I'm having a great time so far on my tour - I hope you're enjoying my random musings on the past year.
Today I'm stopping my tour bus off at Suzanne Furness's The Word Is... blog, talking about TV! This presented a bit of a challenge when I realised my TV watching boiled down to Homes Under the Hammer and endless repeats of How I Met Your Mother.
It's also time for the February Insecure Writer's Support Group, which I completely forgot about when I planned the tour. If you click on the badge in the sidebar it'll take you straight to the sign up list. Although I'm sure everyone knows about this group and the wonderful Alex J Cavanaugh.
A lot of the time I use this group to announce the weird and foolish stuff I'm planning to do - like my first ever attempt at NaNoWriMo - and today is no different. I've been thinking about gathering my published and prize-winning short stories into a greatest hits style collection.
This now means I have to get my head around all the stuff a lot of you have known for a long time. I hate not knowing stuff - the way I've always learned new things is to disappear into a corner for a while and come out knowing how to do algebra or Microsoft Access.
However, the last thing I tried to learn was Wordpress - and I gave up on that very quickly! I found it completely impossible. So, apparently, as I get older the less I'm able to learn! If that's not something to feel insecure about, I don't know what is!
What do you find hard to learn, no matter how much you try?
Please remember to visit Suzanne's blog - link at the top!
It seems like an admirable and huge project. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteNot huge at all actually, there's only 11 of them :-)
DeleteDon't feel insecure, everyone gives up on Wordpress! Good luck with your book endeavour, there's lots of tips and advice on blogs to help you!
ReplyDeletePhew, that's good to know. I thought I was the only one who didn't get Wordpress!
DeleteI don't' think it's us, I think there's just too much to learn! I felt the same way about how much history I had to study versus my mom and grandma.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard keeping up, isn't it? Totally agree about the history - but my kids have to learn more than me. And with all the Higgs Bosun and dark matter stuff going on, they'll probably have to learn more physics than me too :-)
DeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a greatest hits collection (greatest shorts)? collection and Oh that is all high and powerful, do I *abhor* Wordpress...
Go Blogger annnny day of the week :)
I do like Blogger, I was just curious really. Other people moved and seemed to do it so easily!
DeleteCan't get my head around wordpress either and I have a feeling that if I invested the time it would change and I would have to learn all over again. Updates and new versions in this computer world we are living in always keeps me hopping more than I would like too.
ReplyDeleteThe speed things change is incredible. And the updates always feel like starting over again because they're so different *ahem, Windows*!
DeleteI find any new techno-gadget things difficult to wrap my head around...
ReplyDeleteI'm off to Suzanne's blog-------------
I used to be okay, but I think I've just reached my saturation point :-)
DeleteThanks for checking out my post on Suzanne's blog.
I get twitchy with new techno items. Mr A dreads it when I buy a new phone or laptop or some such. I have been know to get into a right state and threaten to throw the offending item out of a window but once I do get the hang of them I'm hooked so keep working at it. We're never too old to learn.
ReplyDeleteHubby has just connected my smart phone to the house wifi - I've had the phone almost 2 years and I'm about to change it. Goodness knows what other features I've ignored!
DeleteI've been talking about putting my stories together in a collection for awhile now and still haven't done it. It just feels overwhelming! But I know I can do it if I just break the project down into smaller pieces. I know you can do it, too. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't have many stories to include, so it's not quite as daunting for me :-)
DeleteGo for it! Making the brain learn new stuff is how it keeps the little grey cells functioning for longer... It might just take a little more time...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the collection though!
Yes, I've heard learning is good for the brain. I might just learn something easier :-)
DeleteA greatest collection sounds wonderful. You should definitely do it. I find chocolate helps when learning new things. One day I'd like to learn a second language... I'll have to stock up on lots of chocolate. I've never been good at that.
ReplyDeleteI don't need anymore excuse to eat chocolate, but at least I'll be able to quote you on this now :-D I'm not good at languages either. All my school French has long disappeared.
