Cindy
Subscriber since: November 2011
About Me
I'm a retired NY newspaper feature writer, then a claims taker and decision writer for SSA, and briefly, a published short story writer. I now live happily in a pine woods near the ocean with a niece, her four-year-old boy, and 2 dogs. My mind is turning again to thoughts of sweet words and satisfying sentences.
My Word Lists
Recent Comments
My Favorites

Favorite Word:

Nereid
I don't know why I like it. Another word may occur to me any minute. Wait for it........

Least Favorite Word:

perfect
I'm not entirely sure. It's unattainable, for one thing. But the idea that human beings should strive mightily for this unreal standard alarms me. Similarly, the idea of "purity." My preference is for the earthly, scrambled and real beauties of the imperfections all around and in us. I love them. And besides, you can't write about perfection. Not in my opinion, anyway.
Other subscribers who dislike this word:

Favorite Quote:

"Not at the moment, I don't. Have a quote, that is."

Favorite Topics:

Books:

Dennis Baron's "What's Your Prounoun? Beyond He & She" is a Timely Winner
February 27, 2020 - 2 Comments
Inspiration to All
December 10, 2019 - 1 Comment

Copywriting:

How Productive a Writer Are You?
December 18, 2017
Laughing Matters
November 5, 2017 - 4 Comments

Dictionaries:

Finding (or Inventing) Euphemisms in the Latest OED Update
November 13, 2019 - 4 Comments
Webster: the Weaseliest Word in Dictionaries
June 21, 2019 - 4 Comments

Fiction writing:

How to Name Your Characters
November 4, 2019 - 3 Comments
How to Become More Interested in What You're Writing
June 24, 2019 - 2 Comments

Language arts:

The Enduring Impact of English Teachers on Students
April 28, 2015 - 4 Comments
The Art of Subterfuge: Using Pop Culture to Create Interest in the Classics
December 5, 2014 - 4 Comments

Libraries:

Librarians Suggest Good Books for Kids of All Ages
January 15, 2013
Love Your Librarian
September 26, 2011 - 4 Comments

Storytelling:

Murray's Mission: My Greatest Elementary School Memory
May 7, 2014 - 7 Comments
Type Casting
January 24, 2012 - 2 Comments

Usage:

Comparative Nonsense
November 1, 2019 - 5 Comments
Unexpected Cousins
April 1, 2019 - 8 Comments

Word Origins:

New Virus, New Words
March 30, 2020
Does It Matter What We Call a Disease?
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers March 23, 2020 - 12 Comments

Words:

Pronouns Prevail for Word of Year and Decade
January 10, 2020 - 1 Comment
Comparative Nonsense
November 1, 2019 - 5 Comments

Writing:

Is Lack of Reflection Sabotaging your Writing?
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers March 27, 2020 - 2 Comments
Why Writers Should Use a Secret Sauce: Tracking
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers February 24, 2020 - 4 Comments