Write a book in ____ days!

I see the ads all the time. Buy this software, and you will be able to write a full novel in 90 days, 60 days, even 30 days!

I say, what's the point? WHY would I want to write a novel in 30, 60, or even 90 days?

I LOVE WRITING! I adore sitting down in front of my computer, clearing my mind of all my cares and woes, and immersing myself in a story of my own making. It is the one place in my life where I have total control. And by total, I do mean total.

Need a little cheer--I simply add some humor to whatever I am writing.

Feeling nostalgic--those memories will really bring the page to life.


But best of all, if a character starts to develop that I don't like, it doesn't bother me in the least. With my handy-dandy delete button I can banish that irritating character from my life forever. Gone! Never to be seen again!

Now, where in life do I have that kind of power?

So I repeat, why would I ever, ever, want to rush the writing process! Be gone, you irritating Write a book in 30 day ads!

Boughten

I noticed it a few years ago. My children, and their friends, would say things like, "I had boughten the coat last week."

Boughten. Used as the past tense of bought, which was already the past tense of buy.

I tried to correct my children but it didn't stick. They kept using the word over, and over, and over again.

Then, just the other day, a woman my age told me that I should go to a particular store because it was there that she "had boughten a wonderful gift" for one of her friends.

I sincerely hope the shock did not show on my face. I had assumed that the use of boughten was a kid thing, a way to differentiate them from the dull grown-up world.

I finished my conversation, and then rushed home to do a little research. Could boughten be a word? Could I have been wrong all these years.

With a pounding heart I turned my computer on and went to dictionary.com. With trembling fingers I typed in the letters that had offended me for so many years, b-o-u-g-h-t-e-n. Closing my eyes I hit the enter key, hoping and praying that I would see the words "no dictionary results" when I reopened them.

No such luck. I gulped, forseeing apologies to my children and years of being reminded of my mistake. My credibility was shot.

Or so I thought, until I took a look at the definitions listed.

I smiled. My credibility was safe. Even though the word was real, it was being used incorrectly. It was an adjective, not a verb. It most certainly was not the past tense of bought, or buy, or will go shopping.

Of course, I may not be safe for long. Languages are always evolving.

I guess I should have googled it sooner and facebooked the results to all my friends.

Canine confusion

I was looking through the pictures on my phone today and realized that there were a few from a couple of weeks ago when it snowed.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Pepper was so confused. Snow is not one of her everyday life experiences.

I think she was most confused by that odd cold stuff that kept sticking to her tongue.

EBook Sale

Have an ebook reader? Want to add a few more titles to your library? If so, visit http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=tabares

All of my ebooks are on sale for $2.50 apiece until January 1, 2011 (with the appropriate coupon code).

Department of Temporal Adjustment, use coupon code:  VQ88B
Behold the Eye: Braumaru, use coupon code:  PZ77Q

Behold the Eye: Cerulea, use coupon code:  KE46Z
Behold the Eye: Viridia, use coupon code:  ET75E
 
Enjoy!