Welcome back to Literacy Musing Mondays, your linkup for all things about literacy, learning, reading, and writing. We are growing as a community; so much so, that our posts are honest and real. We share our setbacks and our successes in our posts. We share the lessons we are learning or teaching. We share our current favorite reads and our struggles with reading. I love this community because at our heart is supporting one another and uplifting each other.
We have a special guest poster this week. She lifts her struggles to write and read for all to see. We have all been where she is at, and we all struggle with finding time to read and write and making them priority in life. Have you been where she is at? Read to learn more and then share your experiences in the comment area.
Lisa A. Listwa
Lisa is a wife, mother, and self-employed recovering high school English teacher. She works as a freelance writer, editor, and tutor and lives with her husband, her daughter, and three Rotten Cats. She spends her time stacking the pile of books to read ever higher, wondering if she should have been a chef, and trying to figure out where she last left her cell phone. Lisa writes about life and all its fascinations and banalities at her blog, the The Meaning of Me. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.
Finding Time for Words
Lately, I find that words fail me.
The desire to write exists, but when I sit down and attempt to get to it…nothing happens. Blog posts, my personal works-in-progress, letters, e-mails, even something as simple as the weekly to-do list or an errand reminder – all seem too hard.
And it’s so easy to blame outside forces, isn’t it? There’s too much to do. There’s not enough time to write. There’s nothing to write about. But those statements could – and perhaps should – be turned very personal. I’m busy. I’m too tired. I’m not inspired by anything right now. Eventually, in the moments when I’m honest with myself, I realize that the inability to write comes only from me.
I have always believed that if you want to be a writer, you have to be a reader, and that is so very true. In grading student essays and homework, those who struggle to write often struggle to read. I don’t necessarily mean that they can’t read (although it’s always true that many do), but rather that they don’t or won’t read, for whatever reason. If we don’t read, we don’t get to experience how other writers use words and language. We don’t get to learn what conventions work – or don’t. We don’t see writing in action and so cannot put it into action our selves, at least not very well. Think about it: if a child never hears people speak, how will she learn to speak herself? We need examples and models to teach us what we need to know.
And there’s where it hit me. ….
If you want to read more of her post, head on over to her blog. Be sure to leave a comment. 😉
What Lisa writes is so true. Reading and learning yields such great dividends. I love reading books, blog posts, magazine articles. I also love sharing my writing through my blog. One day, I hope to share in book form. What are your goals with your personal writing and reading? Share in the comments form below.
Now on to our weekly linkup. 😉
Last Week’s Top Clicked Post!
Kate Motaung’s
books on my wishlist & what i’m reading now
Do you know who won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Literature this year? You need to read Kate’s post if you don’t. She has some other interesting titles on her list that I am going to check out too. What is on your Fall reading list. We would love to read your posts about your current reads too.
Want to be the next to be featured! Just link up a post and if you are read the most, we will feature you. Also please make sure you link back to us so others will know about our link up and join in. We try to make it worth your while to linkup with us by promoting your posts across our social media networks. We also pin your posts to our Pinterest Board!
Now, it is time to link up to the Literacy Musing Mondays hop! You will have until Saturdays at 12 p.m. now to link up! So come back often.

Linkup Rules:
- Include a link back or the blog hop button linked to this hop on your posts.
- Link up the urls to your posts not to your blog.
- Please remember this is a family-friendly linkup. Although we believe in the right for adults to read whatever they want to read, we prefer to read wholesome posts that feature literature that edify and uplift families. We reserve the right to delete any posts that are not family friendly. We love all kinds of literature and genres including family-friendly inspirational romances, fantasy, or science fiction. We do not welcome anything with excessive violence, sexual content, or cursing. These posts will be deleted.
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- Tweet about the link up too.
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Linking up with these hops this week: #LifeGivingLinkup; Inspire Me Mondays at Create with Joy, Inspire Me Monday at Angie Ryg,Mama Moments Monday, Motivation Mondays, Good Morning Mondays, Inspire Me Mondays at Table for 7, Mommy Monday Blog Hop, Tell Me a True Story Blog Party, #Words with Winter Linkup, The Book Nook – Blog Party For Book Lovers!, Totally Terrific Tuesdays, Women with Intention Wednesdays, What to Read Wednesdays, Mom’s Library, A Little R &R Wednesday’s linkup, Kid Lit Blog Hop, Booknificent Thursdays, Cozy Reading Spot, and TGI Saturdays.
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Hi Mary.
So glad to have come across your blog. This is totally my kind of linky. I will be sure to link up in the future.
Just one question – I believe the posts have to be related to Books- Reading or Writing. Please correct me if I am wrong. Also, can the posts be Book Reviews?
P.S. Signed up to the mailing list. 🙂
Love her thoughts!!
I’ll be back next Monday, I finally have something to link up again. 😀
Great. We will be live again at 6 p.m. Sunday.
Hurray! I finally managed to get myself over here for a visit and a link up! Thanks for hosting such a fun one!
Tina
I can totally relate to feeling like I have no words to write. And there are times when I take a break and go for a walk or sit down with a good book. But I ‘ve also learned that sometimes I just need to plant my butt in the chair and write. Even if it’s atrocious. I need to get over my perfectionism and put words on a page, and eventually, the words will come. This is why I love Five Minute Friday so much. They help me get over myself and they “get me” too. Thanks for sharing today!
I think we can all relate to sitting at our desk, staring at a blank computer screen. Great post! I even had a book review post I was able to link up this week!
Melissa recently posted…The Cost of Clutter
Mary, thanks for having me guest post/host. There are always many good things to read here – hope to get to read as many as possible!
Lisa @ The Meaning of Me recently posted…Finding Time for Words
I love this guest post. Bouncing over to read the rest because it sounds like the story of my life!
Blessings!
Thanks, Mary, for all you do!
Michele Morin recently posted…9 Names that Belong on Your Bookshelf
Thank you, Michele!