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Robin Coyle

~ Ink of Me

Robin Coyle

Monthly Archives: May 2012

Is Anyone Having Problems with Email Notifications of Comments?

31 Thursday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . .

≈ 51 Comments

Tags

Blog Comments, Comment Emails, Problem with Blog Comment Notification Emails, WordPress Problems

Strange happenings again around WordPress. At least there are for me. I am getting an email notification for only half (or so) of the comments made on this blog today. I notice the comment alert on the orange button-y notification thing-y. Hmmm….check email, no notice about the comment.

If I miss your comment today, my apologies!

This happening to anyone else? i looked on the WordPress forum but just saw old posts.

Let Your Writing Breathe Before You Edit

30 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . .

≈ 42 Comments

Tags

editing, editing advice, self-publishing, writers, writing, Writing Advice, writing tips

As writers, we know it is best to write with our brain unshackled and our hearts open.

The words should flow unrestrained by rules or fear of redundancy. We shouldn’t let self-judgment or worries about what others might think as the words fall on the paper like petals.

We also know to then let it sit before touching it again. Like fine wine, it needs time to breathe. We need to put space between what was written by our heart and quell the desire to immediately refine it. With literary distance, we can unemotionally (hopefully) read and edit what we wrote with clarity and a discerning eye.

If you are like me, when I write a sentence, paragraph, or chapter, the words continue to swirl in my head even, while away from the computer. I am rewriting while doing the dishes, I come up with new ideas as I pull weeds, and I doubt that every-word-I-ever-wrote-since-the-beginning-of-time was worth the paper it was printed on.

I spent the past weekend doing deep mechanical edits on my manuscript. Although I know I should let it ferment for a time before I revisit it, I am itching to pick at it.

In this video, I am the puppy, my manuscript is the kibble on her leg, and my master, Mr. Manuscript is saying, “Leave it. Leave it. Leave it . . .”

Besides, how cute is this sweet puppy!?! I couldn’t resist.

Heady Blog Milestones

29 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . .

≈ 101 Comments

Tags

Blog Milestones, blogging, writers, writing

I am channeling Peter Pan, Mary Martin, Sandy Duncan, and Cathy Rigby when I say, “I gotta crow.”

I hit over 11,500 all-time visits today and this is my 100th post. I also recently passed the 200 follower mark. My buttons are busting.

Some of you are yawning and saying, “That was so four years ago for me.” But for this new-blogger-on-the-block, they are heady milestones.

You, my faithful and most intelligent followers/commenters make this unpaid job a joy.  I love what you write on your blogs, I love your comments on mine, and I love you.

Okay, enough of the sappy-pull-out-the-Kleenex moment. You know what I mean though, right?

Blogging surprises for me?

1. What a GIGANTIC tiny community we are.

2. Bloggers are a supportive and positive lot.

3. I didn’t expect to meet people who I now consider friends.

4. How much I would learn from fellow bloggers.

5. How much I would learn while writing my blog.

6. The downside . . . how much time it takes.

What were your surprises?

Thank you all. Let’s sing along with Jerry Garcia . . . “Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it’s been.”

By the way – My Peter Pan poster autographed by Cathy Rigby from her performance in San Francisco in 1990 hangs over my fireplace. It serves as quite a conversation piece, until that is, my guests run out the door with their purses firmly tucked under their arm. “Waaaaitttt . .  . I want to show you my signed program toooooooooo!”

Too late. They ran over my mailbox while pealing out of my driveway.

 

28 Monday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in Uncategorized

≈ 31 Comments

After spending a grueling weekend editing, the quote on this blog post moved me. Did the words make you teary too, or am I exhausted? How lovely they are.

Tracy Staedter

“The best training is to read and write, no matter what. Don’t live with a lover or roommate who doesn’t respect your work. Don’t lie, buy time, borrow to buy time. Write what will stop your breath if you don’t write.”
— Grace Paley

Photo: Daehyun Park / Flickr Creative Commons

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Strong vs Weak Words – Part 7 Revisited ~ Have and Had

28 Monday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . ., Strong vs Weak Words

≈ 44 Comments

Tags

Overuse of the word had, Overuse of the word have, Overused Words, Self-editing, Strong vs Weak Words, Strong Words, Weak Words, writers, writing, Writing Advice, writing tips

The Honorable Supreme Court Justice Ima Writer sequestered me over the weekend and ordered the bailiff to unplug my Internet. Hence, you haven’t heard from me in three days.

