Writing resolutions I want to start right now:
- Write every day.
- Write shorter copy.
- Write shorter sentences.
- Trim the fat, even if I’m in love with the fat.
I meant that figuratively, but I do love fat.I’ve fork-stabbed my own husband over a piece of chicken skin. - Stop using so many parentheses (though I might wait till after New Year’s for that).
- Stop using so many em dashes — which, by the way, are basically the same as parentheses — in the middle of my sentences.
Now you.
What writing habits do you want to start or get rid of?
TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS.
Hello, doppelgänger!
Em dashes, shorter sentences, parens and hack manifestor shout-out. Minutes before a divorce attorney appt. I found a wedding ring (!) and believed the universe had answered my How Will I Pay Divorce Attorney question. Closer inspection revealed a fake. I need a manifestor for this?
New writing resolution: comment on blogs in a timely fashion.
Love your blog. My sister sent me an excerpt from your Passive-Aggressive Pocket Guide post and I fell over laughing. I was hooked.
P.S. 10 mins. on Bravo’s VPR and “I’ve never heard an apology so disingenuine.” Could this be Jax girlfriend, the infamous (post-election) Brittany you spoke of?
So happy you found this place.
I love that you put the Vanderpieces together! That’s the very one.
You need to ask the Universe for quality, certified diamonds.
Vanderpieces!
Specific, yes. I forgot that part, good advice. Manifestor seems to think it’s funny. Methinks manifestor needs an attitude adjustment.
I want to start:
– Writing comics
– Writing more handwritten letters
– Writing pop culture essays from my unique perspective
– Publishing my book ideas
– Attempting to write AND be published in French
– Writing standup jokes
– Writing a teleplay
– Writing a few of my favorite recipes
– Writing a poem every so often
I want to stop:
– Only writing for projects that make me money
– Writing alone and without peer groups and workshops
– Writing so many emails (to my audience and to my friends)
– Writing stories in my head, but not committing them to paper
and finally, I want to stop writing this comment.
Thank you Laura for yet another brilliant post. Love your words and always thankful for your voice.
THIS ONE: – Only writing for projects that make me money
That’s always been my struggle. A quality problem we have, making money for writing. Still a problem, though.
Let’s make a pinky pact to get a book out.
Woof. Em dashes have been haunting me since I was a little undergraduate. Why can’t I get a thought out without interrupting myself??? 😛
Same! Sometimes my sentences look like the divider line on the highway. ———————–
Write something every day. Not to put out a daily blog, or anything big like that. Just write. That’s it.
I’ve been using 750words.com – happily on a streak – and it’s just what I need to get me just to write SOMETHING.
Oh no…don’t tell me that my beloved parentheses are bad!! (I use them all the time and LOVE them!!) I also use the dot, dot, dot constantly! Both Those little beauties help to make it sound more like I talk.
I have refused to jump on board the LOL or LMAO train but probably use the smiley face waaaay too often!???? Oh, and I think I may annoy people with my abundant (bad word…haven’t had my latte yet) use of exclamation points!!!!!
I didn’t say they were bad! Just that I don’t want to use SO MANY. It gets to be a crutch and breaks up the writing.
I took a stand on LOL long ago. Now I’d like to use it once in a while because now everyone uses Ha! But I’d feel like a hypocrite and flip-flopper taking it up. Then again, we’re in a post-integrity world now. LOL.
You just confirmed what I noticed but never could figure out why. Everyone does use ha ha now. That is so funny. I do feel like some kind of old man when I use lol (is lower case cooler than upper case?) But hey, I am a solid Gen X-er so maybe I need to accept that I am an old man.
Or maybe the people I text are old too so we don’t mind using lol together. Lol!
write stuff that matters.shit that people want to read. and oh yea find out how to make capital letters!
those are overrated.so are spaces after periods.but i’m all for writing shit that matters!
Wow. It really was that short.
I can’t believe it.
And if you do all those resolutions, then it won’t be Laura Belgray writing. We love your long, fat sentences with dashes.
Not sure I have writing resolutions yet (except maybe finish my book, but who doesn’t have that one?) But I do like filling up cool journals. I’m currently working in a waterproof one, not that I really write in the rain much (or the shower) but I could. I think it’s more for durability, in case the house gets flooded or hot water heater leaks, this journal won’t get damaged. Seriously, I can’t write on it under water with a pencil. (Did you know pencils can work under water?)
Actually, one of my resolutions is to use more parenthesis. (I just decided that 😉
And smiley faces 🙂
Just keep writing, Laura. We’ll keep reading. (It’s easier to read than write 😉
Can. I can write on it under water.
I resolve to do more editing too.
(Dang no-edit comments.)
Don’t worry, I never stick to my resolutions anyway.
My sentences will stay fat and happy. You won’t even notice the trim ones. I’ll sneak them in, like fiber in your orange juice.
That waterproof journal is just the kind of thing I picture myself using in the shower but never actually would. Though a whiteboard in the shower would be helpful. I get so many fleeting ideas in there.
I want to write like Laura Belgray
Ditto!
Comment of the year. Your writing right here is clear, effective and full of impact.