I started my season later than normal, but I’m really happy to say that it really doesn’t show too much. I skated five races in this weekend’s “Masters International Single Distance Championships” at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee. It was my first competition this season and my first Masters meet ever.
This meet crowns champs in the 500, 1000, 1500, 3000, and 5000 meter distances. I was nervous about a few distances that I hadn’t skated yet this year, but, with my training and great help from my cheering family, I skated times that were right in line with my personal bests. I got the titles in my age division and left feeling great for the rest of the year.
My student skater did really well, too! Here’s a picture of Huy with me. He’s new at this but will soon be one of the fastest out there, I’m absolutely sure. I’m proud of him. It’s great coaching Masters — and skating with them, too!
http://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.png00Silviahttp://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.pngSilvia2014-01-05 14:32:092014-01-05 14:59:43A Successful Weekend on the Ice
One of the things that people find interesting about my background is that I homeschooled my three children. I did it for about a decade while working part time as a TV reporter. Because I was the only one in my newsroom who’d chosen that path, I sometimes had to field questions when the topic of homeschooling came up. I was happy to do so because those asking showed genuine interest in learning about the lifestyle.
Today I was asked to talk rather in depth about my homeschooling experience on WTMJ-TV’s The Morning Blend. You can see the video below. I hope I answered a few questions that viewers may have about homeschooling. Whatever your educational choices may be, if you’re involved in the academic lives of your children, they’re sure to benefit.
http://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.png00Silviahttp://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.pngSilvia2013-11-14 21:28:042013-11-14 21:34:29Talking about Homeschooling
You just never know when terrible things will happen. You can only hope that bad situations are kept from getting worse and that you’ll be around people who keep a cool head.
I experienced those things this weekend when I landed at Los Angeles International Airport right after the crazed shooting there that took the life of a TSA agent.
When our wheels touched down, my fellow passengers and I knew nothing of what was happening, but as we taxied, I pointed out to my husband all the helicopters flying in close proximity over the terminals. He spotted police cars zooming every which way. And then people on the tarmac. An announcement by our pilot told us what had just happened.
The pilot’s controlled demeanor was mirrored by the crew and passengers around me. I called my old newsroom, WTMJ-TV, and, as we passengers were evacuated from the plane and moved to a safe location, I gave the people back home a few updates throughout the day. Eventually, I ended up talking to more news outlets, radio and TV, in Spanish and English. I hope my reports both gave a sense of what we were experiencing and helped to calm the nerves of relatives who knew their loved ones had traveled on that same plane with me from Milwaukee.
I’d like to thank those that contacted me worrying for our welfare, but I’d more like to ask that we take a moment to contemplate what happened. Another horror in a stream of senseless violence. The TSA agent killed was a mere 39 years old. He was a husband and father of two. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Author Kelly DiPucchio, Editor Stacey Barney, Editor Adah Megged Nuchi, Editor Julie Ham, Illustrator Judith Byron Schachner, and Author Kathleen Duey
Sometimes — often times — writing fiction takes courage, and I’m not just talking about opening yourself up to critics. I’m talking about feeling and facing the fears and problems of your characters. I just got back from an intense writing conference put on by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators in which the presenters forced us to look hard at our characters’ points of view, challenges, fears, and inner selves. Our characters need to be so vivid and present in their actions that we readers feel ourselves to be there.
Above are a few of the presenters at the convention, including authors, illustrators, and editors. With their help and that of other talented creators in attendance, we hope to enrich our writing, enhance industry connections, and make new friends. One great icebreaker: Dr. Seuss shoes! 🙂
Another way: open mic. Does it take a certain amount of bravery to read a smattering of your work to a roomful of (better) writers? You betcha. But so what? I did it anyway. So did others. We’re all there for love of word.
And we even got entertainment! At what other writing conference could you find a good belly dance?
http://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.png00Silviahttp://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.pngSilvia2013-10-20 17:00:032013-10-22 13:27:38Fear and Presence in Fiction
Okay, I know I’m a late to the party on this one, but somehow this 2005 release escaped my notice. No problem, though, because A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb is so well written and timeless that anyone could step into that light now and be glad they did.
