Category: Writing

Tips for Avoiding Strain While Writing

12/16/2013

Photo: www.NikDesignsGraphics.com

by Dominique Petersen

Do you sit at your computer, working on your novel, for hours at a time? If so, here are some tips to help you avoid strain.

Have your monitor positioned correctly: a little lower than eye level and directly in front of you, about 18 to 30 inches away.

Adjust the brightness of the monitor so that it is not glaring in your eyes; adjust the contrast so your eyes can better distinguish all items on the screen.

Make sure the chair you are sitting on allows your feet to be firmly on the floor.

To avoid staining your neck and shoulders, make sure your keyboard is at elbow height.

Avoid reaching. For example, make sure your mouse is right beside the keyboard at your fingertips.

Avoid fluorescent lights and sunlight and instead use soft lighting and blinds to cut down too-bright lighting that makes the items on your screen hard to see.

Blink your eyes frequently and walk away from your desk every now and then—go get some coffee or a breath of fresh air.

Look for products that will make your work easier. For example, a padded wrist rest at your keyboard or a stand to attach to the side of your monitor on which to place any papers you are typing from.

Dominique "Nik" Petersen is a published author, graphic designer, and part-time food photographer. For more information, visit the website at www.NikDesignsGraphics.com and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/NiksBooks or www.Facebook.com/NiksPikks
She can be reached at NikDesignsGraphics@yahoo.ca

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The Essential Writing Tool

12/15/2013

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by Jens Petersen

Whether you are writing an article for a magazine, an email, a blog, or a book, there is one essential tool you need—a good dictionary. Always have it at hand and use it often, whenever there is any doubt about a word or phrase. It can save you some serious embarrassment and preserve your credibility with your readers.

Don't rely on the accuracy of a word or phrase you've heard but never seen in print. I come across these misshaped constructions all the time; here are a few examples:

The wrong way: per say — That's how it sounds, all right, but it's not correct.

What it should be: per se — This expression is Latin and means by or in itself, intrinsically. For example, “I'm not opposed to capital punishment per se.”

The wrong way: wrecked/reeked havoc — The first verb makes no sense since it means to destroy the havoc, and the second one doesn't smell too good.

What it should be: wreak havoc - The verb means to vent or inflict, for example, “They wreaked havoc on the enemy.”

The wrong way: I nipped that problem in the butt! — That's quite colourful, but can we solve a problem that way?

What it should be: I nipped that problem in the bud! - That's the correct expression, of course. It refers to the practice of nipping a plant in the bud to prevent it from flowering. So the expression means to prevent a potential problem from becoming bigger.

The wrong way: a mute point — The adjective mute means unspoken or unable to speak.

What it should be: a moot point - The correct adjective in this phrase should be moot, which refers to something that is debatable or of no practical importance. For example, “That point may make for a good discussion, but it is moot.”

If we are in the business of using words, we need to be clear about what they mean, i.e., we need to use a dictionary. Writers often use words without a clear understanding of their meaning. Here is an example:

“I literally died of embarrassment.” A horrible way to go, I know, but can one really die of embarrassment? When you use the word literally, you are describing something exactly as it happened; you are being literal—using the strict meaning of the word.

Jens Petersen is an editor with a wide range of clients. He primarily edits books, but also articles, brochures, advertising.
For more information, visit the website at www.AuthorConsultants.org
and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AuthorConsultants
He can be reached at PetersenEditing@gmail.com

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Tips for Avoiding Strain While Writing

The Essential Writing Tool

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