You know those people who start a sentence with “I’m not racist, but…” and then go on to say something so horrific it leaves you lost for words? Well, I’m not repetitive, but… Last week I became a member of Savvy Authors and they’ve got a tool called the Auto Critter. It’s like Microsoft Word’s… Continue reading I’m not repetitive, but…
Tag: language
When you can’t afford to go to RWA Nationals
One of the bummers (cue naughty giggles from my British friends) of living in London is that I can’t afford to fly to the US in summer. It costs approximately $Ridiculous and I’m on a charity salary. So color me thrilled to find Savvy Authors is having a Summer Symposium from today through Sunday. They’ve… Continue reading When you can’t afford to go to RWA Nationals
Making your writing stand out in a crowd
When does your writing fit a genre, and when does it just pander to the lowest expectations of that genre’s readers? I’ve written before about the importance of using interesting language and avoiding clichés. What happens, though, if you overdo one of those things for the sake of the other? One of the most difficult… Continue reading Making your writing stand out in a crowd
“Said” is alive and well
My eighth-grade English teacher had us all chanting “Said is dead.”* It’s a good thing that was at a Christian school, where I learned resurrection is possible. I remember reading Stephen King’s On Writing yonks ago. The one piece of advice that stuck with me is that “said” is the best of dialog tags. On Joanna Bourne’s… Continue reading “Said” is alive and well
10 rules for writers
Since we’re on the subject, and since I seem to be doing anything to avoid housework, today’s Guardian’s Review section has a feature where writers give their 10 rules for writers. I don’t think any of them are radical, but the way they express them is a joy. My favorite is from Elmore Leonard: Never… Continue reading 10 rules for writers