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Questions for my nominees are:

(my questions to answer)

1.What do you write and Why do u write?

2.Who are you n where do u belong to?

3.What do you love beside writing?

4.What is your ultimate aim in life?

5.Are you single, in a relationship or married?

6.What is the best thing about you?

7.Which is your favorite book and why?

8.Who is your idol?

9.Give some tips on becoming a good writer.

10.What would you do if you were the last person in world?

11.How many friends and fans do u have? Describe your best friend.

My thanks to Isolated Girl, https://jyoteeblog.wordpress.com/, for the nomination!  What follow are my responses to the questions above, then in turn my nominations.

1. I used to say I write because I need to, and that’s right. But I write because I want to, too.  I started my blog during recovery from surgery.  The blog—writing and corresponding with other bloggers—kept me sane.  What do I write?  Poetry, each day.  I’m also keeping a journal.  Last summer, when I pretty much couldn’t do anything, I drafted a novel (in verse) and started drafting another.  I write prose, too.  Letters to the editor, when I’m moved by something exigent.  Essays and articles, too.  Course syllabi, when I’m teaching.
2. I live in Pennsylvania in the USA. I live in a small town (called boroughs, here) named for mechanics who used to fix covered wagons for pioneers heading out west.    My immediate family is four siblings.  I am the middle child.  I grew up with cats and dogs and other creatures (besides my sibs).  I had a cat who died a couple of years back at nineteen.  She had all that time to train me.  I’m sure I failed.
3. Well, reading, naturally enough. I read young-adult literature.  I read works about spirituality.  I also read mystery novels.  I walk.  I spend time with friends.  I take day-trips to nowhere in particular.
4. My aim in life is to publish a small book of poetry. My other aim is to live more comfortably and completely than I do.  There’s an image of Bilbo Baggins, retired and writing verse in Rivendell.  I like that.
5. I am single. So far never married.
6. My best day-to-day skill might be listening. Each one has a story, and that story has great value.  I enjoy eliciting parts of others’ stories.  And hearing what else someone might want or need to talk about.
7. My favorite book (see note 4, above) is The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. I’ve read this novel a number of times and listened to various readings.  I’ve researched and published some about it.  I’ve taught The Hobbit many times.  I like the hobbit’s lifestyle and the one great adventure he is talked into taking.
8. I wish I’d had a Gandalf in my life or a Merlin, parent, school advisor, or work supervisor who was a mentor for me. I didn’t have such a one.  I grew up in a strange time, when everything was questioned with few good answers provided.  So I guess I’d say my idol is C. S. Lewis who took his smarts about literature and life and became Christian and an apologist.  Faith doesn’t have to make sense as thoroughly to me as it had to for Lewis, but he clearly argued that belief is reasonable and that believing is intelligent.  I respect that about Christianity and any other faith tradition.  Or none.
9. Every now and then, a student will ask about increasing vocabulary. I say read something.  Read something you enjoy.  Your vocabulary and diction (choice of words) will grow this way.  When writing, a writer should write.  And keep writing, even when most of what’s set down is set aside.  Art used to mean theory and vision, and science meant practice and skill.  At the foundation of the theoretical part of writing is understanding that writing is a process.  The science of writing is to keep practicing until you make something with which you are satisfied.  Then get the writing out there.  Writing is not complete until it is read and responded to.  Writing is a chore, as it should be.  While you write, avoid cliché, unless you mean to use cliché.  When writing poetry, if rhyme becomes too laborious, then don’t use it.  Same with metre—it’s possible the poem wants to go another way.  Allow exploring and discovery through the writing act.
10. If I were the last person, I’d find things to remind me of humanity. Videos, sound recordings, photographs.  I’d gather in ways and means to drink and eat and dress and with which to get around.  I’d spend time each day trying to find someone else in the neighborhood, the cosmos, maybe the multiverse.  I’d read and write each day and still find ways to grow my mind and heart.  I’d talk with God all the time.
11. I don’t know about fans. Members of my family are friends, and I am thankful.  The next generation of family is friendly, too.  My neighbors are my friends.  I live in part of an old house, and those across the hall and downstairs from me are wonderful companions.  We help each other out as well.  I have friends with whom I socialize.  In my life, a short thread of best friends has been intertwined.  One friend moved way.  A couple of times I’ve moved.  One best friend has died.  My best friend now is someone with whom I communicate pretty regularly.  Right now, I’m house-sitting in a distant place; so we communicate electronically.  We help each other in substantial ways.  We gone to the hospital for and with each other.  We also watch movies and read things to talk about.  So I have a small circle of family, friends, and a best friend.  Blogging has brought me new friends.  I find these happy and important relationships.

I’ve enjoyed the pleasure of nominating bloggers for awards.  I’ll try to think of some others, here, and probably will overlap as well.  And if an award-free blog is kept and one doesn’t mind, simply enjoy what pleasure might come from being nominated.

I nominate

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/

http://mumbletymuse.com/

https://sonyca.wordpress.com/

https://moonskittles.wordpress.com/

https://straycoffee.wordpress.com/

http://julihoffman.com/

http://threechattycats.com/

http://shannonpaigewaters.com/

https://thesarahdoughty.wordpress.com/

https://mariawenttotown15.wordpress.com/

https://kokoboocro.wordpress.com/

(I think my citing your sites pings back to you.  I hope I have this right.)

Rules:

• Thank the person who nominated you in the blog post.
• Answer the 11 questions set by the person who nominated you.
• Nominate 11 blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions to answer.
• Copy the icon to post at your blog site.

My questions for you (borrowed, adapted, and new):

1. What do you write?
2. Why do u write?
3. What do you love besides writing?
4. What is an aim in life you are working on right now?
5. What is a positive quality about you?
6. Do you have or have you had a mentor? If so, who, please?
7. Which is your favorite book and why?
8. Is there a favorite way (place, accompaniments, posture) you have to write?
9. What are some tips on becoming a good writer?
10. What would you do if you were the last person in the world?
11. Why are your friends your friends?