A Certain Slant of Light is a supernatural young adult story about a coping yet fundamentally lonely spirit caught on Earth. Her 100-plus years of helpful hauntings are one day interrupted by a human boy who can see her. The two desperately want to learn more about each other and quickly fall in love. Their challenge to come together leads to them learning more about their own nearly forgotten lives and those of the teens whose bodies they’ve possessed.
Film rights have been optioned by Summit Entertainment, the same studio which created the Twilight films. I’m glad for that because films bring so much attention to the original works, and this book deserves attention.
Parents, yes, there are obvious sex scenes. Kids running off to be alone. They’re not kids, really. They’re very aged spirits but physically teens. The details are more implied than explicit, but there’s passion. Try to remember what it was like as a teenager and you may not view the topic quite as unkindly.
Possibly more concerning for parents would be the disobedience of one of the teens — but not for the disobedience itself. It’ll be disconcerting in that parents might see some of their own highhandedness and hypocrisy reflected in the teen’s parents. “Protective” parenting entails real struggle against smothering young souls.
This book haunted me for days. I can’t wait to get to the sequel, Under the Light.
http://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.png00Silviahttp://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.pngSilvia2013-08-31 09:36:292013-12-13 19:36:22What I’m Reading – A Certain Slant of Light
I just finished my latest manuscript and synopsis, and I have to say that, if you have a good method of taking notes, writing your synopsis should be a breeze.
There are many great websites out there detailing what is a synopsis (It’s a summary of the story, including key characters, events, and, yes, even the ending.), how to write one that’s compelling, how to organize it, format it, its preferred length, etc, and I’ll link to a few below, but here’s what I learned from writing my latest one: If you keep a separate document throughout your writing process with detailed notes of chapter events, you’ll end with what is essentially a rough outline for your synopsis. That’s not to say that you have to write your synopsis chronologically and with every event listed as a blow-by-blow, but you’ll have a ready template that lays out the storyline.
My document has the working title, date started, chapter titles (with pages listed for easy finding later), and a brief recap of what happened therein. You might think, well, if you wrote the story yourself, you shouldn’t have any trouble remembering what’s in every chapter, but, let me tell you, if it takes you a year to write a story, it’s very easy to forget every detail in a chapter — or forget to tie up that loose end you wrote in as a red herring at the start of the piece. My document helps me regain my thread if I must take time off of writing AND, once I’m finished, to see my path from beginning to end.
Here are links with tips on writing great synopses, realizing that some writers might contradict others. That’s just the way of life, I suppose. Still, these sites are worth checking out:
http://www.fmwriters.com/Visionback/Issue%2015/workshop.htm
http://www.writing-world.com/publish/synopsis.shtml
http://www.agentquery.com/format_tips.aspx
Happy writing!
http://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.png00Silviahttp://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.pngSilvia2013-07-26 14:01:502013-07-26 15:07:28Synopses That Are a Breeze
A Successful Weekend on the Ice
/0 Comments/in Speedskating /by SilviaThis meet crowns champs in the 500, 1000, 1500, 3000, and 5000 meter distances. I was nervous about a few distances that I hadn’t skated yet this year, but, with my training and great help from my cheering family, I skated times that were right in line with my personal bests. I got the titles in my age division and left feeling great for the rest of the year.
My student skater did really well, too! Here’s a picture of Huy with me. He’s new at this but will soon be one of the fastest out there, I’m absolutely sure. I’m proud of him. It’s great coaching Masters — and skating with them, too!
Talking about Homeschooling
/0 Comments/in In The News /by SilviaOne of the things that people find interesting about my background is that I homeschooled my three children. I did it for about a decade while working part time as a TV reporter. Because I was the only one in my newsroom who’d chosen that path, I sometimes had to field questions when the topic of homeschooling came up. I was happy to do so because those asking showed genuine interest in learning about the lifestyle.
Today I was asked to talk rather in depth about my homeschooling experience on WTMJ-TV’s The Morning Blend. You can see the video below. I hope I answered a few questions that viewers may have about homeschooling. Whatever your educational choices may be, if you’re involved in the academic lives of your children, they’re sure to benefit.
When Tragedy Strikes
/0 Comments/in In The News, Media / TV / Radio /by SilviaYou just never know when terrible things will happen. You can only hope that bad situations are kept from getting worse and that you’ll be around people who keep a cool head.
