Greetings,

Since we're now well into 2000, I expect you'll be putting all those resolutions into practice ... you know, getting up early to do your yoga, going for a run each afternoon, eating healthy food, writing that novel / article / short story ...

Me too ...

How about we start THIS week?

Novice writers are often given this advice on how to structure their short stories:

• Put a man up a tree
• Throw stones at him
• Get him down

When you come to think of it, it's good advice for any writer - whether you're writing a short story, advertising material for your business, content for your website - or a block-buster novel.

Start with a situation - a problem to be resolved for your protagonist, a product or service you want to sell, information you want to convey to visitors (or the man up the tree).

Then present the problems that can occur (throw some stones):

• Misunderstandings / mistaken identity / lost opportunities etc

• "Can you risk your child's success at school?"
• "Would you send your family out in a car that didn't have Whizzo tyres?"
• "500 businesses closed their doors last month, will you be next?"
• "How many times did you give up smoking last year? It's not easy, is it?"

The final step is to show how you can solve the problem - get the man down from his leafy perch - safely, so that he'll not only thank you profusely, but also tell all his friends!

• Love triumphs / good conquers evil / honesty is the best policy / united we stand ...

• "Writing is the foundation of academic success - without the ability to express ideas clearly and accurately, students cannot achieve their best. Give your child every chance - send for details about Whizzo Writing Courses now!"
• "Statistics show that your second car is usually older and less safe than the family car - and yet every day, millions of children are ferried around in them. You can take steps to ensure the safety of your most precious possessions by fitting Whizzo Tyres to your car now. Click for a free brochure!"
• "With a little planning, careful management and a vision for the future, your business will thrive. Don't worry if you don't have the skills, the Whizzo Change Management program will look after all the details for you. Click now for more details!"
• "You can give up smoking safely and easily by following these simple steps from the Department of Health. Click for your free report."

When you've finished writing, always (always) proof-read your work to check your spelling, punctuation and grammar. Don't spoil all your hard work by presenting an unprofessional image to your readers.

Put this simple plan into action with your next piece of writing.

______________

______________

The Poll results (Was the Y2K Bug the biggest scam of the millennium?) seem to indicate that there aren't quite as many cynics out there as I thought; 53% said it wasn't a scam, but a genuine threat and 47% said it was a scam.

If you received last week's Tips with banner ads (as I did), here is the explanation I received from ONElist admin:

Since I'm the only one who can send messages, and I hadn't changed anything in the way I send the Tips, this was a bit of a mystery to me (actually, it still is). I don't know why we're suddenly getting these banner ads along for the free ride, please just pretend they're not there if they worry you (or click if it's something that interests you).

We're all familiar with Murphy's Laws:

• If things can go wrong they will, and at the worst possible time

• Any product cut to length will be too short

• If you need n items of anything, you will have n-1 in stock

If you have any favourite Laws, please send them in and I'll pass them on.

These words are often confused - choose the correct word from those in brackets:

1. The queen's (rein / REIGN) was remembered with affection.

2. The (gorilla / GUERILLA) forces halted the enemy's advances.

3. The (SIGHT / site) of the SEA stirred the poet's (sole / SOUL).

4. (Vocation / VACATION time had arrived at last.

5. (Stationary / STATIONERY) in the form of notebooks was bought in bulk.

6. The school (PRINCIPAL / principle) was angry with the children.

7. A doctor often needs (incite / INSIGHT into the problems of patients.

8.The refugees made it safely to the (boarder / BORDER).

9. The man was unsure (weather / WHETHER) he should run or walk.

10.She was afraid she was going to (loose / LOSE) her purse.

Write one word for each of these expressions (the first letter of the word is given):

1. a piece of music played as an introduction to an opera (o)

2. a change from one condition to another (t)

3. admits light but cannot be seen through (t)

4. a statement seemingly contradictory, but really true (p)

5. full of self-importance (p)

6. bitter regret for wrong-doing (r)

7. to seize as by authority (c)

8. to charge with a crime (i)

9. having a worn and tired look (h)

10.used in common speech (c)

Now here's a challenge ... Leo (you remember Leo, he sends me some wonderful little examples of Language-in-Action), has thrown down the gauntlet with these Politically Correct terms about women.

There are so many I just can't choose, so here's another: "Traditionally, most of our imports come from overseas."

Note: These examples are all real (it's a worry) and come from a great little book by Alexander Buzo called (strangely enough), Tautology.

And a Latin phrase for when you go to one of those lo-o-o-ong official gatherings at work:

Credo nonnullos hic mortuos esse. (I think some of the people here are dead.)

Regards,

Jennifer

Privacy Policy.