Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

Spelling matters

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You want a bar with that bra? "You need a bar that suits you..." with an attractive senior woman next a row of lacy, front closure bras. I spotted this ad on my computer and took a screen shot (note I did not write that I screenshotted it. Screenshotted has to be the most awkward made-up word I've ever heard.) Screen shots aside, it’s true you need a bar that suits you as well as a good … [Read more...]

What, Why, How: Shannon Bowring

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What: Like a lot of aspiring authors, I used to have that dream of one day sitting down, writing a novel, and becoming an instant success. But that’s not how it goes. You’ve got to work your way up to a novel, and I believe writing short fiction is the best way to do that. So many of the basics begin with the short story: Sense of place, tight dialogue, surprising twists, subtle yet poignant … [Read more...]

What, Why, How: Randy D. Pearson

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What: I write fiction, pure and simple. Creating new worlds, or inventing weird stuff to happen in the old world, is where my passion hangs out. For the longest time, I used to exclusively write short stories. This was primarily due to my WADD (Writer’s Attention Deficit Disorder … Dog! I see a dog! He looks so cute. I wonder what type of dog that is?) I’m sorry, what was I saying? Oh yeah. I … [Read more...]

I or Me: how to know which to use

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The easiest grammar rule in the world—and yet people keep getting it wrong. Believe me - it's not I I overheard one of the moonshiners on the Discovery channel TV show say, ”Billy trusted Joe and I to keep the mash warm.” What kind of highfalutin' language is that for a good ol' boy? He should have said, “Billy trusted Joe and me to keep the mash warm.” Not because he's a moonshiner, … [Read more...]

Who Cleans Your House?

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Bad housekeeping: A friend asked me if I had a housekeeper.I said no.So she asked, “You clean your own house?“I said no.She asked, “Wait... Who cleans your house?”I laughed and said no one. I also told her I was three winters behind in my spring cleaning. Joking aside Actually I'm not that bad. I keep my kitchen counters, stovetop and sink clean, but they're used on a daily basis, so … [Read more...]