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An A to Z guide to finding your joy in writing
An A to Z guide to finding your joy in writing
A is for the author (you!)
Pen tucked behind your ear:
Let’s use your gift to make them laugh,
Get mad, or shed a tear.
,
B is for the books you’ll write,
Your creative spirit, fed.
The story’s waiting, time to start;
It’s anxious to be read!
,
C — the cover. This is where
The first impression’s made.
There’s nothing quite like walking past
And seeing it displayed.
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D is for the dream — your book!
Just flying off the shelves.
The Today Show calls, you ditch your sweats
And stay in chic hotels.
,
E is for the editing
All kinds of writers do
We tweak the scenes and add a twist
But adverbs we eschew.
,
BONUS
,
Etymology tells us
How fun words got their start
It says “eschew” is rarely used
And that just breaks my heart.
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F is where the fun begins
With author friends we meet.
We understand the highs and lows,
Elation, and cold feet.
,
G, the girl who dreamed of writing
Books like ones she’d read.
Though she’s grown up, you’ve filled her cup;
She’s cheering in your head.
,
H is for the happy ending
Readers will expect
We’d rue the day we ended on
A teaser for effect.
,
Idioms are useful tools
To help you turn a phrase.
Euphemisms mask taboo,
And others are clichés.
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J is for the jokes, dark humor,
Slapstick, and satire.
Make them laugh and they’ll come back
(Unless they are a crier).
,
K is for the k*ll*ng off
Of our protagonist
It’s the bravest choice when faced
with writing the plot twist.
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L, the lazy afternoons
Spent in our writing chair
Our laptop open, music on,
And cheese dust in our hair.
,
Mmhmm… it’s time to talk about
The subject we avoid.
If money keeps your muse inspired,
She’s bound to be annoyed.
,
N is for the naughty books
She’s penned in her fake name.
Regardless how we use our gift,
To waste it is a shame.
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Oh the ostentatious voice
That wants to preen and crow
Unless you’re writing research grants,
Save it for Thoreau.
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P is for the sneaky twist
That lurks within the plot.
We find new ways to make them doubt
What’s true… and what is not.
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Q: Let’s quickly talk about
Their thoughts and rhetoric.
Italicize or not? Who knows!
“She wondered” does the trick.
,
R is for the rhythmic prose
That pulls the reader in.
If we write it well, they’ll have to
Run the wash again.
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Style is individual,
Unique as DNA.
What you might write as comedy,
Is someone’s tragic play.
,
Titles set the scene for what
The story is about.
They proudly sit and spin a tale
That’s short but full of clout.
,
Underwhelming, trite, or ugly
Words need not apply.
When we can paint a picture of a man
With words like spry.
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V is for the very late nights
Spent behind a screen.
It’s half past four, I’ll write one more,
Please, someone intervene!
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W is “why” we write
When nothing else makes sense.
Or when we’re bored and dream up monsters
Hiding in our vents.
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Xtra words (and letters) should
Get tossed into the street.
We’re like the bouncer in a club
Of words with giant feet.
You and I are not the same,
But this is surely true:
The words we use can build a bridge
From you to me to you.
,
Z is for the zeal and zen
That writing can provide.
But please don’t make me spell zucchini (I did it!)
Although… I’ll eat it fried.