Tag Archives: submission

Copy-edit

Copy-edit: (v) to edit for publication

Although classically it is portrayed that writers suffer “blockage” and are unable to come up with ideas—or even the next line—the truth is,  when a writer is inspired with a good story, the characters often become so verbose, and dare I say overbearing, that the end result is an overabundance of syllables, paragraphs and even chapters.funny wisdom on words that begin with a C

There is actually only one rule in writing, and since there’s only one, we shall not call it a rule, but rather, refer to it as a smiling opportunity.

That would be: “Don’t do anything to interrupt or impede your own story.”

This is why it’s important to copy-edit a book, a story or even an article (such as the one I’m writing to you).

It is not fair to the reader, to get him or her all tied up in useless information about the entwined colors in a particularly plush davenport—when what is happening on the couch is the real gig.

Some writers become fussy and sentimental about one particular thought or character’s involvement. But as you age and mature, you realize that the reader is what you’re writing for—not the approval of other writers or publishers who would jump up and down in great glee if they got the chance to reject a submission from Ernest Hemingway.


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Bonnet

Bonnet: (n) a woman’s hat tied under the chin

I wear hats. They disguise my bald head. They give me a better chance of being cute.Dictionary B

This is why I do it.

Women have worn hats for years. There are many reasons that women wear hats.

Some are cultural or religious–a head covering worn to communicate they are weaker vessels and under subjection to men.

Some are beautiful adornments designed to bring out the attractiveness of the lady’s countenance.

Seasonally, a bonnet is even used at Easter to accentuate the joy of the resurrection–“with all the fringe upon it.”

Since I should not control what people wear on their heads, it would be wrong of me to insist that a female be submissive by covering her noggin, or object to the hiding of her skull beneath an adornment because I feel it is chauvinistic.

There is just a great power in leaving people alone.

  • If they are unhappy, show them happiness.
  • If they are happy, be happy with them.

Otherwise, you could quickly be accused of being a bee in their bonnet.

 

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Appendix

dictionary with letter A

Ap·pen·dix (n.): a tube-shaped sac attached to and opening into the lower end of the large intestine in humans and some other mammals.

They tell me that no one knows exactly what the appendix does. That got me thinking.

What is the appendix of other things in life?

The appendix of politics is all the negative ads put on the air to try to prove the rottenness of the competition.

The appendix of entertainment is all the remakes which discuss the beauty of the cinematography instead of offering insight, gentleness and possibility to human beings.

The appendix of marriage is the belief that commitment is enough to sustain a relationship between two people without an ongoing lustful affection.

The appendix of weight loss is the notion that fat people want to be fat and therefore should be ridiculed and punished into submission.

The appendix of education lies in the contention that the more you spend for it, the smarter you become.

The appendix of shopping is very similar–the thought that name brands always have more quality than knock-offs.

The appendix of humanity is the belief that we’re “all different” instead of seeking our similarities.

The appendix of the relationship between men and women is the abiding presumption that they are so ill-suited that peaceful co-existence seems unlikely.

The appendix of self-esteem it that it can be achieved by bolstering ego instead of offering opportunity.

The appendix of lying is the misconception that we can actually pull it off.

And the appendix of religion is that it tries to please God by hurting people when God made it clear that loving people is the only way to please Him.

 

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Answerable

dictionary with letter A

Answerable: (adj) required to justify or responsible to or for.

I find fads to be comical–mainly because they’re a backlash to some previous popular notion that has now fallen out of favor and is being replaced by what is usually an extreme contradiction.

Many years ago, when ministers were falling from grace or into the arms of women named Grace, a nervous twitch went through the religious community as it tried to make sure such indiscretions didn’t happen again.

It was decided that the fallen preachers had fallen prey to too much freedom–that they were not answerable to anyone else. So for a season an attempt was made to confirm that everyone who was part of the clergy had someone else they had to answer to concerning their actions.

You see, here’s the problem: just because you have an overseer does not mean you’re going to listen to him.

Submission is not placing people under subjugation, but rather, a selection we all make when we realize we need each other and that we are not comfortable with self-sufficiency.

