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Deck the House With Garland!

12/17/2014

Christmas Garland

If you come to my house right now you will see red, gold, and silver garland in just about every room.

I don’t know what it is about garland, but when it comes to decorating the house for the Christmas holidays, I bring out my entire collection of garland and place it in, on, and around the entire house. I am comforted by the intriguing festoon of slithery ribbons that move with every breeze, capturing every glint of light with those shimmery slithers of ribbons.

The scenery around here is festive. The mood is happy, humble, and grateful to be surrounded by the love of family and friends.

Time to Celebrate
From January to December, I work hard. By the time the holidays come around, I am ready to take a break from the work I love and spend more time with the people I love.

So, I’m signing off for the holidays, making travel arrangements to visit loved ones and to celebrate with the people who are here for me through the good times and the bad times. These are my folks. I love them so much. I look forward to being with them.

I will return to blogging, writing, and audiobook productions in the coming year of 2015. Until then, I wish you a very merry Christmas and hope you have a wonderful new year.

Copyright Marlene C Bertrand 2014. All rights reserved.

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How to Write Metaphors Like a Professional Writer

12/10/2014

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Write until your heart is content.

A metaphor is a figure of speech. We speak metaphorically when we say something that represents something else.

A metaphor is a comparison of two things that are completely different, yet when we use them in correlation with each other, we see some sort of resemblance or sameness, providing a clear picture of what we mean.

There Are Two Types of Metaphors.
Metaphors can be simple or can be structured as what is known as a simile. Let’s explore each type of metaphor.

The Simple Metaphor: Generally, a metaphor associates an object or concept that is real with an object or concept that is not real.

Examples:
My heart is broken.
In this example, the heart is real, but it is not actually broken.

Tom is a pig.
In this example, Tom is not really a pig. But, because pigs are sloppy, when we say Tom is a pig, it creates the vision of Tom eating sloppily.

It’s raining cats and dogs.
In this example, it is raining, but cats and dogs are not falling from the sky. We use such a phrase to say it is raining very hard.

The Simile: Similes is a type of metaphor that uses words such as “like” or “as” to make a comparison between two things that are not alike. A simile is used when the writer wants to say that one thing is like another thing.

Examples:
He ran like the wind.
In this example, comparing his running speed to the wind gives the reader the idea that he ran very fast.

She sings like an angel.
In this example, we are saying she sings beautifully.

It is as cold as ice.
In this example, we are saying it is very cold.

Use Metaphors Effectively
Metaphors help the writer paint a vivid picture for their readers. A cleverly written metaphor can liven up your content. I admit that it took me a long time to get a handle on how to use metaphors effectively. But, once I got a little bit of an idea of how to use metaphors, I tried my hand at using them with a publication that I wrote titled, “Write Like a Musician for Content That Flows.”

For Further Reading
I have a writer friend who is a former school teacher. His name is William Holland. He is a published author who explains metaphors in a way that may help you gain a tighter grasp of the concept. Read his publication titled, “Writing 101: The Under-Appreciated metaphor.”

Until next time, "Happy Writing!"

Copyright Marlene C. Bertrand. All rights reserved.

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The Period and the Semicolon

12/8/2014

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A period is used to note the end of a sentence.

A semicolon, on the other hand, is a cross between a comma and a period; denoting that related information is to follow.

Here are some common semicolon rules:

Rule 1:
We often use a comma at the end of a thought. It causes the reader to pause. Now, the semicolon, being a combination of a comma and a period notes more or less a complete thought. When you use the semicolon, you are letting the reader know that the words which follow the semicolon are closely related to the words preceding the semicolon.

Example:
Tasha said she was sorry; it was her fault anyway.

Rule 2:
There are certain words that we use to cause the reader to pause. Some grammar experts call these connector words or transitional words. We use these words to connect two independent clauses (sentences that have a subject and a verb, and is a complete thought).

Use a semicolon between independent clauses, separated by connector or transitional words such as and, but, with respect to, in other words, actually, indeed, furthermore, also, besides, however, as soon as, all of a sudden, etc. Place the semicolon in front of the connector words and a comma after connector words.

Examples:
I ran for six miles; all of a sudden, my feet began to ache.
I can’t believe he didn’t open the door; then again, she did tell him she didn’t need his help for anything.

Rule 3:
In sentences that contain a series of items, we use commas. Sometimes, when the series contain items that include a comma (cities and states) a semicolon is used to make items in a series clearer.

Example:
I’d like to visit Paris, Texas; Marysville, Michigan; and San Jose, Costa Rica.

Semicolon or Period?
When you just want the reader to pause or when you want to join independent clauses together, use a semicolon. Use a period at the end of a complete sentence.

A semicolon is never used at the end of a sentence; however, a semicolon can be used at the end of a complete thought. Essentially, when two minor thoughts are brought together to form a better understanding for the reader, a semicolon may be used.

Copyright Marlene C. Bertrand 2014
Originally published 12-8-2014

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Marlene C. Bertrand declared "Independent Writer" status in 2013. This blog shares her journey as a writer. Visit Marlene's My Books page for recently published books.

Recommended Recources

When I need answers to my writing questions, I refer to resources that have served me well as a technical writer in the past and as a freelance writer now. The following books sit on my bookshelf ready for use at my demand. When working with clients, you will need to adhere to the client’s style guide for how they want their documents to be formatted. As a freelance writer, you have the liberty of setting up your own style guide. The following resources offer excellent information on grammar and punctuation styles that are most common to writing for United States publishing standards.

Any one or all of the following books are valuable books to have on your bookshelf at all times:

Strunk and White's Elements of Style

The Chicago Manual of Style

Associated Press Stylebook

Deck the House With Garland!

How to Write Metaphors Like a Professional Writer

The Period and the Semicolon

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