Welcome to My Official Web Page!

Welcome to My Official Web Page!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Writing is Hard, But Michelle McLean Can Help!



Writing is hard. (Just ask my students.) But have no fear, Michelle McLean is here!

(I want to get her a superhero cape!)

Michelle has dropped in today to answer a few questions about her new book, Homework Helpers: Essays & Term Papers.

1. What was your inspiration for writing this book?
In doing a little refresher research for some How To posts on my blog, I noticed that there weren’t any guidebooks or websites out there that just flat out told readers exactly what they needed to do for all the different kinds of essays out there. In ‘PLAIN ENGLISH.’ They all listed the rules, but few showed readers what to do with those rules. And most were so full of confusing and technical language even I had a hard time making sense of it.

So, I decided to write a book that showed readers, step by step, from start to finish, exactly what they needed to do to write all the different types of essays. The book is written in a very conversational, easy to understand tone and I’ve included rough draft, edited, and final draft examples of every type of essay I discuss so students can actually see what they are supposed to be doing.

2. Over the years, I've met a number of students who struggle with homework, and how to write especially. What do you think is the biggest hurdle students must overcome to be successful in school?
For lack of a better word, I’m going to say attitude. And by that, I’m not referring to the famous surly teenager attitude :) I mean that “lack of confidence” or frustration attitude that students often exhibit when faced with difficult tasks. They either look at their assignment and get so overwhelmed they assume they can’t do it, or get so frustrated trying to do it they give up.

If they could get past that “I can’t” attitude, I think students could be a lot more successful.

It’s one of the reasons I wrote my book. The techniques I apply to writing essays can be used for any type of assignment or project. Break it down, take it slow. Maybe they think they can’t write a 10 page paper, but I bet they can pick a topic. Once that’s taken care of, move on to the next step. And before they know it, the paper is done. But nothing will get accomplished if the student doesn’t have the confidence to try. They need a “what the heck, I’ll give it a try” attitude :)


3. As a high school teacher, I often hear that students these days are ill-prepared for college, especially when it comes to writing the dreaded research paper. Do you agree with this? Why/why not?
I do agree with this. I just don’t think much emphasis is placed on being able to write a good paper anymore. Students are taught the basics of essay writing and it’s left at that unless they are in AP courses. In fact, I had a reader comment the other day that she made it all the way through high school without ever once writing a paper. So it was a huge shock when she got to college and was expected to know how to do them.

4. Who is your target audience? Is there an age range of students who would most benefit from reading your book?
The book can be used by anyone, from those learning the basics of essay writing up through college students doing more advanced papers, but the book is geared mostly for high school students.

5. Last question! What was your favorite subject in school? (And lunch doesn't count!)
LOL In high school it was English; in college it was History. I ended up with a BS in History and a MA in English and now pen “how to write” books and historical novels for young adults :) The best of both worlds! :)



Michelle McLean is a writer and the Chief Editorial Consultant for PixelMags, LLC. In addition to her non-fiction work, Michelle writes YA historical novels and other children’s books. If she's not editing, reading or chasing her kids, she can usually be found in a quiet corner working on her next book.

Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers is a fun, user-friendly book that guides the reader, step by step, through writing a dozen different types of essays, including the dreaded SAT essay. Using straightforward, plain English, this book shows the reader exactly what they need to do, from start to finish, and includes rough draft, edited, and final draft versions of every type of essay discussed. This book also provides chapters that include tips and instruction on researching, proofreading, and citations.


Saturday, January 29, 2011

An Update on the Egyptian Museum

The History Blog has another update on the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

The two mummies destroyed are only described as Pharaonic which hopefully refers the pre-Greco-Roman time period. It's tragic that any mummies have been destroyed, but I sincerely hope the vandalism didn't involve Pharaohs from the mummy room- that would put Hatshepsut, her father, brother, Seti I, Ramesses II, and many more Egyptian big-names on the list of possible victims.

I'm horrified that there's been some destruction at the hands of looters, but thankful it appears to be contained, at least for now. I'm also relieved to hear of the tanks protecting the Luxor Museum and hope the army grants Zahi Hawass' request to protect the other vulnerable museums and sites around Egypt.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Army, Protestors Protect Imperiled Cairo Museum

I've been glued to the news coming out of Egypt the past few days. This afternoon I wondered about the safety of the 5,000+ years of archaeological treasures housed in Cairo- Tut's death mask, Hatshepsut's mummy, and the rest of the trove housed in the Egyptian Museum.

Then tonight I read this post from The History Blog.

It brought tears to my eyes.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Birth Control in Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptian women may have lacked our modern technology, but they got creative when it came to birth control and pregnancy tests.

One popular ancient contraceptive involved soaking cotton in a paste of various ingredients: acacia bark, dates, and honey were popular. This mixture was then inserted into the vagina. The theory goes that it would either act as a physical barrier to conception or possibly alter the pH level to make it lethal to sperm.

Of course, if a woman was really determined, she could resort to a method preserved from the 1850BC Kahun Medical Papyrus. The text instructs women to mix crocodile dung into a vaginal suppository. I'm no doctor, but I'm pretty sure that mixture could be quite pungent effective.

Perhaps our Egyptian lady suspects her crocodile dung birth control failed? If a woman believed she was pregnant and wanted to know the baby's gender, she would plant barley and emmer wheat seeds. Then she would water them with her urine. If the seeds sprouted, she was pregnant. If only the wheat grew she would bear a girl, but if the barley sprouted she could expect a boy. I don't know anyone who's tried this, but I've read a few sources that say it's somewhat accurate. If anyone wants to try it, let me know.

I'm perfectly happy being on the dark on whether the crocodile dung works.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Music Blogfest!

