"Metaphored to death"

Metaphor is cool. Touted as the most used figure of speech, metaphor is, at its base, a comparison made by referring to one thing as another. 

Shakespeare used it when he said in As You Like It, "All the world's a stage." Hemmingway used it The Old Man and The Sea: the ocean is a metaphor for life, for man's place in nature. Mark Twain used the Mississippi River as a foundation for metaphor in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. And Orson Scott Card, author of Ender's Game, said, “Metaphors have a way of holding the most truth in the least space.” 

Metaphors are everywhere. You don't have to be a writer to use them. Often, what we see, hear, and experience can be turned into a metaphor. I tend to think in metaphor when going about my day, which can be quite irritating to my kids (metaphors pop into conversations frequently, and though they smile and nod often, I can also see their faces scrunching up now and then while resisting the urge to roll their eyes). Yes, writers love metaphor. And here's why:

Metaphors can be oh-so effective. Like no other trick out there, metaphor can take your words and magically melt meaning into the reader’s mind. Like a chef dipping a wooden spoon into liquid dark chocolate, we writers stir and swirl words around the page, intent on making a dessert for the mind and heart. If our words are sweet enough, the memory is also strong and sweet. And that’s what we want. Strength. Impact. Memory. 

But writers beware: Metaphors can take over. We get crazy with the wordplay, and paragraphs become a twisted mystery of phrases tangling the idea. There’s nothing wrong with cool word pictures that lead readers to meaning. But let’s be real. Too much is too much.

Go ahead and use metaphor in one sensory-painted experience. Not three (in one paragraph -- oy!). Or five (on one page -- gah!). And not with an extended metaphor that just won't quit (while the reader is panting, alright already!). Let one metaphor do its work. When we use metaphor in one strong moment, the reader feels -- and remembers.

I'm preaching to myself, too. Let's not metaphor the reader to death. Make metaphors timely, sweet, and meaningful. 

Stirring the chocolate,
Erin

How to be a great writer (part 3): Accountability

I've noticed something about writers.

Writers traverse the walkways of life like young pups in a park. We love living -- and follow the excitement and passions of life that are splashed about in the colors and textures around us. We sniff along tangents with tail wagging. We immerse ourselves in sensory moments. Those moments give us pungent, profound lungfuls of oxygen -- allowing us to breathe into the rich soil of experience from which to write. And, ironically, it's those same moments that keep us from writing.

True writers write. We are committed to having a relationship with our computer, sitting for hours at a time with fingers pattering one-way conversations on the keyboard. Yes, we writers find deep meaning in creating and walking in the worlds that we've created. When we're swooshed into our worlds, in an inexplicable level, we're pulled into the screen: the sounds, smells, sights of the tangible world around us fall away, and the energy of creating takes over in an addictive rush. (If you're a writer, you completely understand what I'm talking about.)

It's a dichotomy. There is a pull toward living passionately in the world. And there's a pull of passion to create.

In order to be who we're called to be, writers need accountability. We need a friend (or foe) telling us to keep at it. Without accountability, "writer" is only a name.

Accountability is part of writing. Make a date with yourself. In fact, make and keep a regular appointment in the calendar, just for writing on your key project. Put your tush in the chair. Meet that word count. If there's one thing that getting an MFA in fiction writing is teaching me, it's that the discipline of being held accountable is the foundational discipline of being a writer.

Thank God. Because accountability takes us to a new level.

Writing together,
Erin

How to be a Great Writer (Part II)

Great writers place words in specific places, for power. With sentences, there's such a thing as a weak layout and a strong layout.

Here's a simple power tip:
Finish the sentence with the strong word, phrase, or idea.
Finish with what you want your reader to remember.

When speaking, we usually say the important info first. Then we tell more -- filling in the gaps, giving more details, walking around the subject with chatter. For strong writing, it's the exact opposite. We start with the extra, then end with the strong.

Here's an example:
The copier needs to be replaced, even if funds are low. This sentence focuses on low funds. Is the idea really about money? No, it's about the copier being replaced. So the stronger sentence is this: Even if funds are low, the copier needs to be replaced. It's a subtle difference. Add the subtle differences together, and your writing starts to shine.

You probably write the way that you speak, with weak ideas at the end. No worries. Simply go back and switch things around. Great writers don't write it right the first time. Great writers look for the strong idea, then edit the strength to the end of the sentence.

You don't edit, you say? Hm. Time to change that. (Now.) Find your keywords and key ideas, and rearrange.

Strong writers know: Strength lives at the end of the sentence.

