Sunday, January 16, 2011

Train, Boats, and Planes

Jilda and I get a lot of magazines. Jilda is a voracious reader and can read books and several magazines in an afternoon. I read a lot, but I don't read so fast.
Teachers would be crucified today, but when we were in grammar school, readers were classified into three groups -- airplanes, trains, and boats. Jilda was in the airplanes. I, on the other hand, was a reader third class on the boats. A snail could crawl down a pager faster than my eyes could take in the words.
But I kept with it and over the years, I improved. By the time I reached graduate school I was reading fast enough to at least be the captain of the boat if not the conductor on the train.
Slow reading has kept many from the joys of reading, but not me. I let the words bathe over me like an incoming tide at the beach.
I tend to skim some materials like the newspaper (unless the story is really well written about a topic that I like), some technical books, and some magazines. But I get one magazine that I read from cover to cover.
Oxford American is the best magazine about the south that I've ever read. It touches on all things southern, from music, culture, sports, events, and stories. The writing is incredible.
The magazine is holding a Summit for Ambitious Writers in June. It's four days of intensive workshops and instruction on how to write better.
I've filled out the application and if I'm accepted as one of the 90 attendees, I'm going, even if I have to knock off a liquor store to pay for it.
I picked up some new followers over the weekend and I'm so grateful to the new folks and the old. I hope you all have a remarkable week.

9 comments:

  1. I hope you are accepted. I'm sure you would enjoy it.

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  2. That sounds like a great workshop. I hope you get to go and not by knocking off the liquor store!

    I went to local writing workshop once and it was fine, but I can't say it was encouraging. A client of mine was there and I learned she wasn't the hard hearted closed off woman I thought she was, so that was good.

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  3. I hope you don't have to resort to knocking off the liquor store!! LOL!!! I have everything crossed that you'll attend this amazing workshop!!

    I'm a very slow reader myself and am agog and in awe with anyone able to read as fast as Jilda!! Take care
    x

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  4. That worskip sounds really great. Hope you get in.

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  5. That workshop sounds interesting. Hope you get accepted.
    Haha, I never heard about such classification of readers.

    Greetings from a "Train" ;)

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  6. Ken Owens1:47 PM

    Sorry to say Rick, but I was that noise splashing wildly behind your boat. That's ok. I married an airplane. She was an assistant teacher. Had her own reading group(boats). It was her second grade year. As a student.
    If I hear of a good book I just get her to tell it to me.

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  7. Amazingly, I got a stylish blogger award. I am passing it on to you because I love your blog. See my recent post for the list with your blog on it!

    Here are the "rules" for acceptance of the award:

    1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
    2. Share 7 things about yourself.
    3. Award 5 recently discovered great bloggers.
    4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

    There is a button that goes with the award, so help yourself if you want to put it on your blog :)

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  8. I’m a slow reader, and unlike you, I let it drive me away from reading, or anything related to it. I was 35, before I found my passion in life, what I was born to do, or the first thing I felt born to do.

    At least it’s never too late to better yourself… hope your week continues to be wonderful.

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  9. Who says we have to read fast? This is an irrelevant stricture we impose upon ourselves. Whether we consume a book-a-day or a poem-a-month, it's the savouring of the meal that's important...not how quickly the plate is emptied!
    You are a Reader Rick!

    ReplyDelete

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