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Is it Really Redundant?
I was reading an article on dailywritingtips.com called Let the Word Do the Work about redundancy. The author, Maeve Maddox, does a great job making her point with examples of the more common redundancies we run into – such as “free gift”– as well as some more subtle examples, like “maroon-colored.” (Only when someone could…
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The Culture of Writing
Especially for larger software companies, documentation is something management easily outsources. The problem with outsourcing writing is that the culture of the writer and the culture of the reader frequently don’t match. The truth of the matter is that most Americans only go to the documentation when they are stuck beyond all reason. At that…
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Chocolate as a Health Food – Writer Revamped
I originally wrote this when I was focusing on chocolate direct sales. Yet, it really is a better example of why I’m better at Explanatory Writing. Before I get started, some disclaimers: I am not, nor do I want to be, a health, fitness, or nutritional expert. However, I will read articles written by those…
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1 Space or 2, Lives in the Balance
My sister recently posted an article from January 2011 on my Facebook page about how two spaces after a period is absolutely the wrong thing to do. My friends generally agreed. Because said social media wouldn’t let me find the post again, I went to everyone’s buddy, Google, and searched for it. One result was…
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My Love-Hate Relationship with My Computer
If it were not for the invention of the Spell Checker, I would be asking, “do you want fries with that?” instead of building my own writing services business. I am grateful for technology on a daily basis. However, I am finding it disturbing how little I can do without my computer – and a…
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What is a Paradigm Shift?
Before we can have a shift, we need to know what a paradigm is. Once again, I went to my friend dictionary.com for the official definition. There were several, I’m listing the relevant one here: A framework containing the basic assumptions, ways of thinking, and methodology that are commonly accepted by members of a scientific…
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Worthless Writing Words
In my last blog, I mentioned that people keep sending me things about words. One that I really enjoy is 10 Words to Cut From Your Writing from entrepreneur.com. This blog on copy writing tips really appealed to the editor in me – maybe because people frequently come to me to reduce their word count.…
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Don’t Should on Me
Since declaring myself a writer, people keep sending me blogs about words – mostly about words not to use, in either writing or speech. Actually, there is a good deal of overlap, but that’s not my point. Today. What is my point? Well, I have more than one, but I think I’ll stick to what…
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Is “Twerk” Really a Word?
Admission number 1: I’m not sure I would recognize a twerk if it were performed on my coffee table while I’m watching Criminal Minds. Admission number 2: I fell for the hype that the Oxford English Dictionary added “twerk” to its hallowed pages. The truth is that the Oxford Dictionaries Online, a source for the…
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The Writer Can’t Write, She Implements
To be clear, I can write. I just have a heck of a time writing for myself. Sort of like the cobbler whose children have no shoes. When I started writing this blog entry, I was going in a totally different direction. And I hit a brick wall at about 75 words. Goes to show…