Since I handled possessives last week–when to use Apostrophe-S vs. S-Apostrophe–I just wanted to be sure to do a quick lesson on the difference between these two words: Its and It’s On the surface, just going with your gut, you might be inclined to believe that IT’S is possessive. After all, there’s the whole “Add […]
Avoid Clichés Like the Plague: Words and Phrases…and Idioms
We’re starting a new series today on avoiding all sorts of clichés (like the plague). Today, we’ll hit phrases and common idioms that lead to lazy writing. Next week, we’ll slam cliché gestures and body language that creep into our characters’ interactions. The big finale will knock out the top storytelling clichés. To read more, […]
Get Your Grammar Fix(ed): Apostrophe S vs. S Apostrophe
How do you know whether to use apostrophe S or S apostrophe? First, of all, never for a plural. Never. Never. Never. But sometimes you need to make a word possessive. It’s got to show ownership. Some people think the rule is, “If the word ends in S, no matter what it is, just add […]
Get Your Grammar Fix(ed): Participial Phrases Can Be Weasels.
Cute, fuzzy stealth. That’s what weasels are about. When we’re not paying attention, sometimes even when we ARE, participial phrases convince us they’re the best candidate for the job. They weasel their way in and tempt our trust. And on the surface, these participial weasels might look cute. But they lie and do not the […]
Book Review: Running Lean
Running Lean hits the issue nail on the head. The lives of these two high schoolers, Calvin and Stacey, are raw, vivid, and realistic. Stacey deals with past abuse, bullying, and a recent move by clinging to Calvin, expressing herself through her art, and doing anything she can to avoid being the Girl She Was […]
See what I’m up to out there…