It’s always a good idea to let other people, especially editors, review and critique one’s writing. I’m no exception; one of my recent pieces received a good thrashing. Although the thrashing was done in the kindest of ways, it still smarted a little. Some of the points were things I know and try to follow. For instance, I know to use active verbs – they make for stronger writing – but, for some reason, progressive verbs plagued this particular piece. I felt ashamed and vowed to do better in the future.
You Have to Have the Right Amount of Pressure
I worry about the tires on my car, mostly because I’ve had a tire blow while I was driving on the interstate. The incident wasn’t my fault – the tire had a nail in it – but it makes me more conscious of how my car sits while I’m driving. It’s that consciousness that has me checking my tires regularly and taking my car to the nearest Discount Tire when I have, yet again, lost one too many quarters to the air machine at the gas station.
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When the Call is Uncertain
When the call is uncertain, you pause. You do not pass go. You do not collect $200. You may go around the board a few times, but you hoard your money as best you can. You do not make any rash purchasing decisions, not even if you land on Boardwalk or Park Place, your favorite properties. You wait. You become still.
Why You Should Care about Better Writing
Why should a person care about better writing (and writing better) or about hiring better writers? It’s a valid question, especially when recruiters – purportedly seeking to hire writers – post the following job advertisement: “There has been an explosion in the need for online writers, regardless of skill. These companies are more interested in your honest genuine opinions when you’re writing blog entries about their company… not if you are a very talented writer.”
Why I’ll Be Publishing Less This September
This September, I’m trying something new. I’ll be publishing less often. I may continue the trend in October, but I can’t say that with certainty. I only know that I’ll be publishing less this month.
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Write Right: Lay versus Lie
I’ll confess that “lay” and “lie” often get the better of me. I’ve always struggled to keep the two words straight. When confronted with a sentence that could use either “lay” or “lie,” I try to find a substitute so that I don’t have to waver between the two words.