You see, while giving advice on eliminating needless words in your writing to create robust sentences, I am guilty of not following my own orders. (See here if you don’t know what the heck I am talking about.)

When I ran across a problem word, I would fix a bunch in my manuscript and say, “Yup, that is a problem.”  I would set aside my editing because I was excited to tell YOU about it. As a result, “justs,” “gots,” “wents,” and the like, continued to sit in my manuscript like the ugly stepsisters snubbed by the prince and forced to stayed home instead of attending the writing party.

The half-taken advice was haunting me. I closed myself off to the world at our cabin and snuggled with the sneaky little words “had” and “have.” The romance faded when I realized it would take me all weekend to do the edits on those two words alone. The argument that ensued wasn’t pretty.

Why am I bringing this up? Because I learned an important lesson while editing out dead-weight “hads” and “haves.” I became better at it the more I did it. It started out slow and painful, but two-thirds of the way through the process, I was flinging the words out with ease. I learned how to spot the easy “just hit delete” “hads” and “haves.” For the trickier ones, I became adept at seeing how the sentence could be reworked. In many cases, the entire offending sentence was dumped because it did nothing to advance the story. Yeah! More dead-weight eliminated.

At first, I was afraid I was over-editing and making my writing sound stilted. Was I erasing my “voice?” However, when I removed the excess baggage, my voice had room to come through the white noise.

Emboldened, I hit “seek and destroy” for a second round. I found sentences I thought were fine on the first round, but armed with the lessons learned while working my way through the manuscript, I knew how to dust, tidy, and freshen them.

My point? “Hads” and “haves are especially sneaky and they snarl when you first attempt to eliminate them. Sharpening your knife with practice eases the process.

Bonus tidbits I discovered. “Had” and “have” hide in the conjunctions “I’d” and “I’ve:”

I’d liked my manuscript until this weekend.

Clunky example, I know. Sorry.

I thought I liked my manuscript, but it became a masterpiece over the weekend after I edited out the “hads.”

 ~~~~~

I’ve got to spend more time editing.

 Yes, you do.

 I must dedicate more time to the fine art of editing.

 “Had” and “have” also skulk around disguised as “hadn’t” and “haven’t:”

He hadn’t realized Robin the “Had Cop” was after him.

Isn’t she about as effective as Barney Fife?

He realized Robin the “Had Cop” was after him when she slapped the usage-cuffs on his scrawny wrists.

~~~~~

I haven’t seen Robin the “Had Cop” so angry in years.

Ooh, scary.

 In anger, Robin the “Had Cop” fed his lousy manuscript to the grammar police.

For those of you scratching your head about “had” and “have,” take heart. It gets easier the more you exorcise them out of your writing. Trust me, I know.

Strong vs Weak Words – Part 10 ~ Indefinite Numbers

25 Friday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . ., Strong vs Weak Words

≈ 58 Comments

Tags

Indefinite Numbers, Overused Words, Strong vs Weak Words, Strong Words, Weak Words, writers, writing

Words indicating indefinite numbers are sneaky and vague.

Sure, we need to use these words when we say something like, “Some pizza-lovers like anchovies.” In this case, we don’t know exactly how many crazy people there are in the world.

However, if you can be specific, it adds pop to the sentence.

I had some ice cream last night.

Yum. What flavor?

 I ate a gallon of anchovy ice cream in one sitting.

~~~~~

Many people follow my wildly popular blog.

 That’s cool. How many?

Three fellow-bloggers follow my wildly popular blog.

~~~~~

 A few people hit “like” on my blog about anchovies.

Anchovies are fascinating, aren’t they?

