Do You Dash?

Monday Fast Fact – The Dash

Did you know?

A dash is used to show a change or sudden break in a sentence. It is used to show emphasis and should not be used as a frequent replacement for a comma. 

Example: 

Toward the project’s completion – and not due to insufficient employees – some work days ran into overtime. 

A dash is used to introduce a series, followed by an explanatory clause.

Example: 

Chocolate, a cup of tea, and a good book – these are my favorite rainy day treats.

A dash is used to show an interruption, such as in dialogue.

Example:  

Jaden: Helen, why did you –         

Helen: Stop asking questions!       
                

A dash is used to indicate parenthetical text that explains a word or phrase. 

Example: 

The event – a parade to celebrate the holiday – was held every year.


Do you recall lessons on the dash in school? I've been using it more lately, no particular conscious reason. Variety, perhaps. Used sparingly and with care, I think that the dash is an effective addition.

How much does the dash appear in your writing?

Happy Monday,
Karen

P. S. The dash and a host of other grammar and writer-ly tidbits are among the topics discussed in Basic Boot Camp for Writers, my class at the Coffeehouse for Writers. I invite you to check out the selection of great workshops offered every month!

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the author, Karen Lange. 

Photo credit: Stock Exchange

Thursday's This & That

The weekend is almost here! Thought I'd conclude the week by sharing a few odds and ends. Hope you find them useful. :) 

Interested in landing an interview with a popular personality? The Renegade Writer shares savvy tips in How to Land Interviews with Hard to Get Sources. Advice like "Play Phone Tag" and "Think Like a PR Person" helps writers score big and stay on top of their game.

Jennifer Brown Banks of Pen and Prosper shares another angle for writers to explore in this post, The Pros and Cons of Ghost Writing for Pay. If you don't mind writing in the shadows, it is a viable alternative to pocket extra cash.

The Coffeehouse for Writers' new session begins Monday, September 5. Whether you are interested in learning more about blogging, writing historical fiction, SEO techniques, creating character, or another facet of writing, the Coffeehouse offers something for everyone.

I am part of the Coffeehouse "Crew", and have the privilege of teaching Basic Boot Camp for Writers. Boot Camp refreshes the basics such as punctuation, contractions, and homophones, plus structural elements, passive versus active writing, and a whole lot more. For more info, click here.

Writer's Digest sponsors a number of contests, with themes that include Short Story, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction, and Crime. Click on the highlighted theme text, or visit their site for details. Note - these particular contest deadline dates run September through November 2011.

I have a two part guest post this week at my good friend Carol Alexander's blog. The topic is Homeschool Learning Co-ops. I discuss everything from what they are and how to start one to how to determine if they are right for your family. If this is of interest to you, please feel free to stop by Carol's blog or pass it along to any homeschool families you know. Thanks a bunch!

Run across any helpful gems lately? What are your weekend plans?

Happy writing,

Karen

Partners in Crime

I know. You thought I was the "Goody-Two-Shoes" poster girl didn't you? Well, I used to be. Mostly, anyway. Then I met Susan J. Reinhardt of Christian Writer/Reader Connection.

Yes, Susan is a great friend, writing colleague, and blogging mentor. But the little known fact is, she and I are partners in crime.

What have we done? Well, you see it's this way...Susan and I have teamed up to write a book together. Yes, it's true. And we are getting into trouble even as we speak, scheming and plotting and whatnot.

I cannot reveal all the details just yet, but I will tell you that it is historical fiction set in Colonial America.

Susan and I are sharing a few thoughts about this partnership in the form of a Q & A on our blogs today. I hope you will hop over to her blog and check out what she has to say.


Karen: Were you nervous about the project before you started? How about now that things are underway?

Susan: Karen and I had joked about the possibilities, but then started kicking around ideas. I was nervous because I never co-wrote a book before. As the book progresses, I'm adjusting to team writing.


