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Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Top three annoying qualities of writers!




Howdy, all. Dana Mentink here. I think I have to just confess up front that I possess many annoying qualities, but some of them happen to come in very handy for writing fiction! I'm going to tell you the top three below. Comments today will get you entered to win a Kindle copy of Dangerous Tidings, the first of a four book detective series. 

#1: Nosiness! Oh dear. It's just not polite to be interested in things that don't have anything to do with oneself, but golly! People's lives are so fascinating! I cannot help myself when I hear someone talking about their encounter with a bear on the trail or a crazy incident at the airport. "Mind your own business, Dana," I tell myself, but I find it hard to resist listening in on colorful moments that may just influence that scene or character that I'm writing. Sigh. So rude, yet very helpful for writers!

#2: Daydreaming! This has gotten me into trouble for sure. I'm a third grade teacher in addition to my writing life and...well....there are times during those long meetings when I have drifted off to imagination land, wondering what would happen if a feral cat suddenly ran through the meeting room. I can usually jump back into a conversation after I have gone off to la-la land, but it's not very kind, nor considerate for the person I'm talking to. "Work on that, Dana. Your fiction life can wait."

#3: Obsessing about words! There are certain things that just drive a writer bonkers. Everyone has theirs, of course. Perhaps it is the misuse of  'their, they're and there.' For me, one of my hot buttons is that horrible "funnest." That's just not grammatically correct, yet I see it all over the place. I feel the need to point out to the person next to me the mistake even though they don't care a bit. You see? That can be super annoying, but it comes in handy when words are your business.

Do you have any qualities that serve you well in life or your job? Would love to hear from you! 




21 comments:

  1. Beverly Duell-MooreAugust 3, 2016 at 9:57 AM

    I loved " Dangerous Tidings"!

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  2. Replies
    1. I just turned in book #4 and I'm sad to say goodbye to this series!

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  3. Qualities that serve me well in my life or job???? Does sarcasm count? No? Ok. I guess having a vivid imagination is my best quality. Lol.

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  4. Qualities that serve me well in my life or job???? Does sarcasm count? No? Ok. I guess having a vivid imagination is my best quality. Lol.

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  5. I am a very detail oriented person. As a nurse I would have to document every thing in specific detail on my charts and notes. It is a great and much needed quality for a nurse, but my husband can't stand it! He says it takes me 10 minutes to tell him something that could have been said in 1 or 2 minutes. He says "just get to the point! I don't need to know all of that!" Lol

    Would love to win a kindle copy of Dangerous Tidings! Love reading your books!
    jtabalk at hotmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. My hubby is detail oriented, too. I am in awe of such an amazing skill set!

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    2. Hey, Tiffany! You're the lucky winner of a kindle copy of Dangerous Tidings. Is it okay to gift it to this email?

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  6. I can so relate to the daydreaming up scenes in the middle of a meeting or conversation. I'm working on being better about that. Count me in for the drawing. lill dot kohler at gmail dot com

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  7. I am not a writer and I am not the most grammatically correct person, but it also bothers me when I notice something that is not right. Especially the there, their, they're and your you're. Also, apostrophes in the wrong place.
    Another thing, while I am on my rant. Why does everyone now start the answer to a question with "so". Am I the only one bugged by that?
    I already have a copy of Dangerous Tidings.

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    1. We work really hard on that "they're, there and their" thing in my third grade class. I guess it's just a hard thing to get the hang of!

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  8. I'm an organized person and others fine that annoying when they cannot fine something. I love all your books I've read thus far.

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    Replies
    1. It's great to be organized...a skill I don't really have!

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  9. Using the wrong words as in your example bothers me immensely! I like to organize but don't always follow through with what I've organized, LOL!

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  10. I have always been an avid reader and I am also a former librarian so i also obsess about words. Their correct spelling, the way they are used and especially when they are overused.
    Connie
    cps1950(at)gmail (dot)com

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  11. I am really looking forward to reading this. Thanks, Kristie
    tklovenestataoldotcom

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