Anyone else feeling a bit overwhelmed by the trials and tribulations of writing twenty-six posts for A to Z?
Lately I’ve been feeling like there’s too many things on my plate.
I mention this to the Spirit of Blogging Present, who laughs at all my comedic posts, even when I feel they are trite.
“I think you mean there are too many things on your plate,” he points out, a little too jovially for my taste.
“You know what I mean. Isn’t there something you can do to help me out here?”
“Well, you could say ‘There’re too many things on my plate,’ if that’s any better for you.” He eyes the self-pity cookies on my desk. The Spirit of Blogging Present is always hungry.
“You know there’re‘s a ridiculous-looking word! And I didn’t mean helping me out with my grammar.”
“Why not? I’m just as qualified to help with grammar as you are. And I notice you make this mistake all the time. I figured you were doing it on purpose to entertain me. Didn’t you notice me laughing every time it happened?” he asked innocently.
Ouch.
“Yes, of course that was my master plan,” I say. “I make mistakes too, you know. It’s not surprising when you think about it. Writing a blog is a lot like having a conversation, and when people speak they say there’s all the time, even when the subject is plural, because they don’t know where the sentence will be going. And I usually don’t know where my posts are going, either.”
“True, but you’re supposed to be some kind of grammar expert. Not to mention an editor. Shouldn’t you be paying more attention?” He smiles apologetically.
“Hey, I try, but I don’t always catch that one. It’s my personal grammar nemesis. Even Shakespeare didn’t catch it. So there. Besides, haven’t you noticed the times I’ve tightened up the sentence and gotten rid of there’s altogether, like saying ‘I have too many things on my plate’? I thought you liked my posts!”
“Of course I do,” said the Spirit of Blogging Present, radiating good cheer.
“Then can you please help me with all the things on my plate before I get too overwhelmed?”
“Sure!” He scoops up the plate of cookies on my desk and shoves all of them in his mouth. Except one.
“Now there’s only one thing on your plate. Have fun with the blogging challenge!” He disappears.
Just see if I ask him for help again.
***
Yummy image of chocolate chip cookies by Sarah Fleming from Wikmedia Commons, CC-BY-2.0
This post is dedicated to all of you A to Z bloggers and readers. Thanks for keeping me motivated to write!
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, where I will uncover the uncanny letter U…
© Sue Archer and Doorway Between Worlds, 2015
Doorway Between Worlds 
I want some self-pity cookies, where can I get those? There’s, they’re… I honestly don’t know if I’ve made that mistake. Probably, without even realizing it.
And, yes, definitely overwhelmed. 😉
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I’ll bake you some and bring them over, Sara! 🙂 At least there’s only one week left to go…
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Those look like yummy cookies. They’re the prefect golden brown sitting there on their plate. I’m overwhelmed with how many wonderful blogs there are to visit 🙂
Tasha
Tasha’s Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
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I know – there are (I wrote there’s and corrected it!) so many good posts out there, and I wish I had the time to read them all! When I saw that picture of the cookies, I wanted to eat them right away. 🙂
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What a brave trial for all blogs writers to undertake! It’s overwhelming also for the readers. Entertainment, learning, pleasure, all encompassed in so many blogs….and time to read so limited.
Thanks Sue for this amusing dialogue! 6 letters to go!
I better go check the cookie box. I did not meet yet the Spirit of Blogging Present, but the Spirit of Writing Present hangs around the place….and may be very hungry too!
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Say hi to the Spirit of Writing Present for me, Nicole! Yay, six letters left! 🙂
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Nobody, but nobody, eats my cookies. 😛 I mean, there’s a store down the street, where the Spirit of Blogging Present could get his own. There’re even whole shelves to choose from! Just don’t eat mine! *hoards, and uses there’s anyway, because, well, colloquial use rule!*
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Now I know what to do if I ever need you to fight in the arena – just take away your cookies! Bwah ha ha! 🙂
Maybe I’ll just use there’re and start a trend…it could happen!
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Very clever! Nicely done, Ms. Sue.
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Thanks, Albert!
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I’ve made that same mistake too when writing. Word always catches it and is like “No, that’s not right. Use this.” And I’m all “FIIIINE, now let me write.” =)
~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Member of C. Lee’s Muffin Commando Squad
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
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Ah, that Word spellchecker can be so rude sometimes! 😉
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Very funny! The Spirit of Blogging Present is a pedant who doesn’t deserve cookies.
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I agree! I’ll bet he gets coals in his stocking this year. 😉
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I have to admit, sometimes I get frustrated with Spanish because of how I really have to plan my sentences in advance. Direct & indirect object pronouns come BEFORE the verb, so I have to decide if there’ll be one in my sentence beforehand. Time phrases are the worst, though. In English we say “I did this…6 months ago.” We can switch it around, if needed. But in Spanish that time phrase really does come first, so I have to decide if I’m going to say WHEN something happened wayyy before I actually explain the events that occurred.
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That sounds super challenging! I don’t really know any Spanish other than things like bueno and si and ay carumba. I’m not sure I should take it up if I need to deal with those kinds of constructions! 🙂
As a side note, do you think this makes people more thoughtful about how they present events? It’s interesting how time would be such a critical factor.
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Admittedly it may be a second language thing too, that I have to plan in advance more. But maybe they’re just used to saying the when before the what. Could be a cultural thing too–we’re more facts driven whereas they’re more storytelling-oriented.
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I like that thought around being more storytelling-oriented (as in “once upon a time…”). We do tend to go straight to the facts, and I’ll bet we could learn a lot from other cultures about the value of stories in conversation!
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But darling Sue, don’t berate the Spirit of Blogging Present too much. He might be annoying but he just wants to challenge you to be an even better blogger. Not that I can see any mistakes or even suggestions for improvement 😉 What a fun post!
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Ah, so that’s his master plan! Not sure it makes up for the cookies, though. 😉
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This is just too funny and those cookies must have made it all worth while for the Spirit of Blogging Present.
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Glad you enjoyed it, Stephanie! There’s nothing like a good chocolate chip cookie. 🙂
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Ah, that is a fun post! And useful. I make that mistake all the time.
And the Spirit of Blogging Present’s trick was quite impressive 😉
@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter – Roaring Twenties
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Yes, that was definitely a lesson well learned! 😉
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That nasty spirit stole the cookies! I’ll be sure to keep mine under lock and key. 🙂
Overwhelmed, yes. Too many great blogs to read!
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Yes, there have been a lot of fun posts this year!
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