I do a lot of critiques for different writers during the week. Some of the writers are very polished; others, not so much.

The one thing I’ve noticed in all levels, is an abundance of adverbs. I must admit, I get jealous at how prettified some of those sentences read. I can’t write like that. My brain isn’t wired that way.

According to William Noble, many inexperienced writers, and I will add unpublished- but have been around the block a few times writers, throw in “pretty” words(adverbs or adjectives) to make their prose more dramatic and meaningful. These cosmetic touch-ups often turn out to be  redundant or simply uninspiring.

Adverbs bog down your story without adding meaning.

He zoomed around the oval speedily.-Is it possible to zoom without speeding?

He stutteredhaltingly.-Can you stutter without doing it haltingly?

Adverbs tell/ You want to show  Adverbs encourage lazy writing.

He whispered to herlovingly.

Written by Eric C., MA., PhD Candidate

“Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.” ~Anonymous

I wish the above quote was true. Unless we are machine or lack human emotions, words and actions have a profound effect on the way we feel about ourselves and the world around us. In our current society we have become hyper-aware and sensitive to bullying. We are quick to notice this taboo behavior in others and readily condemn it. It is possible that some of us fail to see the same behavior in ourselves. It’s time to take off our blinders and become more self-aware that we may be exhibiting the same behaviors towards others even though we will not tolerate this behavior from others. Self-awareness leads to personal growth. Through positive evolution we become happier and tend to have healthier relationships in general.

Here are some signs of an emotional…

A bed that should have been cold and lonely, turned out to be a warm place filled with love. The feeling of the soft yarn over my cold weary skin gave me a sense of assurance; that someone was praying for me by name, someone was thinking about me, someone loves me, and someone shared my pain.

It was that season when I was in and out of the hospital. On that 14 the floor; one that was dedicated to liver cancer. I had to get through it, I needed to stay strong.

One of the best gifts I ever received were a couple of blankets from friends;

Prayer blanket; this was orange with a brown strip and it was made by a group of women that prayed for every piece of yarn rolled in. They prayed for me by name; since every blanket is made on order even though…

Happy Memorial Day, SEers! Today’s post will be brief, as you’re likely unwinding with family and friends, at least those of you in the States. For our friends elsewhere, I hope your day is equally enjoyable.

Although this holiday inspires thoughts of plump hot dogs and juicy hamburgers on the grill, let’s not forget it was originally envisioned as a time to reflect on those who gave their lives in the service of our country.

“In memory of many, in honor of all.”
What a powerful message in so few words!

Originally called Decoration Day, the holiday was first observed on May 30, 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery. Our nation was struggling to heal after the Civil War, and by “decorating” the graves of the fallen with flowers, it was a way to honor those who had perished…

I’m sure you guys have heard the quote, “It’s about the journey, not the destination.” I have always agreed with that, and in certain situations I still do, but let me offer a plot twist:

Maybe it’s all about the destination, not the journey.

A couple of nights ago, I went for a hike to see the sunset.  I had looked up the time of the sunset before we set out, but when we got there I quickly realized that maybe we wouldn’t make it to the top in time. At first I was a little disappointed, but thought to myself, “I can’t control the sun.  If we make it, great, if we don’t, we have lots of sunsets to catch.” So we trudged on.

As we hiked, literally clouds of black flies and mosquitos were pestering us.  With each hill I began, I looked up and wondered if we…

1. There are 50 questions to choose from. MIX THEM UP and remember that they do not have to be in order. (..because I’m gonna like, mix them up anyway)

1. When asked what skill you WOULD LIKE to master, be creative. For instance, I would love to learn to play the piano. Stuff like that. (I really would like to learn to play the piano)

1. Do put some thought into your answers. Give us something interesting and write in complete, detailed sentences. Remember that you’re a storyteller so showcase your personality. I had the opportunity of being interviewed by Best Selling author Dan Alatorre recently. If you are unfamiliar with how text interviews are structured, you can check it outHERE for an example of the format.

1. RESPOND TO COMMENTS. As a guest on this blog you are only going to get out of it what you…