Time for lessons on writing well.
This week I downloaded more sample chapters from Amazon for Kindle:
The Book on Writing - The Ultimate Guide to Writing Well by Paula LaRocque. I've enjoyed reading the sample and I'll be buying this one. To give you an idea of what the book covers, each chapter heading could be a helpful hint in itself:
A Dozen Guidelines to Good Writing:
- Keep Sentences Short, and Keep to One Main Idea Per Sentence
- Avoid Pretensions, Gobbledygook, and Euphemisms
- Change Long and Difficult Words to Short and Simple Words
- Be Wary of Jargon, Fad and Cliche
- Use the Right Word
- Avoid Beginning With Long Dependent Phrases
- Prefer Active Verbs and the Active Voice
- Cut Wordiness
- Avoid Vague Qualifiers
- Prune Prepositions
- Limit Number and Symbol
- Get Right to the Point and Stay There.
That would be enough content to keep me interested, but on top of that LaRocque has chapters covering mastering metaphors, weaving backstory, archetypes as characters, writing quickly to edit later and, well, more.
LaRocque writes the way she suggests, her language is clear and instructive.
I've also been busy as a relief (substitute) teacher. I'd made the decision to substitute for a year so I can sample different classroom dynamics and various subjects before moving into the role of a high school English Teacher. So far, I've taught Art and History, and if any other substitute teachers know the secret to controlling an 8th grade class for last lesson of the day, feel free to set me straight. I might need a crankier teacher's-hat.
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