DeleteI find hard to learn to use new software, but since I read that learning something new is exercise for the brain and helps in avoiding ailments like Alzheimer, I try hard to learn something new often.
ReplyDeleteAnother good way to delay Alzheimers is to write or draw with the opposite hand... it causes the brain to create new neural pathways!
DeleteI find new technology and languages hard to learn. I keep trying but... maybe I should try that "go behind a corner and come out knowing" technique.
ReplyDeleteI think the idea of a 'greatest hits' collection sounds great.
My normal learning method for computer programmes is to press all the buttons and see what they do - but Wordpress just didn't seem logical. I kept ending up at the same place, no matter what I did. I love Blogger :-)
DeleteOh! I didn't know about your blog tour - I'll pop on over to Suzanne's blog right away. I remember I taught myself how to use a computer in the early 1990s, but I have to say I'll never ever learn any aspect of maths (including subtraction) nor, I'm really sorry to say, chess. Oh and Bridge! (But I can live without that anyway!)
ReplyDeleteChess looks far too complicated. My dad owned a Vic 20 in the early 80s, and I was able to programme a little man to dance across the screen - I peeked there with programming!
DeleteThe blog tour is going on for another 7 days or so!
That's fantastic. I'd love to be musical, but unfortunately I'm tone deficient! Good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteThe things I find hardest to learn are the ones I don't really want to know about!
ReplyDeleteI published an ebook without too much trouble - I'm sure you'll manage it (with a little help from your friends)
And you've been a lot of help so far, Patsy, so thank you. I'm just trying to finalise a cover... waiting for Hubby on that one :-)
DeleteI used Wordpress when I had a job blogging and I never liked it. I'm happy to stick with blogger!
ReplyDeleteThat's reassuring. I had a look at it for about 3 days and gave up.
DeleteCalculus. Every time I try to make friends with calculus it tells me I'm a whiny little girl with dyslexia and I'll have to use integral tables for the rest of my days.
ReplyDeletelinear algebra, no problem. Calculus though, it just hates me.
My brain just went blank at the word 'calculus'!
DeleteHi Annalisa - I hope to master some computer skills soon - and get a little more technical ... my brain feels clearer after the last 6 years - so let's hope! I'll be doing some studies too .. all grist to the mill. I tried WP and failed ..
ReplyDeleteI popped over to Susanne's to see you on your tour .. cheeers Hilary
I think everyone needs a certain level of technical know-how just to get by these days - or at least enough not to panic. Enjoy your studies!
DeleteIt sounds like a great project! And I'm like you, I'll hole up for days on end trying to teach myself something. I just learned how to format picture books, but I'll be honest. If it wasn't something I volunteered to do for a friend, I would have chucked it - HARD - into the trash bin, lol!
ReplyDeleteWell done for persevering. Although I'd be the same if I'd told someone I could help them - I'd have to work to do it. You just need to do another couple so you don't forget :-)
DeleteI never tried wordepress, I started with blogger. Good luck with you greatest hits collection. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jessica. Yes, Blogger seems much simpler. I'm happy with simple :-)
DeleteNanowrimo is going to be such a challenge. But you'll come out a winner no matter what. I did my own version of it last year, and finished one draft!
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
I did NaNo last year, Nutschell, that was an example of the daft things I tend to announce. Why do things quietly when you can announce them to 350 first?
DeleteMath and anything related to money and finances. I have no head whatsoever for that stuff. good thing my husband does.
ReplyDeleteMoney and finances are my forte - I just say no!
DeleteWhen it comes to things like technology I have a hard time even trying! I get so nervous.
ReplyDeleteOh and sports, I could never learn sports. ;)
I can pick up the rules of sports, but I'm useless at actually playing them :-)
DeleteI just figured out how to download and send out my ebook files for reviews. Until today, I had been forwarding the publishers original email to reviewers. How sad is that?
ReplyDeleteI think that's the kind of thing you can only do if you know it can be done - otherwise you wouldn't go looking for ways to do it, would you?
DeleteYou should do that!
