That time once again’s drawing near –
An end to the holiday cheer.
So go have some fun
Until it’s all done,
And then have a happy new year!
Bene scribete.
Monthly Archives: December 2013
Christmas Time is Reindeer Time (Probably)
Looking for some classic Christmas entertainment to liven up the holidays? Of course not – you can find that anywhere.
Looking for some crazy Christmas entertainment to crazy up the holidays? Well, then, might I prescribe a double dose of Finnish reindeer drama?
Behold the magical insanity that are these films:
Reindeer Drama
You can’t always strike gold when absently perusing Netflix, but sometimes, you might strike…reindeer?
Don’t strike reindeer, though. That’s terribly rude.
Reindeer Drama: Part -1
After seeing the second movie, tracking down the first became a necessity.
It does not disappoint.
They really do need to make more of these (if for no other reason than these reviews are always bringing in web traffic… (>^-‘)> ). Get on it, Finland!
And to the rest of you, have a wonderful Christmas!
Bene scribete.
Brand Capitalization
Freshens your breath, so you don’t have to
I’m always slightly, unavoidably offended when companies don’t capitalize their own brand names. Primarily because proper nouns have free rein to eschew orthographic decorum, and their specifics take precedence over propriety. Which means I also have to write them that way. Which is wrong.
You’re making me do language wrong, brand. But that’s on you. I’m not taking the fall for that.
The most untenable, however, is when the second letter – oh, the second letter! – of the name is capitalized when the first is not. Ever tried to start a sentence with ‘iPhone’? It’s the worst.
Stop it, brands. Just stop.
Bene scribete.
Criticism
The critique of a creative work-in-progress can be a touchy, sensitive process, but a nonetheless imperative one if the work is to be taken seriously.
As both an author and professional editor, I regularly find myself on the providing and receiving ends of constructive criticism. So, here are some things I like to keep in mind for each scenario.
Getting Criticism
• Convey what kind of feedback you’re seeking. Do you just want mechanical errors pointed out? Phrasing suggestions? Or simply overall thoughts on the flow of the story? Readers will have an easier time helping you if they know what they’re supposed to be looking for.
Giving Criticism
• Try not to volunteer to critique a piece if you can’t reasonably expect to have the time or motivation to get back to the writer about it. Silence can be even more disheartening than a bad review.
A final point to consider – if, like myself, you are an editor as well as a writer, don’t be tempted to feel like that excuses you from the need to seek out feedback and a solid proofread on your own work. Your writing may be syntactically cleaner than par, but editing is often more about defeating expectation bias – catching what we’re too close to the work to see – than it is merely polishing the language. (>^-‘)>
Bene scribete.
Promotion Time (Free Book!)
A wry but whimsical modern fairy tale, The Amber Ring follows a cynical twelve-year-old girl on her reluctant quest to save an enchanted land after its true heroine – her twin sister – unspectacularly drowns in the real world.
I’ve been pretty lax with promoting The Amber Ring lately, so in the spirit of the holidays, I thought I’d do a quick little giveaway.
I’ll make it simple – the first two interested residents of North America to comment on this post will receive a paperback copy of the book. All I ask is that, if you end up enjoying it, you might consider leaving a review and spreading the word.
Or, if eBooks are more up your alley, you can pick it up for free at your favorite retailer (Kindle | iBooks | Nook | Sony | Kobo) or direct download (ePUB | PDF).
Have a great December, everyone!
Bene scribete.
Writin' Fish 