Cheers,
Erin

for word nerds (and anyone else who likes to communicate well)

If you're a word nerd, read on...and if you're not -- then go ahead and read anyway. It might give you the power to wield words that you've wanted.

Note: This is more than a language lesson. Look for the nuances here that make the info upper-level...so that your writing can be upper-level.

To wield more power in your words, you'll want to first know the four basic word types and what they do.

#1 -- Concrete Nouns. Concrete nouns are your persons, places, things, and ideas. What is it? Who is it? What's it about? Weak nouns are blase. Strong nouns are memorable. Dog can be a weak noun; Tibetan Mastiff is a strong noun. See the difference? If you've had a Mastiff drool on your arm, the picture in your mind is vivid. A strong noun cements your sentences in a way that makes the reader want to stay with you. Search for concrete nouns and use them, and your writing can become powerful.

#2 -- Vibrant Verbs. Vibrant verbs are actions that push your ideas forward. What happened? Did it fall or careen? Was it placed or flung? Did you see, observe, or perceive, or distinguish? Each word is a different flavor, hue, or pitch on the scale of intensity. Pick the word with the timbre giving the meaning closest to your intention. And while you're at it, ing means that it's happening right now, so ing words can be strong.

#3 -- Well-placed adjectives. Well-placed adjectives are words that give details about nouns -- those people, places, things, and ideas that you want to get across. Adjectives add a pinch and a dash of meaning. If you're talking about a strong person, is the person powerful? Brawny, strapping, or well-built? If you're describing a strong smell, is it intense, pungent, or rancid? Variations of words bring slight changes in meaning. A well-chosen word can engender the reader to your ideas though the evoking of a strong memory that's attached to the word. But Writers Beware: William Zinnser, author of On Writing Well, said, "The adjective that exists solely as decoration is a self-indulgence for the writer and a burden for the reader." If you can write meaning through action, without adjectives, then try to do so.

#4 --  Sparsely-laid Adverbs. Sparsely-laid adverbs -- words that describe the action -- can make your reader feel connected and give feeling. Adverbs are "ly" words, like swiftly. The swiftly-falling snow is poetic, and poems can use adverbs melodically to create a feeling. If you're a speaker telling your audience a story, using the words thumbing quickly through the files evokes an audience emotion that is different from thumbing slowly through the files. However, for fiction writing, adverbs carry the same warning tag as adjectives: Avoid them. Write through action and dialogue. Hence the title for #4, Sparsely Laid Adverbs. But speakers and poets, adverb away ... in all the right places. (Yep. Less is still more.)

In fiction writing, the fancified parts of speech are often thrown out. Expelled. Banished forever to a dark corner of the dictionary. But I believe that these little babies do have a place in our writing. All words are good, in the right place, at the right time. The strongest writing is concise, direct, and clear. No fancification.

If you're not a word nerd, and you read to the end of this post anyway, bravo. You're most likely the curious type, and (contrary to the old saying) curiosity didn't kill the cat. Vast worlds of words are available for us to use -- words to make writing rich. Curiosity makes you rich with ideas and possibilities. Rich is good.

Share your ideas. Enjoy the wealth of words.

How to Be a Good Writer (Part 1)

Good writing is like a good outfit: You need all of the right pieces in the right places, to be fully clothed. If something's missing, your writing will be naked and drafty. No one wants to be naked.

This post is the beginning of a little series on what you need in your closet, to write well. If you want others to understand your writing -- and to act on your ideas -- then you'll need a few things.

The first thing you'll need is words -- Not a few words, but bunches of them ... a working vocabulary that you can pull from, at will. Words in your head, ready to go. Lots. Many. Several. A ton. Gobs. Oodles and oodles. See, I'm doing it, here.

Allow me to go on an analogy binge: Your words are crayons:: the more colors in your box, the more elaborate the possibilities for your picture. Your words are Legos: the more Legos in your bucket, the taller your tower to build. Your words are wood for the bonfire: the more logs you can throw on, the bigger the flame. Your words are liters of gasoline in your car: the more gas, the farther you go. Okay, you get it. Words are your base supplies. (Sorry, I had to do one more.) Bottom line: You need a diverse vocabulary.

How do you get a diverse vocabulary? Repeat after me: The thesaurus is my friend. That little right-click drop-down box in Word drives you into synonym land -- a land flowing with hues of words that you didn't even knew existed -- or if you did, probably wouldn't think of, on your own (I'm talking from experience). There is no shame in looking up variations of words. In fact, there's a whole lot of wisdom in searching for -- and capturing -- new words.

So gather words. Tons of them. Words are your foundation.

Writing together,
Erin

What first inspired you?

