NaNoWriMo Time Management Tip #1: Compartmentalizing

 Today is the first day of NaNoWriMo, and even though I am not participating, I thought I would help out my fellow writers out there who are feverishly typing away to manage their time well. I write 1000 words a day even if I don’t feel like doing so.  It is my daily regimen.  If

Imagery: Beyond “Show Don’t Tell”

I am sure that if you have attended any creative writing courses at all , you have heard the old addage “Show, don’t tell.”  This is referring to the idea that amateur writers often tell us about the action in their narrative rather than “showing” events through imagery, figurative language and good description.  Over the

Deus Ex Machina: God Is Not A Crutch

Breaking Dawn is one of Stephanie Meyer’s most popular books, but it has within its pages a literary device that is something good writers should learn to use properly: deus ex machina. Deus ex machina is defined by my handy Dictionary of Literary Terms & Theory (Penguin) as: “any unanticipated intervener who resolves a difficult

Signs of China: No Snoking

I’m not sure what “snoking” is, but it is not allowed in this establishment.

Signs of China: The Explain Department

I guess she’s tired of explaining things to people.

Signs of China: This One Speaks For Itself…Sort Of

Signs of China: Laws of the Cosmos

Signs of China: “Paintball DOES Exist!”

Signs In China: Keep Off the Grass

I spent 5 weeks in China last summer and I miss it.  I decided that this week I would post pictures of signs that I saw in that wonderful country. These signs are attempts at English that turn out to be utter failures, or like the one below, have a certain elegance.  It seems to