One thing I hate to read about is a musky man – partly because it’s become hackneyed, and partly because the word conjures its original use. The musky scent in colognes used to come from a glandular secretion from near the musk deer’s rectum. According to Wikipedia, the word ‘musk’ originates from the Sanskrit for… Continue reading Describing how a man smells
Tag: how to write
Dealing with negative feedback
In my day job, I write for and edit a large website. I’m fortunate enough to have a manager who’s taught me a lot about both disciplines. Since Charles is a former journalist and an experienced editor, I asked if he could write some tips on how to deal with negative feedback on your writing.… Continue reading Dealing with negative feedback
Save the words!
Here’s a little language quiz for you. 1) How many words do you think the English language has? I lost count at 157, so fortunately I was able to put my Googling skills to the test and discovered the Oxford English Dictionary has full entries for 171,476 words in current use, and 47,156 obsolete words.… Continue reading Save the words!
Prune your prose
Speaking of being overly wordy, here’s an online workshop that my RWA chapter is running soon. It’s as if they’ve been reading my blog and came up with the class just for me. Thanks, guys. ***** Permission to Forward Granted ***** RWA® Online Chapter presents: PRUNE YOUR PROSE! Ten Tips to Tighten Your Fiction Writing… Continue reading Prune your prose
Writing emotion
His Adam’s apple bobbed. She wrapped her arms around her middle. He cocked his eyebrow. Her eyes narrowed. He towered over her. She stepped back. All these gestures help us understand what a character is feeling. They’re clues that human animals learn to interpret as we grow and develop, but they can be different in… Continue reading Writing emotion