Everyone has experienced a "magic moment" -- a realization or idea that positively influences and transforms your future. Something touched you, making your mind and heart burn in flames that couldn't be quenched. Colors became more vibrant, sounds became more intense, and the air became palpable with energy that brought life to a whole new level. Face turned upward, it felt like nothing could stop you, if you just moved forward into that magical idea.

There are three crazy truths about magic moments:

1. Magic moments can happen at any age. Many -- if not most -- happen when we're small. As a child, an idea fascinates, awes, and draws us into possibilities for the future. Our dreams and passions come from early magic moments, don't they?

2. Magic moments can be small, but their impact is huge. One word, one conversation, or one encounter changes our perspective forever. The moment moves us, seeping into who we are -- guiding us through our entire lives. Some of us have careers that began with a magic moment.

3. Magic moments can be huge, but their impact is small. Like fireworks on a dark summer night, a bright realization explodes. But because we don't do anything with the idea, the idea fizzles, leaving only traces in our mind's eye as to where the color once raced through the sky. We look away; we put our heads down; and we get lost in the mundane.

The magic seems lost. But it's not. It's still there.

Can you remember your magic moment? That moment when an inspired idea burst into your life, and great things happened? Magic moments aren't lost. They're just waiting to be rediscovered. No matter what you do -- write, create, lead, serve -- inspiration brought you here.

I've reconnected with my magic moment for writing: I'm reading again my "magic book" -- that book/series that inspired me to write fiction. Through each page, each scene, and each moment side by side with the main character, I'm realizing again what gives that story its magic -- and what made me feel the magic. The connection is nothing less than golden.

What inspired you before? What have you lost connection with, that would be great to rediscover? My guess is that it's something that's not too far away from your heart, right now.

So here's a challenge: In your mind, go to that magic moment and reconnect with it in a way that stokes the inspiration fire. There's not reason why it can't be: this is the year where magic multiplies.

Writing beside you,
Erin

Writing non-fiction: Who's it about?

When you write, who is it about? Where is the focus -- on me or on you?

Most of us write with the focus on ME. I did this, I did that -- I think this, I think that. I, me, and my abound in the text. But if you want to gather a following as an author, create loyal followers to your blog, or have a website that others read (and buy from), it has to be about them. Okay -- enough pronouns. Let's get to the point.

It's not about me telling you about my experience. It's about your experience. It's about how the words and ideas that I'm sharing fit into your world.

It's about the reader's benefit: what the reader gets.What is it that your reader wants, from reading your stuff? Give it to them. It's not about information only; it's about feelings. How does the reader want to feel, after interacting with you? Be aware of the feelings that your words evoke, and write intentionally to bring out those exact feelings.

The reader is always asking, what's in this for me? So try something. Stop writing with I, me, and my.  Present ideas that are statements toward the idea, not personal soliloquies on your thoughts, feelings, and daily ins-and-outs. Sure, you can share a personal story. But give the story a point that's about the reader. 

Start with questions. Before you write, ask your imaginary reader, what is it that you desire? How can I help you to do x, y, or z? Then write the answers. In your text, write a question to the reader. Questions get him or her thinking, before you give the answer to the question. And in all, focus on the reader's perspective. It's all about how the information shared works for their world.

Finally, make sure that you have a single point. A bottom line. A take-home that the reader can grab onto and walk away with. Simple, concise, and direct, so that the idea is remembered.

There are quite a few take-homes, here. It's about the reader. Avoid I, me, and my words. Focus on your audience. Find their benefit, their bottom line, and give it to them. If you decide to focus on the reader, people will want to be around you and your words -- because they'll find value residing there.

Write concise, powerful words that meet your reader's needs. When you focus on the reader, everyone wins.

To writing together,
Erin

When writing (anything) non-fiction...

Get to the point. Most people don't have time to meander. They want to know the bottom line benefit from reading your stuff.

I don't want to sound cold; I simply want to help you get your ideas read. I know, I know: In order to make writing personal, we have to put a bit of ourselves in -- which takes up letters and spaces. Sincere, warm words let you through my personal door. Warmth is important, for you to know me.

But short vs. long can make or break your readership.

For anything that's not fiction (that's anything that's not a story, screenplay, or narrative), make your writing concise. Direct. Clear. Twitter and Facebook have helped people learn how to get to the point. (Maximum word count has a way of making you a better writer, and anyone writing a college paper or news/magazine article knows what I'm talking about.)

