http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Jazwolf/Advice to help you become a better writerhourly12000-01-01T12:00+00:00http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Jazwolf/446540Those With Determination To Be Writers. I'm signing off here effective Monday, March 5. I am maintaining a page at Yahoo 360-- http://360.yahoo.com/my_profile-JvSsYIAjdKQSKXd10bsmU71DrQ--?cq=1 If you're interested, I hope that link will get you there. Just in case, my Yahoo ID is "Rotico." Even...http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Jazwolf/438054I'll probably not be posting anymore here at Blogit--- not that anyone will notice by this time, since I've already been away for three weeks. But just wanted to make it official. I still have about 1 1/2 months left on my subscription, so I might be back. Don't want to ever say "never." The main...http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Jazwolf/431926At Dave's request, here's a quick lesson regarding the misuse of a preposition as a verb. “I should of gone with you.” What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong is that “of” is a preposition, not a helping verb. What you should write is, “I should have gone with you.” Or, “I should’ve gone with you.”...http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Jazwolf/431672“Then” and “than” share a similar sound, especially when not spoken clearly. I believe that’s the reason so many people misuse them in their writing. But whatever the reason, their misuse is all too common. What usually happens is that “then” is used when “than” should be. For example: “I would...http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Jazwolf/430156Here’s more evidence that media are leading the way in destruction of effective communication through the written word: “Movie piracy runs rapid in China, India... “ That’s a Fox News Channel headline that appeared on the screen during a segment about how much money studios are losing because of...http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Jazwolf/429728Twenty-five percent (2.5 out of 10) people ages 18-24 can’t find Louisiana on a map. Forty percent (4 out of 10) can’t find Mississippi. And 60 percent (6 out of 10) have no idea where Iraq is. I have included numbers as well as percentages for those who are as unschooled about math as many...http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Jazwolf/429174When I was 3 years old, I recited the following at a church Christmas program. Years later, I still remember it word for word. Merry Christmas, Jazwolf. by Clement Clarke Moore 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The...http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Jazwolf/428809The difference between so-so writers and great writers is the tolerance they have for mediocrity. While I heartily endorse the sentiment, I can’t take credit for the quote. It belongs to Ana Menendez, a columnist for the Miami Herald newspaper. I'd add that many of us who aren't great don't...http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Jazwolf/428145Here’s a headline that appeared on an e-mail newsletter that I received recently. I’ve included a bit of the story to satisfy your curiosity. Puerto Rican Farmers Literally Want the Monkies Off Their Backs May 03, 2006 -- A group of angry farmers is gathered in this small town to talk about this...http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/Jazwolf/427256Whenever you decide to write something, no matter what the subject, no matter who the readers, consider the following two themes and how you can incorporate one or both. They are universal and timeless. Write about conflict: man versus man, man versus nature, man versus himself. Write about being...