Booking Through Thursday (BTT) Manual Labor

I’ve been seeing these a lot lately, so I’ve decided to join some of my favorite book blogging buddies.

Writing guides, grammar books, punctuation how-tos . . . do you read them? Not read them? How many writing books, grammar books, dictionaries–if any–do you have in your library?

There is a part of me that longs to write a novel. I wrote my first short story in the second grade and I still proudly remember how my mother typed it up – exactly how I spelled everything (I remember because being spelled incorrectly – but I can’t remember how). It was about a lazy cat who almost gets kicked out of the family for not catching mice before he becomes the cat he ought to be. I read it in front of my class. So, I do have several how-to writing guides. I get suckered into them and never get further than about 50 pages. There is one exception. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is incredible.

As a (now former) technical writer, I have bought several manuals of style, etc., that I’ve read at least part of for work. There is one grammar-related book that I’ve bought and am about a third of the way through that is absolutely fabulous and hilarious – and yes, it’s about grammar – Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynne Truss. I’m rather behind the curve on this one as it was published a while back now. The good thing is that you can purchase it relatively cheaply at this point. I would highly recommend it thus far. I can’t imagine how the author would critique my blog… Scary. I know I don’t meet her standards.

At 2008.05.08 10:38, Devourer of Books said:

Yay! I’m one of your favorite book blogging buddies!

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[Reply]

At 2008.05.08 10:50, Chris@bookarama said:

I have got to read Eats, Shoots & Leaves. Love the name of your blog. I’m one too

Friday Bookish Buzz: Buzz Into a Long Weekend

My girl is getting that way with me. What a gorgeous long weekend it’s supposed to be! It’s the Victoria Day weekend here in Canada. Lots of BBQs and beers will be had all across the country. I w[...]

At 2008.05.08 10:51, deb said:

Love the story behind your first story…too cute!

At 2008.05.08 11:26, gautami tripathy said:

Do you still have that story?!

My BTT post!

writing on a blank wall

stillness chills the grief

but cannot bend the marrow

flowers will still bloom

when you stare out of your window

the massive crocusses sway

akin to the hips of a buxom dancer in a bar

a flower..[...]

At 2008.05.08 12:13, Literate Housewife said:

Dev – You know you are!!!

Chris – thanks so much! I’ve registered Literatehousewife.com and am planning on making the graphics pictures of housewives in the midst of cleaning while reading a book. I hope I can find someone to work with on that. I just need someone with the vision…

Deb and Gautami, my mother gave me the typed out sheet at some point and I have no idea where it is. Someday I’m going to find it in an unexpected place. If I do find it, I’ll be sure to post it.