An analogy is a comparison used to explain something. The simplest form of analogy takes this format: word is to sentence as chapter is to book. You may have seen it expressed this way Word : sentence :: chapter : book This comparison is easy to understand because we are familiar with words in sentences, and chapters in books. Analogy Teachers often use analogies to explain complex concepts or procedures. A kindergarten teacher may compare the United States to a school building, explaining that each state is like a classroom. Every classroom has a teacher with a set of classroom rules, while states have governors and laws specific to their…
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Hoof Print in the Snow
If only I could focus reader attention the way my dog focuses on tracking a deer through the snow. Wait, maybe I can! Remove Distractions Snow blanketed the ground nearly a week ago, masking the usual smells that Dusty loves to sniff on our daily walks. Shrubs marked by other dogs, clumps of native grass flattened by sleeping deer, and bird nests of ground dwelling quail were all buried by inches of snow. So instead of stopping at every bush, tree, and possible ground nest to satisfy her olfactory senses, Dusty has taken to shoving her nose in each hoof print she passes, breathing in what I imagine is the…
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Facts and Opinions
Facts are true for everyone. Grass is green. The sun is hot. Waltzes are in three quarter time. Lemons are sour. Skunks are smelly. Opinions are true for those who hold them. Grass is beautiful. Sunny days are cheerful. Waltzes are boring. Lemons make the best pie. Skunks are my favorite animal. Facts are irrefutable tidbits of information readily confirmed by multiple sources. Opinions are personal perceptions. Why does this Matter? With hundreds of media outlets, each catering to a specific audience, the line blurs between fact and opinion. So what does this mean? Back in the 1970s there were three broadcast networks. Everyone received the same factual reporting regardless…
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Filler Words
People use, you know, filler words when they talk all the time. It’s something we um, accept as part of like, natural speech. Did you notice the you know, um, and like? These words don’t have any redeeming value whatsoever. Writing has filler words too. Just, really, and very are a few examples. Generally speaking if you cut these words out, they will not affect the meaning of your sentence. As always, there are some exceptions. Amplifiers I can almost hear you disagreeing with me about very. Let’s look at an example. You might write: the very small dog barked as loud as a foghorn. Obviously you want to convey…
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Rewrite? You’re Kidding!
You’ve spent hours on your writing project. Spellcheck hasn’t underlined any errors, and you’ve said what you set out to say. Before your teacher even looks at it s/he says to rewrite. What? Why did you put all that time in you wonder? But hear me out. Your teacher has a point. First drafts are rarely ready for prime time. Revising involves more than punctuation, spelling, and grammar errors. You also want to look at sensory details, sentence flow and variability. Sensory Detail You may think you’ve already included all the necessary sensory details. My rule of thumb is to incorporate at least three senses in every scene. In our…
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Critique Partners
Last month I talked briefly about the importance of networking. Today I want to dig a little deeper. Your critique group or partner is probably the basic building block of your writing network. Goldilocks Principle Critique partners are ‘first eyes’ on your work. They become trusted partners in your writing process. So how do you find them? If you’re a student, it can be as easy as tapping a fellow classmate. But be careful. Your goal is to find someone who is unafraid to make suggestions that will improve your work. Like Goldilocks you want to find a partner that is just right. You don’t want your critique partner to…
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Resist the Urge to Explain
Resist the urge to explain. You know your joke hasn’t gone over well when you have to explain the punch line. Writing is like that too. The best narratives speak for themselves. Give Your Reader Credit Explaining each detail is akin to talking down to your reader. Surely, they can infer your meaning without explanation. Readers as a whole are intelligent beings capable of coming to their own conclusions based on the information you give them. Look at the example below. Aunt Cecelia believes that if you can’t produce a thing yourself, you have no business using it. You’d never know she is related to my image conscious, consumer driven,…
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Meaningful Writing is Personal
Whether you’re writing a report, an essay, or fiction, the best writing is personal. Writing is a conversation between you and your reader. If they want to look up facts and figures without your personal analysis, there’s always the internet. Readers crave a personal connection with the writing and that’s what you bring to the conversation. Nonfiction Think about the last report you wrote. Was it an assigned topic? If not, how did you choose what to write about? Was your report dull and lifeless or did you pack it with the passion you have for the topic? The best writing always has a personal component. That personal connection allows…
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Monthly Goal Sheet
In order to be productive, a writer must set goals. I know I’ve talked about this before, but it bears repeating. In addition to word count and project goals, a writer needs to set revision and submission goals. Think about making a monthly goal sheet. Mine is divided into three categories: creative, business, and networking. Creative What do I include under the creative heading? Weekly flash fictions and blog posts, projects under development, and continuing revision on a Middle Grade manuscript are on this month’s goal sheet. I post it on the bulletin board in plain view then mark through with a green highlighter when I complete a task. At…
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Write Your Congressman
Why write your Congressman? People write their elected representatives for a variety of reasons. In a representative democracy like the United States, your congressman acts on behalf of their constituents. Constituents include children, adults, citizens, and immigrants. Regardless of voting status, if you live in this country your congressman speaks for you. They are not mindreaders. It’s up to you to tell them what you think about the issues of the day. Succinct The most important advice for writing your congressmen: be succinct. Your Senator or Representative has thousands of constituents and likely receives hundreds of emails and letters each day. Save your detailed argument with facts, figures, graphs, and…