I experienced those things this weekend when I landed at Los Angeles International Airport right after the crazed shooting there that took the life of a TSA agent.
When our wheels touched down, my fellow passengers and I knew nothing of what was happening, but as we taxied, I pointed out to my husband all the helicopters flying in close proximity over the terminals. He spotted police cars zooming every which way. And then people on the tarmac. An announcement by our pilot told us what had just happened.
The pilot’s controlled demeanor was mirrored by the crew and passengers around me. I called my old newsroom, WTMJ-TV, and, as we passengers were evacuated from the plane and moved to a safe location, I gave the people back home a few updates throughout the day. Eventually, I ended up talking to more news outlets, radio and TV, in Spanish and English. I hope my reports both gave a sense of what we were experiencing and helped to calm the nerves of relatives who knew their loved ones had traveled on that same plane with me from Milwaukee.
I’d like to thank those that contacted me worrying for our welfare, but I’d more like to ask that we take a moment to contemplate what happened. Another horror in a stream of senseless violence. The TSA agent killed was a mere 39 years old. He was a husband and father of two. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Fear and Presence in Fiction
/0 Comments/in A Writer Writes /by SilviaAuthor Kelly DiPucchio, Editor Stacey Barney, Editor Adah Megged Nuchi, Editor Julie Ham, Illustrator Judith Byron Schachner, and Author Kathleen Duey
Another way: open mic. Does it take a certain amount of bravery to read a smattering of your work to a roomful of (better) writers? You betcha. But so what? I did it anyway. So did others. We’re all there for love of word.
And we even got entertainment! At what other writing conference could you find a good belly dance?
What I’m Reading – A Certain Slant of Light
/2 Comments/in A Writer Writes /by SilviaA Certain Slant of Light is a supernatural young adult story about a coping yet fundamentally lonely spirit caught on Earth. Her 100-plus years of helpful hauntings are one day interrupted by a human boy who can see her. The two desperately want to learn more about each other and quickly fall in love. Their challenge to come together leads to them learning more about their own nearly forgotten lives and those of the teens whose bodies they’ve possessed.
Film rights have been optioned by Summit Entertainment, the same studio which created the Twilight films. I’m glad for that because films bring so much attention to the original works, and this book deserves attention.
Parents, yes, there are obvious sex scenes. Kids running off to be alone. They’re not kids, really. They’re very aged spirits but physically teens. The details are more implied than explicit, but there’s passion. Try to remember what it was like as a teenager and you may not view the topic quite as unkindly.
Possibly more concerning for parents would be the disobedience of one of the teens — but not for the disobedience itself. It’ll be disconcerting in that parents might see some of their own highhandedness and hypocrisy reflected in the teen’s parents. “Protective” parenting entails real struggle against smothering young souls.
This book haunted me for days. I can’t wait to get to the sequel, Under the Light.
Synopses That Are a Breeze
/0 Comments/in A Writer Writes, Presenting the Prose /by SilviaThere are many great websites out there detailing what is a synopsis (It’s a summary of the story, including key characters, events, and, yes, even the ending.), how to write one that’s compelling, how to organize it, format it, its preferred length, etc, and I’ll link to a few below, but here’s what I learned from writing my latest one: If you keep a separate document throughout your writing process with detailed notes of chapter events, you’ll end with what is essentially a rough outline for your synopsis. That’s not to say that you have to write your synopsis chronologically and with every event listed as a blow-by-blow, but you’ll have a ready template that lays out the storyline.
My document has the working title, date started, chapter titles (with pages listed for easy finding later), and a brief recap of what happened therein. You might think, well, if you wrote the story yourself, you shouldn’t have any trouble remembering what’s in every chapter, but, let me tell you, if it takes you a year to write a story, it’s very easy to forget every detail in a chapter — or forget to tie up that loose end you wrote in as a red herring at the start of the piece. My document helps me regain my thread if I must take time off of writing AND, once I’m finished, to see my path from beginning to end.
Here are links with tips on writing great synopses, realizing that some writers might contradict others. That’s just the way of life, I suppose. Still, these sites are worth checking out:
http://www.fmwriters.com/Visionback/Issue%2015/workshop.htm
http://www.writing-world.com/publish/synopsis.shtml
http://www.agentquery.com/format_tips.aspx
Happy writing!