 My blog about anchovies received zero “likes.”

~~~~~

I had a couple of drinks to numb the pain.

 Did you lace the drinks with anchovies?

After six shots of vodka I decided to change the theme of my blog from anchovies to the fine art of distilling vodka.

Other indefinite numbers are (can you think of more?):

A lot, a ton, a boatload, a truckload, a bunch, a bit, a tad

Gobs, heaps, oodles, scads, smidgeon

Gazillion, kabillion,

Several

Most

Any

However, I do like the word umpteen.

Happy three-day weekend everyone. I’ll be back next week.

For advice on other words that sneak into your writing, clink on the links below:

  • I Have a Problem with “That”
  • Sneaky Little Words for the word GOT
  • Strong vs Weak Words for the word WENT
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 2 for the word PEOPLE
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 3 for the words THING and STUFF
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 4 for the words GO and GOING
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 5 for the words ALWAYS and NEVER
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 6 for the words PRETTY, SURE, and CERTAIN
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 7 for the word HAD and HAVE
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 8 for the word JUST
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 9 for the word ALL
  • Moldy Verbs, Adverbs, and Intensifiers

Strong vs Weak Words – Part 9 ~ All

24 Thursday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . ., Strong vs Weak Words

≈ 34 Comments

Tags

Overused Words, Overusing the Word Just, Strong vs Weak Words, Strong Words, Weak Words, writers, writing

“All the world’s a stage . . . “

 ~William Shakespeare

Really Bill? Isn’t it the same if you said, “The world’s a stage?”

He scoffed from deep in his grave and said, “It is lyrical with the “all” in situ.”

True, so true.  How Shakespearean of you. However . . .

 All the donuts are stale.

Is more visual when stated . . .

I chipped a tooth because I bit into Bill’s stale donut.

~~~~~

All the people adore Robin’s blog posts.

 And why wouldn’t they?

Bloggers from Istanbul to Bakersfield adore Robin’s witty blog about writing.

Did you notice I nuked the word PEOPLE too?

~~~~~

That was all the time I had to work on my novel today.

You must be writing a blog.

I had one minute to work on my novel today because I was reading hundreds of brilliant words written by Robin.

See what I mean? Sometimes “all” is okay, but please don’t ever say “alls,” as in “alls I’m gonna to do is fix me some ribs.” Hmmm . . . I’m hungry. How about you Bill?

William Shakespeare

Cover of William Shakespeare

For advice on other words that sneak into your writing, clink on the links below:

  • I Have a Problem with “That”
  • Sneaky Little Words for the word GOT
  • Strong vs Weak Words for the word WENT
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 2 for the word PEOPLE
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 3 for the words THING and STUFF
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 4 for the words GO and GOING
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 5 for the words ALWAYS and NEVER
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 6 for the words PRETTY, SURE, and CERTAIN
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 7 for the word HAD and HAVE
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 8 for the word JUST
  • Moldy Verbs, Adverbs, and Intensifiers

Strong vs Weak Words – Part 8 ~ Just

22 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . ., Strong vs Weak Words

≈ 70 Comments

Tags

editing, Strong vs Weak Words, Strong Words, Weak Words, writers, writing, Writing Advice, writing tips

I was just about to say that I just don’t overuse the word “just.” Just STOP using the word “just” Robin!

You guessed it ~ today’s overused word is “just”

When reviewing my manuscript, I thought, “Surely I don’t overuse the word “just,” and don’t call me Shirley. (Bonus point for the first commenter to name the movie this is from.)

I knew about the “just” thing without reading one word from one sage writing advisor. A quick “seek and destroy” uncovered 52 of the bloody things.

I couldn’t bear to part with a handful of “justs.” I imagine Lennon and McCartney felt the same way when they wrote “I’ve Just Seen A Face.”

Here are some poorly written examples to help you spot and nuke the problem in your writing (if you have a problem, that is):

I just stopped by for a spot of tea.

What? Not conversation, not bangers and mash, not a lovely back rub?

I stopped by for a spot of tea but couldn’t be bothered by her writing tip drivel.

~~~~~

 I just wanted to leave.

You didn’t put your coat on, grab your purse, or smack her?