No maximum word count (no limit on the number of words that you can use) can get you in trouble. We tend to write too much, because we love our words (yes we do, much more than the reader loves them). But by the end of paragraph one, if your reader doesn't get the point, he or she skims, looking for the point -- and when it's not found, closes out the page. Bam. Like a heavy oak door that the reader's hesitant to re-open.

Most everyone writes long. My writing students mess up the less-is-more guideline constantly: students use big words and long sentences that muddy the point, with college papers rambling on and on and on like this sentence. Professionals do it all the time: emails sound like a stiff-collared prude talking to himself at a party where, truth be known, everyone wants to leave. Bloggers are the worst offenders: Blogs drone great ideas, followed by not-so-great ideas, followed by personal stories ... and the reader leaves.Whoosh, click; clop, clop, clop. That's the sound of the laptop closing and the reader walking away.

I'm not the only one touting "concise." Read Strunk and White's The Elements of Style (written in 1918); read George Orwell's six rules from Politics and the English Language (written in 1946); read William Zinsser's On Writing Well (written over 35 years ago and in its 7th edition); read Stephen King's On Writing (written 12 years ago and used in MFA programs.) My friend, Phil Bell, just came up to me here at Starbucks ... and guess what? The first thing that he talked about was how he'd heard recently that blogs "should be around 500 words." Hmm. (His blog just won the national "Best Youth Ministry Blog of 2012.") Seems to be, quite a few writers are talking more about writing less.

I say this with sincerity, warmth, good intentions, and a smile: You want someone to read your stuff? Then change your writing. Get to the point. Less is more.

intentions vs. actions

It's New Year's Eve and, as usual, everyone's posting resolutions. Goals. Intentions.

I believe in a different approach. It's about the ability to act right now. Not tomorrow. Today.

Action is completely different from intention. Intention says that I'm going to do something tomorrow. Action says that I'm in it, right now. Semantics, you say. I think not. There's a big difference between intention and action. If I put a desire out in front of me and say that I want to get there, I may want it, but I'm not there. The desire is still away from me. In the future. Not now.

Intention is future; action is being and doing right now. If I keep saying that I will make a change, the word will places the change into tomorrow. But if I say, I am changed ... I am in the new ... I live, breathe, and move in the action, then I have already become it. Now. Not later.

What are you, right now? Not what do you want to be. What do you decide to live, in this second? Be who you are today. Be the action. Live in it now. Say it, believe it, and act on it. We've all heard the phrase, "own it." Present tense. Not future tense.

You are a writer. Write. Love what you do.
You are in a relationship with someone you care about. Care. Act. Love what you do.
You want to set a goal. Don't set the goal. Simply live it today. Now.

Then live it tomorrow. And tomorrow. And tomorrow. And, guess what? You don't have a resolution, goal, or intention. You are living who you want to be, how you want to be, in the way that you want to live.

Every second is a new now. 

Okay, so do I have goals, resolutions, and intentions? Yes, lived in statements of today. I don't want to be. I am. I write out the I am statements, keep them on a board, and gather pictures. Who I am is before me, drawing me into the completion of its moment right now. It's all about being in the current of the river, not walking alongside the river and saying, I'm going to get in that river soon. I'm all about swimming. It's much more fun, and it gets you where you want to be.

Cheers to your wonderful New Year,
Erin

Time like water

(Warning: This post is philosophical. But it can also be practical. Read at your own risk of deep thought that might make you ponder the use of your time.)

Time is like water. Depending on the circumstance, time runs fast and hot or plods along, glacier cold. In 24 hours, time can change its speed again and again, up and back, a tide with no measured pace. How is this thing called time so malleable and elusive?

Happy time flows by in fast waves. On a phone call with a friend who we haven't spoken to in awhile, time moves quickly. At a holiday party, time ripples with laughter. In ambling and rambling words with a friend over coffee, time slips and slides by. Good time becomes fast time.

Anxious, unknown, and lonely time is solid cold, unmoving, unwilling to be pushed. To my friend whose one-week-old son fights a collapsed lung after heart surgery, time drips the pace of his IV fluid. For a mother whose seven year old is shot in Connecticut, time falls and rips in jagged, staggering, slow-motion pain. Sitting on the couch with a concussion, painkillers distort time like Jello. For the older woman whose husband died years ago and the kids are busy with their own kids this holiday season, time's shallow, wet surface barely moves. Slow time is labeled bad time.

We call fast time good and slow time bad. But what if it's not a matter of good or bad? What if it's a matter of how we use the time? What if it's really about turning what time we have --no matter what the length -- into good time? Is that possible?

