Monday, June 25, 2012

Miss Kohler's 50 Writing Rules


  1. Avoid Alliteration. Always.
  2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
  3. Avoid clichés like the plague. (They’re old hat.)
  4. Employ the vernacular.
  5. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
  6. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
  7. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
  8. Contractions aren’t necessary.
  9. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
  10. One should never generalize.
  11. Comparisons are as bad as clichés.
  12. Don’t be redundant; don’t use more words than necessary; it’s highly superfluous.
  13. Profanity sucks.
  14. Be more or less specific.
  15. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
  16. One word sentences? Eliminate.
  17. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
  18. The passive voice is to be avoided.
  19. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
  20. Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
  21. Who needs rhetorical questions?
  22. Parenthetical words however must be enclosed in commas.
  23. It behooves you to avoid archaic expressions.
  24. Avoid archaeic spellings too.
  25. Don't repeat yourself, or say again what you have said before.
  26. Don't use commas, that, are not, necessary.
  27. Do not use hyperbole; not one in a million can do it effectively.
  28. Never use a big word when a diminutive alternative would suffice.
  29. Subject and verb always has to agree.
  30. Placing a comma between subject and predicate, is not correct.
  31. Use youre spell chekker to avoid mispeling and to catch typograhpical errers.
  32. Don't repeat yourself, or say again what you have said before.
  33. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.
  34. Don't never use no double negatives.
  35. Poofread carefully to see if you any words out.
  36. Hopefully, you will use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
  37. Eschew obfuscation.
  38. No sentence fragments.
  39. Don't indulge in sesquipedalian lexicological constructions.
  40. A writer must not shift your point of view.
  41. Don't overuse exclamation marks!!
  42. Place pronouns in long sentences with10 or more words, close to their antecedents.
  43. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
  44. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
  45. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
  46. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
  47. Always pick on the correct idiom.
  48. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
  49. Reread your work and you can find a great deal of repetition can be found by rereading.
  50. And always be sure to finish

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Writing to an Inmate


David, his mom & sis - visit in prison
Here at 1st Writes, we talk about writing as a ministry. Some of us write devotions or inspirational blog posts. Some of us minister in our fiction writing by building our themes on Biblical truths. Some of write Christian drama. Some of us do a card ministry and encourage the sick and home-bound. Today, I want to talk about prison ministry. It's personal to me.

David Welsh is my good friend, Patti's brother. He committed a crime five years ago in Washington State. He's been serving a 10 year sentence. I've been writing to him off and on over these five years. He has five left to go. 

I never thought I'd write an inmate. Never thought I'd know an inmate. I had only met David once or twice before he was sent to prison. He looked tough, but he was well loved by his family. When Patti first asked me to write him in jail, I felt very uncomfortable. I didn't really know him. I didn't want the mailman to see I was writing to a prisoner. But, as time went by, I realized it was every bit as good for me to write him, as it was for David to receive my letters.

I am supposed to get out of my comfort zone for Christ. I am supposed to share Christ's love with others. David's sin is no worse than my sin. Our sin, no matter what it is, put Jesus on the cross.

So, today, I challenge you to get out of your comfort zone. Maybe writing to an inmate is not what God wants you to do, but I bet, there is something God is whispering in your ear to do. Be his hands and feet and minister to someone who needs Christ.

Here is a poem I mailed to David today:

I'm Not Done Yet 
by Dawn M. Hamsher

Though the road is long and may seem tough.
I can survive it, God is enough.
As I sit and think about my past.
It’s time to look ahead at last.
My journey here is half-way done.
The future is bright, just like the sun.
And the reason that I’m here at all.
Is for his purpose and his call.
My work on earth is not complete.
Help me, Lord, stay at your feet.

Monday, June 11, 2012

See * Photo * Write

Take the See * Photo * Write Challenge!
An interesting, amusing or startling photograph has the power to spark creativity and arouse the writer within!


Photo by Gillian Hamsher, NYC
Writing: "I regret not asking my father more questions before he died."

Do you enjoy writing prompts?
Each Monday 1st Writes offers a photo prompt.
We would love to have you write on the prompt and share with us!
Just write your response in the Comments Section or leave a link to your blog.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Music While You Write?

Today over at The Write Soil, I posted about listening to music while you work and write.

Check it out!

Music While You Write?

Friday, June 1, 2012

Flowers - Dawn

In celebration of the season, Pam led our writing group on a short study of flowers in the Bible. We looked at scripture and talked about flowers that were special to each of us. Afterwards, we wrote, either about one of the scriptures or about our special flower.  I'll share one at a time.

Here is Dawn's:


I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys... 
(Song of Songs 2:1)


I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
I am the daughter of a master gardener, who is also a king.
My place is among the fields where my job is to garden.
My place is not here, but this is where I work.
Everyday is a challenge for weeds try to choke out the harvest.
Everyday is a joy as I see flowers bloom and flourish.
My job is to plant the seeds in whatever soil is available.
My job is to then let my father grow the plants, in his time.
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
I am the daughter of a master gardener, who is also a king.