Hinting on St. Patrick's Day

After graduating from college in 1958, I entered a teaching order. However, I’d taken no education courses during the four years of college. My degree was in English with minors in mathematics, history, and philosophy. This meant that while in the convent I took classes in education to gain accreditation for teaching in Nebraska and Kansas.

            In at least one of these classes, the professor shared the ancient adage about how to teach:

First you tell ‘em what you’re going to tell ‘em.

Then you tell ‘em.

Then you tell ‘em what you told ‘em.

            So preview, present, recap.

            In this three-part teaching method, you first whet the appetite for learning. That’s part one.

            Today I’m whetting.

            I’m providing a broad hint about what I’m going to tell you about in my next two postings.

            Ta-Dah!

            The hint begins.

            Please hum what Wikipedia calls  “ the ominous, four-note introduction to the brass and tympani theme music” of Dragnet.           

 

            Those of you who follow my blog know that writing is my passion. To the right of this post are three images for A Cat’s Life: Dulcy’s Story, which was first published in 1992. Also, you see an image for the inspirational The Golden Sky by E. C. Stilson and for the humorous Just Nonsense by Melynda Fleury.

            These images are there to encourage you to order their paper books or e-books and mine. I wasn’t sure about putting any of these images on my blog. Selling while posting seemed, at first, a little crass to me.

            Yet communication is an important part of my being. Since I first began printing in first grade, I have been writing stories. In these I try to entertain, share my feelings and experiences, and reach out to others across the apparent span that divides us into separate beings. For me, writing—communicating—is a bridge to understanding. It is a way to alleviate the existential loneliness of life.

            Here’s the bottom line: I want others to read what I’ve written. I also want what others have written to be read.

            So in my two postings next week, I’m going to . . .

            Ah-ha! What do you think? Will I explain how I go about writing a post? Will I share my reading of books by other bloggers? Will I give you five habits of highly successful bloggers? Will I post a new image of a book I’ve written? Will I tell you about writing to agents to try to find one to represent my work?

            That’s what I call “whetting your appetite.”

            Please get out your detecting paraphernalia—magnifying glass, plastic baggies for clues, and thinking caps. The question my friends is “What is the blog coming home to myself going to share with you next week?”

            One thing I will tell you is that my Tuesday posting will be part of a big event that's happening that day—another hint. Maybe you read the same blogs I do and you’ll pick up on this.

            And of course, on this Saint Patrick’s Day, amidst bird song and wandering breeze, I wish you joy in the morning and a fair road to travel.