Can the perception of time be changed? In the fight for a baby's life, each moment is a breath of prayer; each moment is a precious touch on his cheek of love where mother and child bond in the beauty of his breath on this earth. That's warm time. In the grief of a town, a nation and world pours compassion and love over the region...love that won't return the child but will perhaps change the tenderness and love toward our own children and those we touch today. That's warm time. On the couch with pain, moments of prayer and reflection lead to appreciation this Christmas for friends, family, and health. That's warm time. For the woman alone, a quiet walk outside, appreciating the color of the sky and sharing a kind word with the neighbor, a connection is enjoyed. That's warm time. So the perception of time can be changed.

This past summer, author Kevin J. Anderson changed my perception of time. I listened to Kevin present to our MFA cohort in the morning. I sipped coffee with him in the lobby at noon. We ate pizza in a booth at dinner. We chatted at the reading at night. And in between, when Kevin had an hour...or 30 minutes...or 15 minutes...he snatched those bits of time and wrote. In one short day, I saw how Kevin stretched time. He valued time's elusive moments and, as far as I can tell, treated cold, slow time like it was hot. As far as Kevin was concerned, time had value to be used, no matter how short or long, no matter how fast or slow.

Writing takes time. If we are to fit writing into the elusive moments of our lives, we must mentally control time's temperature.

How much time is "enough," to write? I suppose that depends not only on the temperature that you perceive it to be...but also on the value you place on each minute.

The cost of not spending

"What does it cost?" What a loaded question.

I'm often asked, what is the cost of hiring a writer or editor? I just finished reading a thread in a Facebook group. The topic was marketing, and the responses were posted by people who have their own businesses. They're not marketers or writers. Someone in the thread wanted to know: Should I hire a social media marketer and writer? (At the core, this is a "what is the cost?" question. People want to know, is this worth spending money on?)

The answers from those in the group made me cringe. The basic consensus was that any monkey could do their own marketing writing. Ouch. And if you wanted to hire someone, you could do it for a song. Double ouch. Above all, it was clear that no one wanted to pay more than what I'd pay a babysitter. The final Ouch. Not that babysitting isn't important...but, really?

Every skill, every craft, and every business has its experts. Experts give results, often in a shorter time, because they know what they're doing. Often through pain, they've earned  their stripes and pass on  their hard-earned knowledge to you. They know what they know -- and wield that knowledge mightily.  Some of us spend years, thousands of dollars in learning and degrees, and hours upon hours honing our craft...to become someone who can serve you well. Such expertise building is the same for all fields. So when it comes to writing, why do we say, oh, anyone can do that? Writing and social media marketing isn't any different, from any other expert field.

I wonder how the "any monkey can do it" belief system looks, applied to other fields.
"I can get anyone to teach (or watch) my kids. I don't need someone trained in child development and education."
"I can get the man down the road to look at my sick dog. I don't need a vet."
"I can get anyone to fill my prescriptions. I don't need a pharmacist."
"I can get the woman down the road to manage my business. I don't need a trained manager."
"I can fill my own tooth. I don't need a dentist."
"I can hire that guy down the road for surgery. I don't need a specialist."

That's not logic. That's not even basic thinking. The phrase, you get what you pay for, certainly applies. I heard a radio show the other day, while driving in the car. It was two guys talking about home repair, much like brothers Click and Clack, the Car Talk guys talk about fixing cars. The two home repair guys were moaning and groaning about the terrible results of a home owner trying to do-it-yourself and save money. Certain things need the expert, they said. In the long run, they said, the home owners end up paying much more in an escalated or new problem caused by the non-expert trying to fix the first issue. Some things just need an expert.

Think about your own business. Whatever you do, isn't there a level of expertise that you own, that you're proud of? I hope so.

What is the cost of not using the expert or giving yourself the edge? Whatever you need, whether it's in home repair or writing, there's a cost up front and a cost, long term. It all depends whether or not you have a short term or long term view.

And to the would-be social media marketers and writers on the Facebook page, I ask you this: If you don't hire that writer to fix the website, craft the words in that email, and help to communicate the brand and passion -- beyond the product -- then what is the ultimate cost to your business?

How many people will click away from the page?
How many people will toss the email into the bin as one more irritating junk piece that lowers their view of you?
How many people won't buy, join, or get excited about your ideas and product?
How many people won't even look at you -- because of the words?


It's about more than just saving money, isn't it? Cost is measured in so many different facets. And writers -- good ones -- make the difference.

Writing for you and me both,
Erin

P.S. This is a shameless post in defense of writers. We're worth it.

Measuring the cost

What's the cost? In this economy, that's a question we hear a lot. But are dollars always the best measure cost?

