Transformational Words
One Word Creates Focus
For the past ten years, when the calendar turns to December, I choose my new Word of the Year. One word on which to focus my attention to attract that attribute or blessing into my life during the coming year. “Celebrate” was my goal that first year. After my mother’s death, I lost the ability […]
Third Wednesday: Embezzled vs. Emblazoned
Our example sentence is one from a long list sent to me by a reader. Sadly, over a dozen examples of misused words came from one book she was reading. So let’s take a look at the first word from that list. “Each piece of crystal on the long table was embezzled with the royal […]
Through the Eyes of Combat Correspondents
History’s most famous war correspondent, Ernie Pyle was not an enlisted man, instead reporting for Scripps-Howard newspaper chain. He wrote not from the perspective of generals and leaders of nations, but from that of the private and sergeant on the frontlines of Sicily, Italy, France, and North Africa. His words mirrored what resided in the […]
4 Ways to Scare the Socks Off Your Readers
Stop me if you’ve heard this one. A monster walks into a bar. . . One patron is terrified because the monster looks like nature’s worst nightmare. Another patron shakes with fright because he can’t see the monster, but he knows there’s something after him. The third patron’s fear arises from recognizing the monster and […]
Third Wednesday: Neigh vs. Nigh
This week let’s talk about another look-alike pair of words, even though these two don’t sound alike. This is the way our first word was used in a book. “‘The end of your tyranny is neigh,’ cackled the wizard as he raised his staff.” Neigh – loud, characteristic cry of a horse; to make […]
4 Reasons Writers Should Love October
Ahh, October. Cool nights perfect for sleeping, painting tapestries of rich color across the landscape. But that’s not why writers should love October. A chance to use our sharpest pens to carve out a few scary stories. Ghosts, werewolves, zombies, and ax murderers are waiting in your imagination. If horror isn’t your usual genre, give […]
Why Not Now?
“Why not now?” That’s the last sentence in a marketing proposal I just wrote for the local Friends of the Library. For them, getting the community involved takes more than forming a group and waiting for supporters to show up. For writers, getting a novel written, or a magazine article, or a memoir, takes more […]
Where Do Your Characters Draw the Strength to Take Action?
After seeing how our characters’ body awareness reflects who they are, and what their Inner Critics whisper in their ears, we analyzed how their fears force them to take action. Now we need to understand how and where our characters draw strength to accomplish those actions. Once they acknowledge fear, it becomes something to overcome. […]
Third Wednesday: Ridged vs. Rigid
Sometimes I wonder whether we misuse sound-alike words because we don’t clearly hear the difference. But the wrong word can lead to a sentence like this. “Society has such ridged laws.” Ridged– marked by a ridge or a series of ridges. Rosemary will only eat ridged potato chips. The territory was so ridged that […]