She foisted her opinions on me so I smacked her, grabbed my coat and purse, and slammed the door behind me.

~~~~~ 

I had just one glass of wine when I arrived home.

You are a liar.

I consumed a bottle of wine to erase her annoying tips from my brain.

That is more like it!

 Cheers! The next round is on me! Let me know what you find.

For advice on other words that sneak into your writing, clink on the links below:

  • I Have a Problem with “That”
  • Sneaky Little Words for the word GOT
  • Strong vs Weak Words for the word WENT
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 2 for the word PEOPLE
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 3 for the words THING and STUFF
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 4 for the words GO and GOING
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 5 for the words ALWAYS and NEVER
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 6 for the words PRETTY, SURE, and CERTAIN
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 7 for the word HAD and HAVE
  • Moldy Verbs, Adverbs, and Intensifiers

Grammar Rules Can be Fun – Part 2

21 Monday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . .

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

Curiouser.co.uk, Grammar, Grammar Rules, The Laughing Housewife, writers, writing

Here, for your reading pleasure, is the rest of the list of funny takes on grammar “rules.” Message to Tilly Bud over at The Laughing Housewife: the second rule on the list is for you. Not because I want you to stop with the puns, but because I hope the pun makes you grown (pun intented). If you want/need a daily laugh, visit Ms. Tilly Bud’s blog.

If you missed Part 1 of the “rules” – click right here.

▪    If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.

▪    Puns are for children, not groan readers.

▪    Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.

▪    Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.

▪    Who needs rhetorical questions?

▪    Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

▪    The passive voice should never be used.

▪    Do not put statements in the negative form.

▪    Verbs have to agree with their subjects.

▪    A writer must not shift your point of view.

▪    Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.

▪    Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.

▪    If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

▪    Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.

▪    Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

▪    Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.

▪    Always pick on the correct idiom.

▪    The adverb always follows the verb.

▪    Be careful to use the rite homonym.

▪    Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

Thank you to Jenni Larsen for submitting these rules to curiouser.co.uk.

Grammar Rules Can be Fun – Part 1

20 Sunday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . .

≈ 58 Comments

Tags

Chicago Manual of Style, Grammar, Grammar Pet Peeves, Mignon Fogarty, writers, writing, Writing Advice, writing tips

Together we are slashing needless words and weak verbs. I thought we should lighten the load by throwing in some amusing takes on grammar rules. Because they are priceless, I will give it to you in two blog posts.

High school was eons ago, and although I was in Honors English, Mr. Julian Julian (yup, that was his name) didn’t make me diagram a single sentence. When editing my book I decided I should bone-up on “passive voice” and “split infinitives” (still not sure what the heck that is). I referred to serious tomes such as The Chicago Manual of Style, as well as the breezy and insanely popular Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty. I also turned to our friend Mr. Google because he knows everything.

I thought I found the definitive site for all things grammar at curiouser.co.uk. When I read down the list, I was chuckling by the fourth “Rule” and gaffawing by “Rule” seven. You will see what I mean.

For those of us who cringe when we hear a preposition at the end of a sentence, this list is like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Oops, I broke the “Rule” about not using clichés.

Sorry.

Oops, I broke the “Rule” about one-word sentences. So sorry again!

Enjoy!

Rules for Writers

  • Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
  • Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
  • And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction.
  • It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
  • Avoid clichés like the plague. (They’re old hat.)
  • Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
  • Be more or less specific.
  • Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.
  • Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
  • No sentence fragments.
  • Contractions aren’t necessary and shouldn’t be used.
  • Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
  • Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it’s highly superfluous.
  • One should NEVER generalize.
  • Comparisons are as bad as clichés.
  • Don’t use no double negatives.
  • Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
  • One-word sentences? Eliminate.
  • Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
  • The passive voice is to be ignored.
  • Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.
  • Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
  • DO NOT use exclamation points and all caps to emphasize!!!
  • Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
  • Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth shaking ideas.
  • Use the apostrophe in it’s proper place and omit it when its not needed.
  • Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”

Thank you to Jenni Larsen for submitting these rules to curiouser.co.uk.

 
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The Girl and the Bee King

19 Saturday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . .

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

Poetry, writers, writing

I am friends with a brilliant young Italian man who lives in England. I do not use the word brilliant here lightly. He is a card-carrying member of Mensa. His wit is a charming blend of British humor and Italian panache.

He wrote this poem when he was in his early teens and his friend did the artwork. He allowed me to share it with you as long as I didn’t print his name. I guess he is brilliant and humble. I thought you would enjoy his poem as a nice break from my Strong vs Weak Word series.

Wouldn’t you agree he is talented beyond his years?

The Girl and the Bee King

A King! Wrapped in gold and darkness.

Bedewed by sorrow, bedimmed by myth.

But in this time his child arrived.

Her saintly visage, the beauty of her innocence.

He prayed he may share a grain,

A grain of sand, the sand of time.

O curse’d I bee to not feel love,

This one last time,

Before my child’s life, passes me by.

Strong vs Weak Words – Part 7 ~ Had

18 Friday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . ., Strong vs Weak Words

≈ 35 Comments

Tags

Overused Words, Overusing the Word Had, Overusing the Word Have, Strong vs Weak Words, Strong Words, Weak Words, writers, writing, Writing Advice, writing tips

“I’ve HAD it up to here with the word HAD,” she said while drawing an imaginary knife across her throat.

Today’s words of the day are, you guessed it, “had” and her kissing-cousin “have.” My novel was littered with them.

Many (too many to count) of my “had’s” and “haves” were tossed out with the bathwater. I give you the following examples:

I had breakfast. 

Big deal. Me too.

I threw up my breakfast.

I ate breakfast with Superman.

I inhaled my breakfast. 

