language
Past vs Passed—Which One’s Right?
There are a number of pairs of words that are easily confused such as loose and lose (that extra “o” always seems to sneak in when I’m not looking, right Steve?), the proper use of lay and lie offers its own challenge and mistaking stared for starred can be easy enough to do. I did […]
In Search of Good Descriptions
I am reading The Red House by Mark Haddon. I promise to give you a full review when I finish it. It is beautifully and creatively written. I have been captivated by his style. Haddon is a master of description. His book is about the families of two estranged siblings—a brother (Richard) and sister (Angela)—coming […]
He Said, She Said: The Art of Dialogue Tags
Dialogue is an integral part of most stories. It helps to move the plot, adds depth of character, helps set the scene, can inject humor or other emotions, provides interaction between characters and helps to break up descriptive passages and internal monologues. While dialogue solves many problems it can also add one: dialogue tags. A […]
Less is More, More or Less…
I have been participating in Lillie McFerrin’s weekly challenge of five sentence fiction for about six months now and I feel that my participation in the exercise has helped improve my writing. Five sentences is quite the constraint. The limit forces you to write with focus and efficiency. The phrase “less is more” is unfurled […]
In Other Words… Having Fun with Euphemisms
Are there any Monty Python fans out there? Are you familiar with the Dead Parrot Sketch? In this skit, John Cleese attempts to return a parrot to the pet shop he bought it at because it’s dead but Michael Palin, playing the part of the dubious shop owner, contends that the parrot is merely sleeping, […]
Ch-ch-ch-changes
I sat down on the subway this morning and placed my briefcase on my lap, leaning it up against the seat back in front of me. Just above the leather handle was a short sentence, legibly printed in black ink. A tiny bit of graffiti. A spontaneous piece of free speech. Six uncomplicated words. Here […]
Opposites Attract: The World of Antonyms
He says, she says. Good verses evil. Not everything is black and white. Yin and yang. Stop and go. We use opposites every day. In the grammarian’s world they are called antonyms. They seem fairly cut and dried, there’s not much of a gray area when it comes to antonyms. Its all easy-peasy. Well, it’s […]
Cutting a Fine Figure (of Speech)
A figure of speech is defined on dictionary.com as: noun, plural figures of speech. Rhetoric . any expressive use of language, as a metaphor, simile,personification, or antithesis, in which words are used in other than their literal sense, or in other than their ordinary locutions,in order to suggest a picture or image or for other special effect. […]