Happy Monday! Alex Cavanaugh is having a Music Blogfest which seems like just the thing to beat the Monday blues. Here's my top ten favorite songs (in random order):

1. Vogue- Madonna
2. Raspberry Beret- Prince
3. These Boots Are Made for Walking- Nancy Sinatra
4. Anything by Yo-Yo Ma (Love him!)
5. When the World Ends- Dave Matthews
6. Come Away With Me- Norah Jones
7. Walk Like An Egyptian- The Bangles (You knew that had to be on the list!)
8. We Didn't Start the Fire- Billy Joel
9. Dancing Queen- Abba
10. Say Hey (I Love You)- Michael Franti


Can you tell I like the '80's? Weird clothes, good music! Have a great Monday, everyone!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Everything Happens For a Reason

“What fates impose, that men must needs abide; It boots not to resist both wind and tide." -William Shakespeare

It's hard to argue with Shakespeare. Like arguing with Socrates or Confucius. (Or my daughter.)

Do you ever feel like you're resisting both wind and tide in the writing world? I'm resisting a hurricane and a tsunami over here. Feel free to grab an umbrella and join me. Or better yet, a drink with an umbrella.

Umbrella drinks are always nice.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Change is Good



When the winds of change blow hard enough, the most trivial of things can turn into deadly projectiles. -Despair.com


My original plan for this post was to list every book I read last year, but there are 54 of them and I'm feeling lazy. Instead, I bring you STEPHANIE'S SUPER READS 2010! (Lame title, I know, but I've been playing Disney princesses with the four-year-old monkey for the past two hours. Brain=Mush).

My reading list used to be restricted to historical fiction with the occasional literary read, but last year I made a point to try new things. Change is good. Usually.

Now I present my favorite reads from all sorts of nifty genres!

Historical Fiction: TIED! Lady of the Butterflies by Fiona Mountain and Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn

Mystery: The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby

Literary Fiction: Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Young Adult: The Hunger Games (Series) by Suzanne Collins

Middle Grade: The Lightening Thief (Series) by Rick Riordan

Chapter Book: Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst

Memoir: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Biography: John Adams by David McCullough


What new genres have you tried recently? Any books you read recently you would recommend?

Demotivator from Despair.com

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

One Word Journey



I had a different post planned for tonight (I should really be writing Book #3, but whatever), but then I read Shannon O'Donnell's post today on Life Melodies.

It got me thinking. (Not sure if that's a good thing).

If you had to pick ONE word to describe your writing journey, what would it be?

What's mine?

PERSEVERANCE.

What about you?


Image from Despair.com

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Student Metaphors & Similies!



To make your Monday happy, I bring you...

Student Metaphors & Similies!

Because they're guaranteed to make you giggle, or maybe even blow your coffee all over your laptop screen.


1. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

2. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

3. The thunder was ominous sounding, much like the sound of a thin sheet of metal being shaken backstage during the storm scene in a play.

4. The red brick wall was the colour of a brick-red crayon.

5. Her artistic sense was exquisitely refined, like someone who can tell butter from "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter."

6. It hurt the way your tongue hurts after you accidentally staple it to the wall.


Ummm... Let me just say I love #6. So much.

Happy Monday!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

I Will Shove This Square Peg Into A Round Hole



One of the pitfalls of writing historical fiction is that you have to stick to history. (Well, I suppose you could ignore it, but then you'd really just be writing fiction).

I knew the entire history of my first novel before I sat down and started writing. I've been obsessed with Hatshepsut for more than a decade so it was just the nitty-gritty stuff I had to look up. Like...

Did Egyptians have springs? Nope!

Would Hatshepsut write with a pen or brush? Brush!

Were peacocks around during Egypt's New Kingdom? Yeppers! (Introduced by foreigners, but I'll take it!)

And yes, all these little details matter to history nerds fans. I'm sure I made mistakes, but at this point they should all be minute and only Zahi Hawass is going to call me to the carpet on them.

However...

I'm researching as I write Book #3. This woman's story is fascinating, but she kind of sideswiped me from out of no where. I have an outline of her life that I'm following for the plot, but I'm filling in the blanks as I go. So I read a number of secondary sources and finally got the first chapter all shiny and perfect. Yay!

Then I read a primary source about her early life from someone who knew this woman. I had it all wrong. TWO little words completely mucked up my first chapter.

So I had to rewrite it.

*bangs head into keyboard*

I am now working to force the facts into the premise I've based the entire first third of the story on. But I think I've learned my lesson.

Research first, then write!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

The Happiest Place on Earth

I've just returned from a trip to the Happiest Place On Earth.

Disneyland!

It doesn't matter if it's pouring rain (it was) or if there are a gazillion people there (like the time the park reached capacity by noon- 80,000+ people!), but a visit to Disneyland guarantees a fantabulous day.

The churros are amazing and the rides are super fun. Plus, there's something about being immersed in a make-believe world that makes worries about work, bills, and all that mundane stuff just disappear. Yay!

In college I took a History of Disney course (and received 3 credits for it) where the professor pointed out that when you're in Disneyland you can't see anything else. The freeways and hotels are entirely blocked out.

Walt Disney was a smart guy.

I think you can see where this is going. A book should guarantee the same immersion. Different genres will have different levels of world building, but all novels should let the reader escape into a new world. I used to be wary of boring a reader with minutiae, but now I've discovered those little details make a scene richer. Plus, it gives me an outlet for nifty-neato tidbits I find while researching.

Fun things I managed to pull into my novel: Eating off monkey heads, using crocodile dung for birth control, and shaving off eyebrows to mourn cats.

More on all that coming soon!