Some readers love descriptive detail that transports them to another place or time. Others, not so much. So, how does one walk that very fine live to satisfy as many readers as possible? First, you have to know your reader. Are you writing to an audience that loves sumptuous detail and the power of beautifully…
Tag: grammar
Dialogue — a brief thought
“Dialogue should simply be a sound among other sounds, just something that comes out of the mouths of people whose eyes tell the story in visual terms.” Alfred Hitchcock This is excellent advice for a visual medium, like film. In writing, how do we accomplish the same affect? Communication is 90% non-verbal. When speaking, what…
The semicolon: half-right is all wrong
Something about the semicolon seems to trip people up. Maybe it’s the shape: the little round head and tail like a snake. I’m not sure. At any rate, here are a few basic examples of when to use the semicolon. Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses not joined with a conjunction, such as:…
The dash — a life lesson
Many of us have heard the touching poem, “The Dash,” about living your life to the fullest. I, however, am going to share some tips, not on how to live your life to the fullest, but how to use the actual dash to the fullest. Three types of dashes will be used in English: the…
The thesaurus is out to get us
As writers, it’s easy to get in the habit of relying on words. These words are old friends we know well and they work for us. I know—when I search one of my manuscripts for over-used words, I find some favorites over and over and over. Yikes! It’s time to treat that well-worn word as…
The proof is in the reading
Proofreading. Oy. Yet we all know those people. They seem like they can spot a transposed i and e from a football field away. Well, most of us are not those people, so we have to work just a bit harder to do a great job proofreading. When proofreading your manuscript (or anything), here are…
The power of words
The written word is not tantamount to symbols and letters strung together; it has the ability to sway opinions; to declare wars; to create imaginative worlds to visit; and to help us empathize with someone we’ve never met. I think those who have a real love for language appreciate many aspects of how words fit…
Between you and I (Let’s get the word out)
I’ve heard the phrase “between you and I” many times. Often, it seems to be used when someone is trying to be more proper or formal. I even saw it in an episode of Lost Girl, spoken by a character trying to be very proper. Unfortunately, “between you and I” is NEVER correct. It is…
Intersection of Fiction and Poetry
Fiction and poetry are often treated as different types of writing—and they are. I think, however, that the most beautiful writing happens when the two intersect. Poetic passages within fiction that paint an emotive, vivid picture transport our minds and souls. Poetry that tells us a story as well as affects us can teach us…
What a Grammar Nazi does not see
The goal of this blog is not to be a Grammar Nazi. Plenty of folks out there already think of themselves as self-appointed Grammar Nazis. I have some issues with this policing of language: It promotes public shaming. It focuses on grammar as aesthetics and pedantic enforcement of rules (rather than meaning). It obscures common…
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