Writing Wednesday: Commas

Commas seem to be horribly misunderstood, overused, underused, and/or outright ignored. This is mostly a tragedy because the comma, when properly used, does wonders!

Commas separate the elements in a series of things (when the series includes three or more items), including the last two. Ex: I bought eggs, milk, bread, and cheese at the store today.

A comma combined with a little conjunction (and, but, or, for, so, yet, nor) will connect two independent clauses (that is a lesson for another day). Ex: I brought a notebook for class, but I left my highlighter at home.

A comma can be used between two adjectives when the conjunction "and" could be used between them. Ex: My cat has a shiny, black coat.       You would not use it here: She bought an expensive cotton yarn.  (You wouldn't say she bought an expensive and cotton yarn, because you're conveying that that cotton yarn that was purchased was expensive. Make sense?)

These are just a three comma rules. There are more (of course there are) and there are great grammar websites out there that you can reference if you aren't sure. Some of the ones I check (yes, even I double check myself) are:

The Writing Center
Grammar Book
Guide to Grammar and Writing

Now, go and use commas properly!

Writing Wednesday: Moon

moon

silvery white
      spilling over
grass
trees
blanket on the lawn

air fresh
       sweetened by earlier rain
tugs the few loose curls
dances over the skin
       light
       feathery

maiden moon
        quartered
        glowing

reigning over
          songs and revelry

Writing Wednesday: 4th Street Feeling

Today is my birthday!!! Last night, I went to Wolf Trap to see the always amazing Melissa Etheridge on concert. It was spectacular and I had a blast, but it definitely inspired some poetry. So here's a little taste of last night for you, titled after the song that inspired it.

4th Street Feeling
pulsing
dancing
feeling
   the vibrations

in the ground
in the air
in my body

the thump
       resonating in
             my soul

the night sky
       open and wide
above my head

...eyes closed, head back
the sweet smell of summer….

sprawled on the blanket
     forgotten glass of wine
            to my right

eyes closed
    swaying

lost in the music

Writing Wednesday: Homonyms

Let's have a chat about homonyms, shall we?

According to Merriam-Webster, a homonym is:
          1

                a : homophone [1: one of two or more words pronounced alike

                      but different in meaning or derivation or spelling (as the words to,

                      too, and two); 2: a character or group of characters pronounced the

                      same as another character or group]

                b : homograph [one of two or more words spelled alike but different in

                      meaning or derivation or pronunciation (as the bow of a ship, a bow

                      and arrow)]

                c : one of two or more words spelled and pronounced alike

                      but different in meaning (as the noun quail and the verb quail)

          2

                   : namesake [one that has the same name as another; especially : one who

                     is named after another or for whom another is named]

           3

                   : a taxonomic designation rejected as invalid because the identical

                     term has been used to designate another group of the same rank —

                     compare synonym

Allow us to focus on that first definition for a moment. Most people tend to struggle with the homophones, like:

            - bald vs balled vs bawled                                        - its vs it's

            - to vs two vs too                                                      - your vs you're

            - there vs their vs they're                                         - peak vs peek vs pique

There are all kinds of lists out there on the internet, people. Find them. Bookmark them. They are your friend. Love them. They will save you. They will also save your editor from smashing his/her head into his/her desk repeatedly out of frustration.

Writing Wednesday

Well, today was a bust.

I've decided I do not like the schedule function. My posts either don't post at all or they post on the wrong day. Or they just outright disappear, as in, no posting or saving.

The latter is responsible for today's lack of post. I think I'm going to have to go back to saving as a draft and going into blogger myself to post it. Grr.

Today's topic was, of course, beautifully written and deep. After an adventure filled day at the full time job, I got nothing for you people. Nada.

Instead, I leave you with this thought:

dappled, dancing
filtering through
     leaves fluttering
               ruffling
warm and golden
without the edge of
     noontime;'s glare
fading, softening
     end of the day

almost time to go home