Josephine is a freelance copy editor who enjoys writing prose and encouraging writers. You can contact her at [email protected]
How do you like being told what to do? (Wait a minute … let me tune in to me telepathic powers …). You don’t? I thought not. Me either. How about being told what to feel? (This time, I’ll use my Spidey senses …). You don’t like that, either, do you. I am in fine …
There are extroverts and there are introverts—equals in life, just with different ways of having their “batteries” recharged. The extrovert is energized in social gatherings of larger groups and may mistakenly be thought of as “the life of the party.” Well, they may indeed be, but no less than the introvert who is energized in …
Rude? Normally, yes. Eavesdropping is never in vogue, unless, of course, you’re a writer. Eavesdropping involves observing, listening and perhaps inhaling details, without being obnoxious. In public buildings, on buses, on the street … any venue could provide inspiration. It may be a conversation you’re in or one you’re listening to … What’s he saying? …
The muse is a mysterious woman, pursued then waited for, enticed then pleaded with; until she is loosed in our imagination. She is sometimes elusive and sometimes bold, declaring her presence. She is in what we see and hear and smell, and in what we taste and touch. The muse is our inspiration. She is …
In the days of LPs, when groovy was used to describe a wonderful feeling, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were also singing about a rare kind of comfort in “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Similes and metaphors are powerhouses in writing: similes use the helpers like or as to create word pictures. Metaphors dispense with the …
At about that time, Jack was learning that a stitch in time, saves nine. Although it’s an extreme example, the above sentence will no doubt leave readers scratching their heads in confusion: At about what time? And, what was he learning (poor Jack)? When decoding a sentence becomes labour-intensive, the ghost of fresh-brewed goodness rises …
At What’s Up Yukon, it’s as easy as one, two, three. That’s right, this one’s about numbers. And … it gets complicated. Again, this is where your publication’s House Style trumps everything else. Most Canadian newspapers and magazines follow The Canadian Press Stylebook (CP Style), and that includes What’s Up Yukon. Numbers one to nine …
Why is it that some people have an insane amount of money while others have very little? This question popped into my head when I heard about a man who paid millions for the elite privilege of being a space tourist. There are no pat answers to questions like this. But, if I were to …
“Jesus wept.” That is the shortest verse in the Bible and one of the most powerful. It has a subject and a verb, and that’s enough. If this were the only verse you ever read, you would know something about the subject: He was human. He felt things deeply. He cried. What you wouldn’t know …
In a world where imagination is the only contender and where the laws of physics are hotly contested—in the circus world—the act of balancing rivals even the act of breathing, both are essential for survival and success. The world of writing includes balancing acts, as well. One such balancing act involves parallel construction. If something …
Nothing says “lead” like a top hat, white tie and tails, a walking stick and leather-soled taps. Nothing says “lead” like Fred Austerlitz (Fred Astaire). And, of course, nothing says “follow” like a black chiffon gown that floats just above the dance floor in effortless grace. Nothing says “follow” like Virginia Katherine McMath (Ginger Rogers). …
Before your vocal chords burst into the chorus from Julie Andrews’ “My Favorite Things” (dash it all, I hate to spoil your fun), I’m not talking about those kinds of things Something better. Some wonderful resources for writing and editing, which include books and websites. Now, wait a minute … I saw those fingers over …
Imagine taking a roller coaster ride and then writing about it as if you were still on the ride. That is an example of the journalistic for which Hunter S. Thompson was famous. Simply put: He lived it, then wrote about it. This style of journalism often leaves objectivity at home, seeks new adventures, finds …
I say, “Fall.” You think … ? OK, hard to play that game here, but I would guess that your word associations may include such things as school (school supplies … freedom!), Thanksgiving, family … maybe even that dreaded word – snow. Now that your head is teeming with fall thoughts, I’ll tell you the …
Over a mug of root beer, the editor of What’s Up Yukon, Darrell Hoo key, extols his particular Christmas Wish List. Topping the list, Wish No. 1, is what he calls his “Steve Martinian” wish: “For all of the children of the world to join hands and sing together in the spirit of harmony and …
How do I love thee, Of … There are so many ways … gee, let me count them I love thee about as deep and wide and high (Higher than I can reach whilst standing on my tippy toes) Indeed, you are the one my heart’s been dreaming of Of this, I am sure In …
That’s right; the beginning (where else to start?). Let’s look at some creative, perhaps unconventional ways to begin sentences:
Our neighbourhood has speed bumps (and more than a few potholes) that make slow driving an easy choice. As annoying as they may be, at times, they are important to keep us all safe. The comma is not vital to our survival, but it is vital to our success as writers. Commas can have a …
If you were to write about the northern hairy-nosed wombat, each paragraph would reveal something new about it. A paragraph contains one facet of a subject and it may consist of one word, one sentence or be much longer. What kind of creature is it and what does it look like? (first paragraph). Where does …
The heart continues to inspire us: it is the cornerstone of religious thought, the muse for artistic expression and the stuff—practical and otherwise—from which love stories are born.
The semicolon has three major functions: to link thematically related thoughts, to introduce conjunctions or transitional phrases and to avoid confusion in lists.
Rising just above the horizon, the moon appears larger than it actually is, much larger than when it’s overhead. The colon is like that—abracadabra!—appearing in a way that has a sometimes-magical affect.