True story...
My daughter and I just talked about her trip home for Christmas. Should she fly or drive? Flying is fast and takes less energy. But the airlines have bumped the cost of the usual ticket home to double the price. No worries, she thought, I'll use my frequent flier miles. When she went into the frequent flier part of the site, she found that the miles needed for a flight were bumped from the usual 15,000 per flight to now 40,000 per flight. Ouch.

The conclusion: The cost of flying it too high. So much for that idea.

But here's the problem: Some things can't be measured by financial cost only. Driving eight hours in winter weather is taxing. Driving, you can't decompress from work, rest on the plane, or even catch up on some work before jumping into the holiday. Sure, driving costs less money. But is there another cost involved? What about time? What about energy? What about the ensuing pressures, stress, and affect on relationships?

What we tend to forget: Decision making includes far more than dollars. Just like most decisions, the cost of driving versus flying isn't purely money-based. For my daughter, driving saves dollars...but she'll arrive to the holiday tired and arrive home, after the holiday, tired. For some jobs, that's not too bad...but for my daughter's job, where she spends incredible amounts of emotional energy dealing with significant medical issues for inner-city patients without financial or emotional resources...well, to start tired, after returning home, is a cost that she'll want to measure. I'm not telling her what to do. I'm simply saying that cost applies to much more than money.

With all decision making, the true question is, what's the true cost--in all areas? Energy has a cost. Time has a cost. Putting out negative energy toward another person has a cost, and not attending to relationship has a cost.

Let's apply this to writing.
As a writer, if I don't spend time writing, what's the cost--to my mind and heart?
As a writer, if I don't finish my book, what's the cost--emotionally?
As a writer, if I don't spend time and energy learning to better my craft, what's the cost--in the finished product?
As a writer, if I write but don't put in my best emotionally, what's the cost--to the finished product, my readers, my future?
As a writer, if I count the cost of writing as time only, then what is the cost to me emotionally, at the end, when I never finished that writing piece that I always wanted to write?

Cost has more than one dimension, doesn't it?

Email Writing: Do you do these?

People judge us by our words. That's a fact. Whether spoken or written, our words tell others who we are and what we're about. Even what we don't say is judged.

How do you want to be perceived? Most of us don't realize what we sound like on paper or electronically. Take emails, for instance. We all send emails--daily. We throw our fingers to the keys and pop off plans, comments, ideas, and hellos. Emails have become so commonplace, we tend to think that it's okay to be lax. After all, it's just an email. Ah, but there's the falsity. Even in commonplace writing, we are judged. Writing your sister is different from writing a business colleague, professor, or associate.

True Story: Years ago, I was teaching a class of Professional and Graduate Studies students -- all professionals who, aside from taking college classes, had jobs and outside lives. One of the students who worked at a major pharmaceutical company challenged me.

"Emails don't matter," he said. "I don't need to do this kind of stuff. They all know me, at the office."

I said, try this. Just one week. Humor me. Then, at the end of the week, tell me what happened.

One week later, he bounded into the room. "You won't believe this," he said. "My boss actually called me out, in a floor wide meeting. She read one of my emails in front of the entire group and said, "Now THIS is how to write an email! I want you all to do this. Great job, Mark." Mark shook his head and held out his hand to me. "I never would have believed it," he said. "But from now on, I'm going to write all my work communication like this."

I challenge you: Try these out.

1. Start with a professional greeting. You know what I mean: Something like, “Dear So-and-so” or "Hello, so-and-so," qualifies. But “Hey,” “Hi there,” and “Yo” don’t cut it. Also, leaving out a greeting (starting right into the text) is improper. Give your reader respect from the get-go. Start with a proper greeting.

2. Don’t talk in text language. lol (laugh out loud), jw (just wondering), and lower-case “i” for referring to yourself (“I”) are all examples of text-talk that you shouldn’t ever use within emails. It’s unprofessional.

3. Don’t use buddy-buddy phrases. Honestly, don’t write, “Just kidding” or “you know what I mean.” Your business associate is not your roommate. College students should especially take note: You have a professor-student relationship that’s closer to a Star Wars Jedi-Padawan relationship than pals who live across the street from each other. When it comes to an instructor, be kind and friendly, but keep professional boundaries intact.

4. Capitalize properly. Yes, the Shift key still works for emails. Use it. And with contractions (like “don’t”), the apostrophe key still works, too.

5. Use paragraph structure. One gigantic block of words and sentences is unsightly—and not unlike the dynamics of an acquaintance at a party talking your ear off for ten minutes. Use topic sentences with a main idea, similar-content sentences, and conclusion statements. Make your writing shapely, with form, direction, and purpose….even in an email.

