The importance of the words we use in everyday communication could hardly be understated.  While body language, context, vocal intonation, pitch, etc. are significant factors in interpreting intended or implied meaning, the words themselves are the common-language root of our vocal communication.  For people in the hearing impaired and Hard of Hearing (HOH) community, however, understanding spoken words can be a constant challenge.  While they may get the gist of what someone else is saying, much of the nuance, and at times the actual content of the message, can be lost in translation. . . . Continue Reading

Let’s consider for a moment that going to the movies is like going on a trip, which in many ways it exactly what it is.

So, you’re planning to take this trip and it’s one you’ve really been wanting to take.  You’ve read or heard a little about it from others who have already been there to whet your appetite.  Maybe some of your friends have even gone recently and told you what a great time they had.  Okay, so now you’re really excited! . . . Continue Reading

The writing folks at YA Highway have issued an invitation on their blog to turn your writing work-in-progress into a Haiku.  This was too much fun to resist (and who would want to?).  So here is mine!  Well, actually two of mine.  Since I am working on a series I’ve written one about the first book and one about the series as a whole.

Let me know what you think!

Book 1: Raven Academy

Boy finds he’s a part
of a world outside of time
and trouble’s brewing.

Citadel of Kidrodell

A world outside time,
Improving off our mistakes,
’Laws of Hist’ry’ win?

You can also follow my Kidrodell posts to read more about this specific WIP or visit the about page of the Kidrodell website (also a work-in-progress) to see the site which will eventually host the series!

For Christmas last year my wife bought me a copy of a The Practice of Poetry: Writing Exercises From Poets Who Teach.  It’s a collection of essays and exercises intended to challenge and inspire writers (not just poets) at all literary levels.  I’ve only recently begun to work my way through it.  Typically I can only make time to do this when the hopper managing my ‘free-time lottery’ kicks out the writing self-improvement ball.  Unfortunately, . . . Continue Reading

I recently discovered something very surprising (perhaps even a little disturbing) while reading an article on Mashable about Twitter.  What I found, however, had nothing to do with Twitter or anything to do with the article itself.  What concerned me was what I saw in one of the advertisements.

I admit, as a Firefox user, one of my favorite Add-ons is one that suppresses advertisements so I never even see them rendered on the page.  This, however, was *technically* not an advertisement, so it showed up.  But before you assume this is another raving blog post about the scourge of intrusive on-line advertising, hogging bandwidth and cluttering up the Internet with stuff most people read around or closed as soon as they find and click on the ‘X’, let me assure you, this is not one of those. . . . Continue Reading

(from a social network perspective)

My family of six and I recently dealt with and survived a full on “smackdown” with the swine flu.  So for anyone out there who may be panicking, getting H1N1 doesn’t mean you necessarily die.  While it IS the nastiest flu ever to hit our family, it didn’t last forever, although we’re still actively dusting off some of its lingering effects.

It began with our 4YO (our youngest) on a Sunday . . . Continue Reading

I’ve taken a little time today while my flu-ridden family is resting to steal away and do a little writing.  Here is the opening scene (one of my favorites) which I just finished revising from chapter six of my YA work-in-progress Raven Academy. This is book 1 in the chronicles of The Citadel of Kidrodell.

It’s still just a draft, but please share your thoughts!

Thanks!

Chapter 6: Mrs. Bennett

Connor awoke a half hour later with a wet pillow and a dry mouth. The weakness he had felt in his arms and legs had been replaced with stiffness and pain. With an effort he dragged himself to the edge of his bed and blinked at the clock. Lunchtime was nearly over. He turned to Orville’s bed to wake him, irritated to find that Orville wasn’t there. Despite the searing cramps in his arms, legs and back, Connor forced himself out of bed and downstairs. . . . Continue Reading

by John Rea-Hedrick
Friday, November 07, 2008

Among the waking buds of Spring,
I watched a robin, silent, sing. . . . Continue Reading

by John Rea-Hedrick
Sunday, November 30, 2008

I say ’twas you, but you so say ’twas me;
And so begin again we our descent.
‘Tis plain the fault lies somewhere in between,
Yet neither ground is willing to relent. . . . Continue Reading

by John Rea-Hedrick
Tuesday, November 11, 2008

I set upon a journey – Truth to seek!
With brash and bold bravado I did go
Straight to the lair of learned Sage to speak
Of my intention: she to me bestow! . . . Continue Reading