Things That Make A Writer Cry

So, so true...

Silver Linings

Being sick has been a bit of a blessing. Since I have to stay home much of the time and rest (other than when I am at work), I have been spending my time editing. Look for the silver lining, every cloud has one.

Buzz Words, Abbreviations and Explanations

Buzzwords and abbreviations...

I find now that I despise them in real life. Here's an example:

ERP...

What do you think of when you see ERP? Nothing? or like me (originally a trained electronics technician in the days of my youth, who's primary speciality was 2-way communications equipment) do you think of Effective Radiated Power? (Or Equivalent Radiated Power) Follow this Link if you want your mind truly boggled.

Or do you think of the term Enterprise Resource Planning?

Do we wind up using buzzwords and abbreviations which are obscure and need explanations when we write? We need to think about my thoughts above. If you have to explain a buzzword, just use the explanation (simplified, if need be). It's better to use the explanation (in my view) than have to do both.

We also need to think of our audience, do they, as a rule, understand our abbreviations and buzzwords? Or do they (like me when my boss started tossing around ERP - meaning Enterprise Resource Planning) have to look it up. I knew Effective Radiated Power didn't make sense in the context. 

Critique Time!

One of the best things to sharpen your work and thicken your skin is a critique...

I have had a few amateur critiques of my writing, but never a professional one.
However, since we are going to the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference in May,
I have submitted a sample of my writing to be critiqued by two professionals in the publishing industry. They will both be at the conference, and this is a service offered for attendees.

Nail biting time!