ReplyDeleteI keep trying to figure out our remotes, but ever since my husband took over the programming, I have no idea which one turns on which device.
I can figure out what the remotes do, but what I do is hand them to Hubby immediately as he walks into the room! I have no idea why!
DeleteI don't want to learn windows 8. i've been hearing horror stories. I don't want to give up my MSOffice 2003. And I won't unless they make me. I have a hard copy of XP. I think I'd go back to that before dealing with windows 8 and not being able to use my office anymore. My crit group the other nice teased me about being reluctant to embrace new tech. Not always. But I'm probably wrong about that.
ReplyDeleteThey said Windows 8 was supposed to be better, but it's so completely different to previous versions it's a bit alienating - so I don't blame you!
DeleteSounds like a plan to me...as for learning new skills, I may never get some of this stuff figured out, but I sure do enjoy the journey:)
ReplyDeleteTechnology changes so fast there's no point learning something, because it'll be different next week :-)
DeleteI have to learn new programs for work all the time, and it is daunting but I have fun with it. Google is my friend!
ReplyDeleteAllison (Geek Banter)
I've had no problems in the past - I used to work with older ladies who were scared that if they pressed anything or selected an option, they'd delete the entire programme.
DeleteCongrats on the tour! I love short stories...its nice sometimes to just get to the point
ReplyDeleteThanks Tammy. I feel sorry for some of my short stories because they were published in such small press magazines that only 2 people would have ever read them - including the editor!!
DeleteI think we can all learn new things when we get older, but we find our time too precious to waste on stuff that is more complicated than it has to be.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great way of looking at it. There are much better things to do :-)
DeleteFortunately there are a lot of people here online who can help you learn! You are NOT too old to learn something. I have faith.
ReplyDeleteYes, the blogging community have all the skills, I just need to ask the right people :-)
DeleteI'm with M. Pax.
ReplyDeleteTerrified of Windows 8!
It looks awful!
I am quite enamoured with touch screen computers though - I'm definitely looking forward to the day I own one of them!
DeleteI'm not great at learning how to fix my computer when things go down....
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone is ever to old to learn something new. When something is challenging, it helps to know what other alternatives there are.
I'm definitely the type of learner who tries to find the easiest way for everything :-)
DeleteAn anthology of your shorts sounds delightful. Kelly has a good point, above. It's not that I can't learn...do I wanna? LOL. The most difficult thing for me is becoming conversationally adept at a foreign language. To read and write is easier. Speaking is so difficult!
ReplyDeleteI struggled through French at school, and reading was definitely easier. As soon as it came to listening, I couldn't pick out a single word I recognised.... for 5 years :-(
DeleteAnything technical (wordpress, an I-Pod or I-Pad or smart phone...) makes me feel like I have half a braincell at most. I can relate to feeling more challenged with age, and it doesn't feel good.
ReplyDeleteBut Alex has faith, so we must as well. Plus, you're not the only one who can't figure out wordpress. Rumor has it, it's not user-friendly.
xoRobyn
I'm going to cling onto the 'not user-friendly' label, and rest assured it's not me, it's them!
DeleteAn anthology would be awesome!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that'll be the general consensus :-)
DeleteThe anthology sounds great. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYou can learn what you need. Alternate patience, chocolate, and caffeine. No problem. :)
I shall take your advice, starting with the chocolate... everything starts with chocolate :-)
DeleteI have found I can't seem to learn how to go to bed at a reasonable time and to put only one space after periods. I did it there, though. An anthology is a great idea! Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse
It took me ages to stop putting two spaces. There was a lot of find/replacing going on for a few months - then one day it clicked.
DeleteFor YEARS I've wanted to learn a musical instrument. I should just reconcile myself to the fact that it ain't happening! :)
ReplyDeleteIf all else fails, the tambourine works well in most songs :-)
DeleteHappy to hear it's not just me with Wordpress! I use that one under a different name and it's way harder than blogger.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'll stick to Blogger and be happy here.
DeleteGood luck with your new project!
ReplyDeleteI never tried Wordpress ... I didn't know it was difficult to use!