It’s a Blog Eat Blog World Out There

I’ve been temporarily sidetracked from chronicling my action packed (?) vacation to Maine by several things. I will continue with The Maid Goes to Maine series, but there is something else that’s on my mind right now that I wanted to write about.

Yesterday was a milestone for me. I keep a little five-year “Q & A a Day” journal where I answer a daily question. It’s a fun little exercise and interesting to see what has changed (or not changed) from year to year.

I love my little Q & A book!

When I opened it before bed to answer the day’s question, I saw that beneath last year’s answer I had written “Started WordPress Blogging 101.” I actually created my WordPress blog on October 2, 2012 after taking an introductory class at the local community college. Then it languished untouched for nearly three years. In the meantime, I received emails from WordPress.com and something kept me from unsubscribing.

Last year an email announcing the Blogging 101 class arrived and for once it was offered at a time of year that was convenient for me. It sounds really corny, but I had no idea how it would change my life.

I can’t recommend this free WordPress class enough!

Taking the class finally pushed me to write down my stories and thoughts – something I had professed to want to do for so long. But the anniversary (or blogoversary) is bittersweet. Yes, I am writing, but I have a long way to go to reach the goals I have set for myself. I try to look at how far I’ve come, but it is simply in my nature to be my own worst critic.

Write Right Monday Night: Add These to Your Toolbox

Last fall I started what I thought would be a weekly feature on my blog called “Write Right Monday Night.” I hoped to provide useful information on grammar, word usage, and other writing topics. Honestly, though, it just gave me a platform to air my grammar grievances. I figured I had a bottomless well of language pet peeves to draw from.

Due to a handful of life changing events, plus my reluctance to follow my self-imposed weekly schedule, the idea fell by the wayside. The last few entries were lame attempts to put something (anything) out there that was related to writing.

Fast-forward six months and I have some interesting things to share, so I am resurrecting Write Right Monday Night. It will not be every Monday night, but only when I have something that I think will be useful for my blogger friends or anyone with a love for the English language.

Last week I took a one day course in SEO and Social Journalism for Small Businesses at the local Community College. Along with a lot of other useful information and strategies, the instructor offered a list of online resources, including several that will analyze your writing and help you improve it.

This may not be news to some of you, but I had never used these sites before. I found them fun to play around with, as well as informative. I don’t always make the changes they suggest. My writing isn’t perfect, but sometimes I like it just the way it is. And while I’m sure these sites can improve someone’s writing, just like autocorrect, they are not perfect. I copied my blogpost In Sickness and in Health; In Polish Sausage and in Sauerkraut into one of them and it told me that the words kraut, jitterbug, and DJs were misspelled. My point is, they are simply tools, not something that should be followed blindly.

Here are three that I enjoyed using:

editMinion

This is a very bare-bones looking sight. Copy or type your text in and hit edit. It will list some statistics about the writing and highlight “weak” words, passive voice and other items to watch for. One thing I found annoying is it highlights homonyms with a caution to make sure you’ve spelled them right. This means that every instance of there, they’re, their, and your, you’re, and see, sea, among other words are highlighted. I understand why, but come on!

After the Deadline

They want you to download the app, but you can see a demonstration using your text. It highlights spelling errors and offers grammar and style suggestions. Clicking on each item that is highlighted provides an explanation of the perceived problem, as well as suggested changes. I say “perceived” problem because in my case, it identified the phrase “happy couple” as a cliché. In my post the phrase was entirely appropriate, but I guess it was helpful that it was pointed out to me. I’m not sure I could write anything without at least one cliché, so I’ll choose to ignore it!

Hemingway Editor

I really like this one. Not only does it do the same job as editMinion, it also gives an overall readability rating and highlights sentences that it considers are difficult to read. It points out and offers suggestions for words and phrases with simpler alternatives. Simpler isn’t always better, but it is helpful to be given real options.

While these writing sites may offer help when you need it, remember they are just tools in your writer’s toolbox. Your unique voice is what makes your writing yours. If there is a creative reason for you to break the rules, rummage around in that toolbox for a sledgehammer – and go ahead and break them!

Time to Kick Off My (Goody Two) Shoes?

I’ve always played it safe. Ever the goody-two-shoes, when other kids were cutting class, breaking rules and defying authority, I was the one more likely to be sitting quietly in the library working on a project for extra credit. I take my responsibilities very seriously and am by no means a risk taker. So, it’s no wonder that I’ve been losing some sleep lately about a decision I need to make. Don’t get excited now! I’m not about to confess that I’m about to rob a bank or even go through the express checkout with 11 items instead of the requisite 10. I’m talking about leaving a good paying job that I’ve had for 12 ½ years, without a concrete plan for the future.

Write Right Monday Night: Every Day I Write the Book

My “muse” has apparently taken the day off and I am fresh out of ideas for my Monday night feature this week. So, I’m taking the lazy way out. For your listening pleasure, here is one of my favorite artists, Elvis Costello, with a song that at least is on the topic of writing.

I promise to try to come up with something brilliant and entertaining next week. In the meantime, feel free to dance and sing along!

Elvis Costello: Every Day I Write the Book (c) 1983

Write Right Monday Night: Where do you find inspiration?

The places where writers find inspiration are infinite. For this week’s Write Right Monday Night, I’d like to share one of my favorites. It’s called The Writer’s Circle and can be found here.

Their mission is “To help connect, encourage, and highlight writers around the world.” I find the site both informative and entertaining – not just as a writer, but as an avid reader too.

Catch My Phrase

When celebrity power couple Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin announced their split was a “Conscious Uncoupling,” the reaction almost everywhere was “a…what now?” Katherine Woodward Thomas, M.A., MFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist coined the phrase in her book of the same name.

I pondered (as I suspect many other writers did) how this term became a well-known saying. And more importantly, how can we get in on this racket?

(Spell)Check Out My Friend Merriam

Hey there fellow word nerds! Welcome to Write Right Monday Night.

What is it about some words that make them look wrong when we type or write them? It could be a word we use often, but there’s something about it that just doesn’t seem right.

Whether I’m typing on my computer or sending a text on my phone, spellcheck is now around to help me out.

Apostro-Peeves

Last week when I wrote the first installment of Write Right Monday Night, I explained that I am not a professional grammarian (still need to find out how I can get that gig) or a teacher. I’m just a Word Nerd with a lot of pet peeves. I’m dedicating this week’s Write Right Monday Night to one of my biggest punctuation pet peeves – misplaced apostrophes.

Give “I” a Break

Welcome to the first installment of a regular feature I’m calling
Write Right Monday Night.

I’ve been called a Word Nerd, a Grammar Nazi, and the Punctuation Police. I’m not sure if they were meant as insults, and I don’t really care. A clever turn of phrase or well-crafted pun can make my day. If you use “there,” “their,” and “they’re” correctly, we can be friends. If you know who Lynne Truss is, let’s get together for a coffee or a glass of wine and talk about how we can get her canonized as a saint!

I am not a professional grammarian. I’m not even sure such a profession exists. (Note to self: look into that.) I’m just someone who