6. Write in complete sentences, with proper grammar. With each word that you type, you’re leaving an impression. Grammar usage adds or takes away from that impression. Make it a good one.

7. After the greeting, use a “door opener.” “Door openers” are connecting phrases that open the reader to personal connection. The phrase, “Thank you for [fill in the blank with the latest positive that this person has accomplished for you],” is a good opener. “I enjoyed meeting with you [or speaking with you on the phone]” is another good door opener (if it’s true). Stating a positive and professional phrase at the beginning of your email helps to open the door to your email readers’ mind and heart.

8. Show appreciation. Be sincere. “Thank you” and “I appreciate your time” are wonderful ways to show gratitude and make a positive connection with others. But don’t butter up; be honest and sensible. Others can see through buttery extra calories in your words.

9. Use your Spell Check. It’s a great tool that will save you from embarrassment. But don’t rely completely on the Spell Check. As a quick self-editing technique, read your email out loud before you send it. Mistakes often pop out with a verbal reading.

10. Save the subject line for the subject. Don’t put the entire email message in the subject line and leave the email blank. Write the email in the email.

These ten come from my Simplified Writing 101 book that's coming out in January on Amazon. Look for more email gems in the next post.

Honored to write beside you,
Erin

Simple, short, and strong

Good sentences make good writing. If you want to write a good letter to the editor, a good memo to your boss, or a good academic paper for your professor, master the sentence.

While writing, some of our sentences become overstuffed with powerful words. Too much power actually dulls the reader. Oh, I know -- our intent is to wow the reader. We want to zap electricity into the reader’s brain, impressing her with our expertise. We want to capture the reader’s heart, wooing him into admiration. But in the end, the drench of powerful words simply pushes the reader away. More makes powerful words lose their influence.

One of the best ways to make a point is to “go simple.” Make the sentence with your key point shorter. I know, I know – it seems that we need to do the opposite. We think, “Here comes the most important point; time to lay it on thick….”

It's tough. The urge to write sentences longer and thicker makes our fingertips itch and tremble. Our digits hover over the keyboard, yearning to throw in just one more superlative or descriptor. Don’t cave! Go short, direct, and clean. With different sentence lengths, you create effective contrast. Contrast can And if you want to really make an impact, remember that the short sentence is strongest.

Cheers,
Erin

                                

It's not "Sci Fi"...

Certain words carry negative meaning, and we all know to avoid those words. What's embarrassing is when we have no clue that we've used a derogatory word.

Last night on a Skype call, Russell Davis shared a critical word to avoid. I thought I'd share the information with you, so we're all in the loop. It's regarding the terms "Sci Fi" versus "Science Fiction." Russell was the president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) from 2008–2010, so when Russell speaks on the topic, one listens.
 
Here it is: Never use the term, "Sci Fi." It's known in the writing business as "derogatory, idiotic, and unintelligent" -- an insult that refers to mindless entertainment. Wow. Talk about the explosive potential of words.

So unless you want people to think ill of you, use "SF" or "Science Fiction."

Yes, Russell called me out for using the wrong term. But I must admit, after two other people on the call let the same term slip from their lips during the discussion, I felt much better. (We all have something to learn, don't we?)

So don't be caught with your terminology shield down.

Cheers,
Erin

Academic Writing Tip: No Parentheses, Please...

Have you ever wondered about parentheses? (I know parentheses ponderings keep you up at night, right? Well, even if they don't, read on. This could be interesting...and even make you look smarter than you already are.)

While teaching an online writing class today, a student said, "In academic writing, you've told us that we can't use parentheses. Why?"

I had only one answer: Because that's the way it is. I felt like a mom with her kid pulling at the sleeve: "Please, please can I have these two little parentheses?" "No, you can't have parentheses, because we don't have parentheses before dinner. It will spoil your appetite for academic writing...."

I know...silly analogy. Anyway...

It's true. We simply don't use parentheses in academic and upper-level writing. Remember, upper-level writing can mean anything written to your boss at work or in a letter to the editor...so think beyond school to the broad definition of academic, if you will. Then post a sign: No Parentheses Allowed.

That's right. Parentheses are informal. In academia or work-land, we don our fancy duds and go formal.

Are there any exceptions? Yes. You can use parentheses when using an acronym. An acronym is the word or letter group formed by the first initials of the words in a title, name, or phrase (for example, National Aeronautics Space Administration becomes NASA). Always write out the full words first; then use the acronym afterward, like so: National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA). From that point forward, you don't have to write out the whole title. Simply write NASA.