~~~~~

She had questions for me. 

Yawn.

She pommeled me with questions. 

~~~~~ 

She had red hair.

What? Is she now bald?

Her red hair glowed like a match-tip.

~~~~~

I have a bossy dachshund.

Really? He should meet William.

 My bossy dachshund thinks he owns me.

~~~~~

The problem I have is ______________.

 You fill in the blank, but please be nice.

My problem is abuse of the words “had” and “have.”

If you will excuse me, I’m off to do hours of editing.

For advice on other words that sneak into your writing, clink on the links below:

  • I Have a Problem with “That”
  • Sneaky Little Words for the word GOT
  • Strong vs Weak Words for the word WENT
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 2 for the word PEOPLE
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 3 for the words THING and STUFF
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 4 for the words GO and GOING
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 5 for the words ALWAYS and NEVER
  • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 6 for the words PRETTY, SURE, and CERTAIN
  • Moldy Verbs, Adverbs, and Intensifiers

Strong vs Weak Words – Part 6 ~ Pretty and Sure and Certain

17 Thursday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . ., Strong vs Weak Words

≈ 43 Comments

Tags

editing, Overused Words, Overusing the Word Certain, Overusing the Word Pretty, Overusing the Word Sure, Strong Verbs, Strong vs Weak Words, Strong Words, writers, writing, Writing Advice, writing tips

I am pretty sure for certain the words “pretty,” “sure,” and “certain” make my list of overused and often pointless words.

What do you think?

I can be pretty scary when fired up.

 Don’t get me started on WordPress problems!

I am scary when fired up.

~~~~~

She sure is an excellent writer.

 That is up for debate.

