Happy Summer, Dear Readers,
Between Canada’s smoke funneling to Pennsylvania and clouding the sky or the blazing heat when the wind blows the air clear, my garden is confused into what season we’re in from week to week. The strawberries aren’t baring berries, the tomato plants are withering within their cages, and the corn won’t be close to knee high in July. This season the garden’s mixed-up growing season seems more like my novel than produce.
Last month, my Writing Group read my latest work-in-progress. They didn’t know what genre the story was from Chapter One to The End. They mentioned the Tone had too much levity for a murder mystery even if the victims were my carrots and the culprit, the Houdini rabbit who kept finding magical ways into the patch. The underlying story didn’t match the Genre.
They suggested using stronger verb choices to tie the necessary tone with the genre. The Word program’s thesaurus made some of those decisions easier, but I wanted to write better characters traits as well. Characters with flaws and qualities who could portray the same dread I did every morning when another carrot vanished.
With all these options, I’m changing the tone to match the dastardly, thieving hare.
Until next time, happy writing!
Betty Wryte-Goode
Betty Wryte-Goode is a writer and mother who lives in the Lehigh Valley. Her passions include writing, reading, shopping, gardening, and exploring the internet. Betty is always looking for writing tips, so if you have any you would like to share, please send them to her through our Submissions/Contacts page.
Mixed-Up Words of the Month
Perquisite vs. requisite
These two words sound similar but their meanings are quite different.
Perquisite, according to Webster’s, is a privilege or profit provided beyond a person’s regular salary, particularly if that bit of extra money or privilege is expected by the person. It can also mean a gratuity or tip. The term perks is a shortened version of perquisite. That job comes with a lot of perks. Or, as the CEO of the company, he enjoyed a number of perquisites, including a luxury car.
Requisite doesn’t refer to anything that’s a bonus. Rather, it means something that’s essential or necessary. She gathered the requisite paperwork for the application.