Karen: I am still nervous! Susan has a lot more experience than I do, having several novels under her belt. I'm learning much as we go, and Susan is a great teacher. :)

Karen: What advice would you give anyone considering a collaborative effort?

Susan: Make sure you like each other. A lot. You'll be spending a lot of time together brainstorming, researching, and writing together. :)

Karen: I agree with Susan. I also encourage writers to check out this post at Pen and Prosper. Jennifer Brown Banks hits the nail on the head with great advice in Pros and Cons of Creative Collaborations.

Stay tuned! Susan and I will share more tidbits as our adventures unfold.

Have you ever collaborated on a writing project with anyone? Do tell!

Happy writing,

Karen

Photo credit: Lockheed -stock.xchng

Boot Camp & A Nifty Giveaway

Basic Boot Camp for Writers


Starting November 15, I will be teaching another session of Basic Boot Camp for Writers over at the Coffeehouse for Writers. Basic Boot Camp is a four week workshop that reviews helpful basics, such as sticky grammar issues and keeping things sharp. Hop over and check it out. I'd love to have you along!

Other Coffeehouse workshop offerings include historical fiction, blogging for profit, fiction and non-fiction, and lots more. These workshops begin November 15 as well. Their site also hosts critique groups, offers writing resources and links, has cool gifts for writers and other fun stuff.


Celebrating Followers With a Giveaway

Finally! I think I've been chattering about celebrating reaching 150 followers since August. And now I have nearly 200! Hooray! Thanks for your patience. My apologies - multiple projects, book reviews, birthdays, anniversaries and other things were the culprits that detained me. Oh, and sleep too. I'm funny about that; I like my rest.

I appreciate my followers. Without you, Write Now would just be a blip on the Blogspot screen. I am especially grateful when you are able to stop and comment. I understand when you can't; believe me, I do. My commenting has slacked off due to the above mentioned events - but it means a lot to me when you are able to slide by and say hello. Thank you!

The Prize Is...

A writer's package that contains a handy journal, a package of cute post it notes (or, for you guy followers they're convenient travel size), a set of pens, two highlighters, a copy of In Every Heartbeat by Kim Vogel Sawyer (read my review here), and of course, chocolate. What's a follower giveaway prize without chocolate? :)

Giveaway Details - Please read carefully. 

Giveaway is open to followers only. I am grateful to everyone who stops by, follower or not, but it's my followers who provide support and keep me going. That's why we're celebrating with a giveaway, after all! Here are the rest of the details:

• Leave a comment to this post, include your email address. Entries without email address are not eligible.
• Receive a bonus entry by posting about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook and/or Twitter. Please be sure and comment telling me so.
• Deadline to enter is noon Eastern Standard Time, Wednesday, November 17, 2010. Winner will be  notified via email and announced in Thursday's post.
• Open to followers everywhere; allow extra mailing time if you live overseas.         

What are my happy followers doing this weekend? Thanks and blessings to you all! :)

Happy weekend,
Karen

Photo credit: merlin1075  http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1318723

A Little Coffee with Your Workshop?

Coffeehouse for Writers has an ongoing assortment of online workshops featuring instruction on historical fiction, blogging for profit, writing for children, magazine writing, creating character and more. Reasonably priced to suit the budget, offerings run from two day mini workshops to four and five weeks long.

I was asked to join the "Coffee Crew", and am pleased to announce that I will act as facilitator of one of their newest offerings. Basic Boot Camp for Writers begins Monday, October 11 and is designed to provide a refresher on basic writing and grammar elements for sharp and engaging writing. 

We'll discuss things like homophones, clauses, active versus passive voice, sentence variety, dialogue punctuation and a whole lot more. If you are interested in brushing up on the basics with fun writing prompts and assignments, I'd love to have you along. Hop over to the Coffeehouse to check it out!

Have a wonderful weekend. :)

Blessings, 

Karen

Image credit: Ambrozio http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1248315