 She is an excellent writer. 

~~~~~

He kept certain words and tossed the rest.

De-cluttering your novel?

 He kept the strong words and tossed the weak ones. 

“Pretty,” “sure,” and “certain” were not chronic offenders in my novel, but they wriggled their way into unassuming sentences. When taken out/reworded, the passages were breezier.

Granted, not all “pretty’s,” “sure’s,” and “certain’s” are word-litter but I was surprised by how many I took out.

If you are playing along, let me know what you find in your writing.

For advice on other words that sneak into your writing, clink on the links below:

          • I Have a Problem with “That”
          • Sneaky Little Words for the word GOT
          • Strong vs Weak Words for the word WENT
          • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 2 for the word PEOPLE
          • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 3 for the words THING and STUFF
          • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 4 for the words GO and GOING
          • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 5 for the words ALWAYS and NEVER
          • Moldy Verbs, Adverbs, and Intensifiers

 

Spam I Am – NOT!

16 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . .

≈ 48 Comments

Tags

Askimet, blogging, WordPress Comment Spam, writers, writing

Hello folks! Miss me?

After a lovely visit with family and Mother’s Day in Boise with our youngest daughter, I am back to the world-o’blog.

I have been away from blogging at a most fortunate time. The craziness at WordPress has caused perfectly sane bloggers to tear out all their hair. Let’s see a show of hands.

In case you are wondering, I am now bald.

I can’t wait to get back to writing about stuff other than the WordPress problems and I promise to do so soon.

Before I return to normal posting and have grown a full head of hair again, I have one request for you.

WordPress and Askimet think I am “Spam I Am” and unless you have “not spammed” me, I am hurled straight to your spam folder.

Sigh. So many pithy comments lost in Never Never Land. I am reading your posts, I promise. I am commenting on your posts, I promise.   Askimet tech support tells me they are investigating my problem.

Please check your spam and un-spam me. I will forever be in your debt.

 

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I’ll Be Back If/When the WordPress Issues Are Resolved

09 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . .

≈ 36 Comments

Tags

blogging, WordPress Bugs, WordPress Frustration, WordPress Problems, WordPress Spam, writers, writing

Oooh . . . dramatic blog title Robin.

The title isn’t exactly true. I am ready to throw WordPress and my computer out the window, but the real reason you haven’t see me around lately is I am in Portland visiting a gaggle of family members. Tomorrow I move on to Boise to spend four days with our youngest daughter. Can’t wait.

I thought I would be able to keep up with you all while on this trip, but HA! Blogging takes low priority when surrounded by family, food, and 90-year-old parents who can’t hear a darn thing.

What a wild ride the last week has been. Between the WordPress “comment-follow”  and other problems, and the world deciding I am nothing but mere Spam, my forced break from blogging is a welcome relief.

I’ll be back next week and catch up with you then. That is, if WordPress has cleaned up its act. Miss you all!

WordPress

WordPress (Photo credit: Adriano Gasparri)

Related articles
  • Anyone Else Sick of the WordPress Problems? (robincoyle.wordpress.com)
  • Anyone Else Sick of the WordPress Problems? – Part 2 (robincoyle.wordpress.com)
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Anyone Else Sick of the WordPress Problems? – Part 2

07 Monday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in Uncategorized

≈ 91 Comments

I ranted yesterday about the crazy problems over at WordPress.

If you are a blogger, you know what problems I am talking about . . . non-spam comments ending up in the spam folder, endless follow-up comments via email if you, God forbid, forget to unclick that little box, etc.

Here is an issue I haven’t seen mentioned. Is this happening to anyone else?

You read a great blog post, formulate a pithy comment, press “Post Comment,” and then POOF. Your comment disappears and doesn’t show up as being posted?

For those of you I follow and you haven’t heard from me, I apologize. I’ve commented. I really have. I promise.

I am going to stop wasting my time and attempting to comment until this issue is resolved.

But tell me, is the “disappearing comment act” happening to you too?

WordPress dashboard interface

WordPress dashboard interface (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Anyone Else Sick of the WordPress Problems?

06 Sunday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . .

≈ 67 Comments

Tags

Bloggers, Frustrated with WordPress, WordPress, WordPress Bugs, WordPress Problems, writers, writing

Anyone else ready to dump WordPress? I am not a ranter, but really WordPress, really? Really? Here is my rant.

Blogging takes an enormous amount of time (ask your husband/wife/significant other – you know it bugs them) and the evil programmers at WP have added to it by nuking comments, putting comments (even MY comments on MY post) in the spam folder, double emailing when someone comments, and deciding that I must read EVERY SINGLE COMMENT MADE on EVERY SINGLE BLOG I COMMENTED ON FROM NOW INTO PERPETUITY.

Argh. What a waste of a day it has been dealing with WordPress’ shenanigans.

I’m ready to move on to a better platform. Are you fair readers?

Maybe the folks at WordPress will suppress this post before it goes to “print” and you will never see it.

Or, what is more likely to happen, my rant will arrive in your in-box 62 times in the next 3 minutes.

Sorry folks. I will return to my normal mild-mannered ways tomorrow. Ah. I feel much better now. I think.

WordPress

WordPress (Photo credit: Adriano Gasparri)

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Strong vs Weak Words – Part 5 ~ Never and Always

06 Sunday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . ., Strong vs Weak Words

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

Overused Words, Overusing the Word Always, Overusing the Word Never, Strong vs Weak Words, writers, writing, Writing Advice, writing tips

“Never” on a Sunday. Or maybe “always” on a Sunday.

 You guessed it. Today’s weak words to avoid are:

Never 

And

Always

When stating the action, the “never” or “always” is implied. Here are examples:

I never go out on Saturday nights. 

You poor lonely soul loser.

I stay home on Saturday nights and cry in my beer. 

