Words Matter Week Day 5

Words, like moths, are captured by writers who pin them to the page in various forms. What writer’s work most deftly captivates you? Why?

When I think of contemporary authors, Elizabeth Redfern definitely comes to mind. She is the author of “The Music of the Spheres” and she is one of the best I’ve read in a long time. She brings the style of the classic writers to the present day. She writes in such an interesting voice. When I read her novel, I felt as if I was sitting in a dark corner listening to the story being told just to me. Her words were so intriguing and the characters were well defined. I felt as if I was being transported right into the pages.

Redfern was born in England and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Nottingham. She then earned a post-graduate degree as a chartered librarian at Ealing College and a post-graduate certificate in teaching at the University of Derby.

She worked as a librarian until her daughter was born, then she worked as an adult education lecturer. Her main subject was English. She has also worked with the unemployed and as a skills trainer in the workplace. In her spare time, she plays the violin with the Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra.

“The Music of the Spheres” is a Jack the Ripper-type of story. It revolves around a series of murders that take place in back alleys and involve young prostitutes. Her first novel “Auriel Rising” is a historical mystery.

Words Matter Week Day 4

Words can be mangled, misused, or misunderstood. What is your funniest example of mangling, misuse, or misunderstanding?

Although the above isn't a personal example, I chose this one from the Tonight Show with Jay Leno to demonstrate my point for one reason: These things actually happen in the newspaper business! And it’s often a journalist’s worst nightmare.

When we are writing a story, it’s often late in the day – sometimes in the middle of the night – and so we’re not always at our most wide awake. Unfortunately, that’s when awful and embarrassing mistakes occur, no matter how careful we are.


Writers truly rely on editors and proofreaders to ensure these mistakes don’t find their way into actual print. But no matter how diligent, every now and then, they sneak through and there they are … staring you in the face … making you want to crawl into a cave and hide. You’re sure everyone you pass on the street is laughing at you and pointing their fingers behind your back at your idiocy.

And, yes, I've made some goofy mistakes that went unnoticed until after print. Every writer has!


But this too shall pass. Within a day or two, something else will come along to take their minds off your goof and before long, it’s a thing of the past. Now, some other writer has become the brunt of their jokes.

Whew! You’re now in the clear … or are you? It all depends on if some late night talk show host has seen your mistake and talks about it in front of millions of viewers.

So be careful! Don’t ever think you’re immune to their prying eyes.

All those shows, they actually have subscriptions to the country’s small town newspapers. They will find your mistakes and when you least expect it, you’ll get a call from your family and friends letting you know they saw your byline on that show and the whole world is chuckling!

Words Matter Week Day 3

What is your favorite quote about words. Why?

Words - so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.  ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Were any truer words ever spoken?

We’ve all heard the expression “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

Lies! All lies!

I don’t care who you are. If someone says something awful about you – either behind your back or to your face – it will hurt.

Take the example of the child who is always told he’s a screw up. Before you know it, that’s exactly what he becomes.

On the other hand, a child who is always given words of encouragement will usually grow up to be proud of himself and strive to make something of his life.

It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy and one psychologists have proven time and time again.

As a journalist, I know the power of the written word first-hand. I know that every time I write an article, I must stop and think about how that person, business, organization is going to sound to the reader. Do I want to show this is basically a good person or is it someone who the community should be warned about?

Years ago, I was given an assignment to look into a company that was thinking of moving into the area. They had scoped out the local folks and were asking them to invest in their business. When I attended the public meeting, something didn’t sit quite right with me, so I started investigating.

I found out these people made it a habit of scamming average folks across the country by promising them fortunes for investing in their companies. Depending where they were located, they offered different products. As soon as they sold enough stock, they declared bankruptcy and made off with the money.

I wrote the story and within a few hours, I was receiving phone calls from across the country from people who were also being asked to invest with this company, although the businesses were all slightly different.

I also received a call from the president of the company. He actually praised me on my article, saying I had somehow managed to get all the facts straight … even though he would never admit it to anyone else.

That article and the investigation meant many ordinary folks were saved from losing their life savings. It made me feel good. It was a lot of work, but I’d do it all again if it meant protecting the people I work with, go to church with, see at the grocery store, etc.

After all, if we – as journalists – can’t use our words to inform and help our own communities, why write them at all?

(Note: The picture is the dictionary I regularly use for my own writing. That and the AP Style Guide!)

Words Matter Week

Without words, without writing and without books 

there would be no history, 

there could be no concept of humanity.

Hermann Hesse

This quote is the theme for “Words Matter Week,” which is being celebrated by the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors. As a member of that organization, I was invited to take part in a special blog challenge. Each day, I will create a post based on a specific question that has to do with words.

Words Matter Week Day 1

This was actually yesterday’s question, but because I had to work Monday and Tuesday, I wasn't able to get this done until today. So this is a catch-up post.

The question for Day 1 is:


Is there a word that has changed, or could change your life? What is it, and what difference would it make?

There are so many, many words that a writer could potentially choose. Mine, however, is …

“Snowbird”

Why, you ask? It’s actually very simple.

It’s what I would love to be. For one thing, I hate winter. To clarify, I hate the cold temperatures those of us who live in the northern half of the United States must deal with each winter. That's why we call those who are able to travel south in the winter "snowbirds."

Here is eastern Washington state, we have had an exceptionally long winter. It started in early October and it’s not over yet. Just look at the picture above of the huge icicle that formed on the corner of our house this winter! We’ve had some spring-like days, but I felt it was Mother Nature’s way of teasing us a bit.

The second reason becoming a snowbird could change my life is because my dream as a writer would be to travel the U.S. and write about all the places I visit. That means I could spend winter in the warmer parts of the country. And while I’m traveling, I could easily bring along the books I’m sent for copy editing, so I would still maintain a steady income.

Words Matter Week Day 2

Now for today’s question, which is:

Words can change history. What speech or document do you believe to be most important. Why?

Again, there are millions of speeches and documents that have been important in the history of not only our country, but for the world, as well.

Looking at this question from a contemporary point of view, there is one sentence that always sticks out in my mind:

“That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.” ~ Neil Armstrong

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to step foot on the moon’s surface. Looking at that event today, it probably doesn’t mean much to a lot of people. After all, this is the generation of the space shuttle, which has accomplished a number of tasks that weren’t even thought of 42 years ago.

In fact, I remember watching the movie “Apollo 13” when my son was in grade school. That was in 1995 so he would have been 11 years old. He seemed to enjoy the movie, but as it drew to a close, he looked at me with a smile and said, “Can you imagine if we really had rockets like that?”

I just about fell out of my chair! Of course, we had rockets like that at one time. But as a product of this space shuttle generation, he had no clue at the time that those rockets ever existed.

Yet, without those early moon landings and Armstrong’s walk on the surface, where would our space program be today? We (and by that, I mean our country) proved it was possible to put man on the moon and we were able to move forward from there.

Has the expense of the space missions been justified and proven to be a benefit for each country involved? That’s a matter of opinion. But there was definitely something special about gathering around the TV that night to watch Armstrong climb down that ladder. I know it’s a sight I’ll never forget. And it's also why I find that one sentence so very important.