I find myself to be a leader but also a debtor to all sorts of individuals who come my way, who in some way, shape or form, have an excellence that I have not achieved.

I take it very seriously, but not because I’m trying to be answerable. I do so because I become happier when I don’t lean to my own understanding, but instead, absorb all available wisdom.

Just the other day I was driving down the road at about 65 miles an hour, when suddenly a large blackbird flew into my windshield, bounced off and fell onto the road. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw it lying very still and dead.

It bothered me.

I wasn’t concerned that my windshield almost got broken or wondered why the stupid bird decided to kill itself on my watch.

For a few seconds I allowed myself to be the bird–to imagine my own demise as the result of such a tragic flight.

It ached. It hurt.

I didn’t think about it a whole lot more.

But I realized that when something crosses my path, I need to be answerable for how I treat it.

 

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Adapt

Words from Dic(tionary)

by J. R. Practix

dictionary with letter A

Adapt: (v) 1. make something suitable for a new use; modify 2. to become adjusted to new conditions

Some words just are NOT synonyms. Even though we think they are, we need to take another look.

As I studied today’s definition, I realized that for years I have considered the word “adapt” and the word “evolve” to be twins.

Evolve (or evolution, if you will) happens AGAINST my will.

Adapt, on the other hand, is me having the option of getting ahead of the Darwinian curve and being in the front of the line instead of shoved to the back, in danger of falling into the tar pits.

It is a powerful difference.

If I will use my emotional, spiritual, mental and physical capabilities to discern the signs of my times, I can peek ahead to where things are going and prepare myself for the transition instead of being startled by circumstances and forced into submission.

So what is the best way to achieve an “adapting mindset” instead of an “evolutionary profile?”

1. Don’t be stubborn. Being wrong is fun if you catch it instead of your neighbor catching it.

2. For some reason, things don’t stay the same, so look for where the change in life is for the better and get there first.

3. Understand that organizations always maintain tradition, and are forced into evolution instead of willingly marching toward adaptation.

4. Don’t be afraid to be the drummer instead of just a marcher to the drum beat. Some things are obvious. For instance, you can’t live in a free society and tell other folks they can’t be free.

5. And finally, rejoice in the humor that you are not in control, but CAN control your OWN destiny by being flexible instead of being a big old ugly stick-in-the-mud.

I am learning to adapt so I won’t be blown away by the evolution.

It is an exciting choice.

It is the difference.

Adapt

Words from Dic(tionary)

by J. R. Practix

dictionary with letter A

Adapt: (v) 1. make something suitable for a new use; modify 2. to become adjusted to new conditions

Some words just are NOT synonyms. Even though we think they are, we need to take another look.

As I studied today’s definition, I realized that for years I have considered the word “adapt” and the word “evolve” to be twins.

Evolve

(or evolution, if you will) happens AGAINST my will.

Adapt

, on the other hand, is me having the option of getting ahead of the Darwinian curve and being in the front of the line instead of shoved to the back, in danger of falling into the tar pits.

It is a powerful difference.

If I will use my emotional, spiritual, mental and physical capabilities to discern the signs of my times, I can peek ahead to where things are going and prepare myself for the transition instead of being startled by circumstances and forced into submission.

So what is the best way to achieve an “adapting mindset” instead of an “evolutionary profile?”

1. Don’t be stubborn. Being wrong is fun if you catch it instead of your neighbor catching it.

2. For some reason, things don’t stay the same, so look for where the change in life is for the better and get there first.

3. Understand that organizations always maintain tradition, and are forced into evolution instead of willingly marching toward adaptation.

4. Don’t be afraid to be the drummer instead of just a marcher to the drum beat. Some things are obvious. For instance, you can’t live in a free society and tell other folks they can’t be free.

5. And finally, rejoice in the humor that you are not in control, but CAN control your OWN destiny by being flexible instead of being a big old ugly stick-in-the-mud.

I am learning to adapt so I won’t be blown away by the evolution.

It is an exciting choice.

It is the difference.