~~~~~~

My mom always says I need to stand up straight.

My mom tells me the same thing!

My mom nags about standing up straight.

In most instances, “never” and “always” are filler and make the sentence fall flat. Besides, it is rare that someone “always” does something.

I will “never” confess how many times I used the word “never.” Let’s just say I “always” used it.

Geez Robin, follow your advice would you?

I won’t confess how often I used the word “never” because I am too embarrassed.

For advice on other words that sneak into your writing, clink on the links below:

          • I Have a Problem with “That”
          • Sneaky Little Words for the word GOT
          • Strong vs Weak Words for the word WENT
          • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 2 for the word PEOPLE
          • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 3 for the words THING and STUFF
          • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 4 for the words GO and GOING
          • Moldy Verbs, Adverbs, and Intensifiers

Strong vs Weak Words – Part 4 ~ Go

04 Friday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . ., Strong vs Weak Words

≈ 43 Comments

Tags

Overused Words, Overusing the Verb Go, Overusing the Verb Going, Strong Verbs, Strong vs Weak Words, Strong Words, Weak Verbs, Weak Words, writers, writing, Writing Advice, writing tips

Just when you thought you were safe from me spewing pesky words to look for in your writing, I bring you two more.

“Go” 

And her boring alter ego

“Going” 

Here are examples of how these two little words can suck the lifeblood out of a sentence:

I go shopping for cheap shoes. 

That is a lie. I love expensive shoes.

I shop for cheap shoes

~~~~~~~

Let’s go to London by boat to see the Queen. 

For her Golden Jubilee perchance? (How British of me.)

Let’s sail to London to see the Queen. 

~~~~~~~ 

I am going to have to edit my novel after reading Robin’s wise advice.

 Do you mean Robin’s wisecracks?

I must edit my novel after Reading Robin’s wisecracks.

~~~~~~~ 

I am going to keep the momentum going. 

Would you just be “going” already? Geez.

I will keep up the momentum.

Granted, those sentences are not up for a Nobel Prize in Literature, but I think you can get the point.

I’m embarrassed to tell you how many “go’s” and “going’s” I edited out of my novel. However, I will tell you, if you tell me what you find.

For advice on other words that sneak into your writing, clink on the links below:

          • I Have a Problem with “That”
          • Sneaky Little Words for the word GOT
          • Strong vs Weak Words for the word WENT
          • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 2 for the word PEOPLE
          • Strong vs Weak Words – Part 3 for the words THING and STUFF
          • Moldy Verbs, Adverbs, and Intensifiers

As the photo says . . .

Strong vs Weak Words – Part 3 ~ Things and Stuff

01 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by robincoyle in In Search . . ., Strong vs Weak Words

≈ 55 Comments

Tags

Overused Words, Overusing the Word Stuff, Overusing the Word Things, Strong Verbs, Strong vs Weak Words, Strong Words, writers, writing, Writing Advice, writing tips

“Things” and “stuff” wormed their way into my novel when I wasn’t looking, so I bring you two more words easily exorcised from your writing are:

 “Thing” and “Stuff”

We discovered the overuse of the ubiquitous “that,” “got,” “went,” and “people.” We also slashed moldy verbs, adverbs, and intensifiers from our work. If you missed these posts, click on the highlighted words above.

When I read an article saying to nuke these words from my writing, with smug self-righteousness I thought, “Those words aren’t a problem for articulate me!”

WRONG-O. I searched my manuscript and sure enough, 32 “things” and 8 “stuffs” were lurking in the corners.

Here are two examples:

My mom unloaded my things from the car.

 What things?

I let my mom unload my (pick your favorite)

 1. twelve hamster cages

2. melted Krispie-Kreme Donuts

3. stiletto high-heels

 . . . from the car.

 ~~~~~~~

Mom hauled my stuff to the bedroom.

 What stuff?

Mom hauled my (pick your favorite)

1. ThighMaster

2. complete collection of Donny and Marie albums

3. unicycle, fake red nose, and clown shoes

 . . . to the bedroom

Again, let me know what you discover. I find comfort in numbers when I hear that other writers let words sneak in to their work. I’ll post about something fun tomorrow because if I find one more thing to edit out of my manuscript, the top of my head will come off.

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