli chocolate? And who else remembers when Ghiradelli was only found in the SF Bay Area?

free fringes : Home from the zoo after a quick and pleasantly surprising detour through Bass Pro Shops

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:32:05 +0000

Does. Not. Sound. Psycho! I saw one of those families on Saturday and was praying they didn't notice me staring and wishing.

free fringes : desperately seeking a better boxed brownie recipe

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:39:09 +0000

Wow. Sounds illegal! I am so there...