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The Written Voice
To be a successful writer, you need to write in your own voice. Own your voice; and if you don’t know what that is, discover it as soon as you can. If you try to write like someone else, you will fail. Your writing will unsettle your reader, because you will not be able to sustain it. Your words will come across as herky-jerky — one sentence from a favorite author and one from you. Your reader will feel as if they are on a rut-filled road in an unreliable car; any moment now the wheels will fly off leaving them stranded. This is...
read moreHomonym Hilarity
I love homonyms. These words sound the same but are spelled differently. They are sneaky little gremlins that trip up even the most seasoned pro. I often get a giggle when I see a wayward homonym in a text. “Caught you!” I even like the word homonym, which comes from the Greek word homonumos, meaning having the same name. Precisely speaking, a homonym is either a homophone (words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and mean different things. For example: so, sew, sow) or a homograph (words that sound different,...
read moreFor Love of Neighborhoods
This is a short short story I wrote and felt like posting. Enjoy. She was on the last leg of her run when she made a sudden detour and cut across the street into modest, homey neighborhoods shaded by linden trees. It drew her like a familiar lullaby or a childhood illustration in her favorite bedtime story. She slowed her pace and sighed from the sweetness. Then she saw a sign leaning crookedly on a lawn, punched into the yellowing grass like a stake through the heart. She came to an abrupt stop. In an instant she realized she was one...
read moreMeteors and Messages
In a relatively short time, we humans received a message on how vulnerable we are from meteors in space. A space rock, about 55 feet wide, penetrated our atmposphere as a stunning white ball of fire, streaked acrossed a Russian sky, and landed in a lake after creating a sonic boom that blew out windows and cracked eardrums. Knowing a fraction of how much debris there is in space, it is more shocking that we have not been hit more often. It’s not like we have a meteor busting missle system that has kept us all safe from the inevitable. I...
read moreLove in the New Year
Like millions of people, I stayed up until midnight to witness the turning of the old year into a happy new year. As much as I realize that this is just a construct of time, there is something very exciting about leaving the past behind and anticipating all the great things that await me in the new year. I spend New Year’s Day writing down my expectations (goals, dreams) for the new year. Last year I made five predictions — all five came true. I have ceased making resolutions because that was almost like cursing myself. The more I...
read moreYour Audience or “Who’s Reading My Stuff?”
One of the ground rules for good writing is to know who is your audience before you write a single word. The one who reads “your stuff” is not necessarily your audience, but may become your audience (and a fan) after they’ve read what you’ve written. In fact, as a writer, you want to reach as large an audience as you can. Your writing has a purpose and it is to engage your ideal reader. Before you begin writing, create a list of questions and answers to determine who is your ideal reader. Is your reader a woman, a man, a parent,...
read moreGeorge McGovern: A Great American
The first person I ever campaigned for was Senator George McGovern when he was running for president in 1972. I was too young to vote, but became captivated by McGovern’s message of peace and his opposition to the Vietnam War. As only young people who are suddenly self-aware can be, I was deeply passionate about seeing George McGovern take the White House. I got signs from the Democratic headquarters in my town and went door-to-door to ask people if I could post them on their lawns, all the while encouraging them to vote for Senator...
read moreThe Ampersand & Its History
Ever wonder what that & symbol is? It is called an ampersand. As a writer, you should never use & in place of the word and. The ampersand should only be used as part of a logo, as a design image, or when space is an issue, like in a headline. The word ampersand comes from the phrase as per se and, as in when reciting the alphabet you would say x, y, and z, or x, y, as per se and z. The history of the ampersand is fascinating. According to Dictionary.com, the ampersand is known as a compilation of the letter e and t, which in Latin...
read moreEllipsis and M&N Dash
Two great punctuation marks that are often misused or overused by writers are the ellipsis and the dash. While the following information is not definitive, it may serve to help clarify their use. Ellipsis The ellipsis is three equally spaced dots ( . . . ) that represents the intentional omission of a word or words in a sentence. It can also serve to represent an abrupt change in thought, a hesitation or pause, an incomplete sentence, etc. If the omitted words come at the end of a quoted sentence, add the period then the ellipsis (that comes...
read moreMan Vs Pelican
In September, a homeless man killed a California brown pelican near the Malibu Pier. After a day of trying to catch fish with no success, the man captured one of the local birds and wrung its neck. His plan was to eat it because, as he said, he was “very hungry.” Within minutes, the police arrived and arrested him because the California brown pelican is a protected species. The man received a two-month sentence for animal cruelty, which perhaps was the best outcome for him. At least for two months he has a roof over his head, three squares...
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