In all other cases, leave the parentheses out.

Well, then--What to do? The answer: Use commas in place of the parentheses.
Here are a few examples of how that works:

WRONG: Mr. Smith (the administrator dealing with the issue) has the support of his colleagues.
RIGHT: Mr. Smith, the administrator dealing with the issue, has the support of his colleagues.
ANOTHER RIGHT: The administrator dealing with the issue, Mr. Smith, has the support of his colleagues.
AND ANOTHER RIGHT: Mr. Smith is the administrator dealing with the issue; Smith's colleagues stand behind him in full support.

And there are more "right ways" to write the sentence. Take your pick. In Academialand, there are many right ways to write. I love that.

More tips later....

Cheers,
Erin

The first chapter is always easy...

For me, that is.

And the second. And the third and fourth. But what about the twenty second, twenty third, or twenty fourth? Much more difficult.

You see, by later on in the book, the plot is developed (and intricate). The characters have quirks (and many). And the dialogue and voice has settled in (I hope). I can get mixed up with what happened when. I can forget to keep the quirk going. And I can change dialogue style. EEeeek. Hence, the freehand notebook.

I've been a lover of blank notebooks since I can remember. I collect them...and fill them up. But I realized a strange thing: I haven't used the notebooks to keep track.

DUH!

THAT'S why I get a bit bogged down with more than a lick of freaking out over "where am I" feelings.

So today...a new notebook. THIS one is my Unstuck Notebook. Who knows -- maybe I'll need one for each section, or one for each character. I don't care. Whatever works, to keep the book going strong, I'll do it.

Scribbling forward together with you, with determination,
Erin

"What's your latest...?"

That's the question I get more than anything:
What are you working on?
What are you writing?
What's your latest?

Being a freelancer, at any given time, there's a project
on all three bases, a batter up, and a project on deck.
It's good to work. But it's good to hit a home run and
get 'em all in, too.

With a couple big hits (writing/editing projects wrapped up),
I'm basking in the home run feeling. And the question comes
back: What's next?

I love the answer: FICTION.
Luscious, rich, intricate, fast-paced, deep water intense
current fiction. Oooh, I can't wait. I look forward to it.

As a writer, whatever you love and look forward to, you
have to return to. Otherwise, life is too strident. Writing
becomes too dry. What was once a passion becomes simply
a job.

Clear the bases. Get to the passion. Swim in the deep.

Don't wait.

Cheers,
EB

A book every fiction writer should own...(and it's not what you think...)

Great writers of fiction know a secret. (And, when it comes to having better relationships, it's a secret that all of us could stand to learn, too.) It's about body language.

More than any words can do, body language instantly tells us about a person's thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

What does that have to do with writing? Great fiction writers don't tell the reader our characters' feelings. The reader knows--or figures out--the character's emotions, based the action. Specifically, we give readers clear emotions through body language.

When seated, palm-down hands placed on the top of the thighs can mean you're nervous. Rocking up and down on the balls of your feet can mean we're feeling positive or confident. Turning our front side away from someone can mean we're uncomfortable, that we're blocking ourselves from someone who is threatening, as we turn away from the discomfort.


Writers: Body language knowledge is a goldmine. How much do you  know?

Here's my new favorite on body language:
What Every Body is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People

If you're serious about fiction writing, invest in the book.

And if you're serious about knowing people--period--get the book, too. It can give you insight to understand--and get close to--those you care about.

To  your success,
Erin

Writers & social media

My friend and mentor, Randy Gilbert, is amazing. He's always laughing in his unassuming manner, while I'm on the other end of the phone, blown away by the volume of marketing savvy pouring from his being. 

Randy's message over the last months has been blue-sky clear: Social media, social media, social media. Stop dabbling. Dive in. Let them in on your life, your passions, your message. Do it now, and do it well. 

For me, that takes planning and simplicity. Life is too busy, drawing me in to the mundane, the banal. My guess is that it happens to you, too. To not get drawn in to the screaming menial, I need to plan. And, in my propensity to do too much, I must have a constant mantra: Simplify.
 
Stop trying to paint Mona Lisa. Do small. Then add together. Have we not heard this before?

Social media's secret is brevity. Write too much, lose the reader. People don't want a book. Or a dissertation. Or an essay. Or even a page. Short and sweet will do. Hear me again: Short. (Thank you, Seth Godin. Your blog length is a much-needed knock upside the head.) 

Authors, blog, and blog now. Make it short, clean, and simple. Article writers....Shorten them. Seriously. You're writing too much.  

Plan. Simplify. Connect.

With passion and purpose,
Erin