MsJsAPLit

Quotes, photos and ideas that I find interesting, which I think you might find interesting, useful or helpful in some way. I also post explications and notes, just to keep life interesting.

[msjsaplitworld]

Opinion | What Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Meant When She Said ‘Blink’

Two lessons from one little verb.

What’s in the meaning of a word and its etymology? The author of this piece may deny that racism has a long history in America, but this treatise on “blink” is fascinating.

[zegalba]

Fata Morgana

a superior mirage caused by warm air resting on patches of colder air in an atmospheric duct that acts like a refracting lens. Objects on the horizon could appear to be mirrored, distorted, or float. This form of mirage could be the reason for the Flying Dutchman Legend.

[awesomepeoplereading]

James Baldwin and Nina Simone read.

[writerswritecompany]

Quotable – Raymond Carver

Find out more about the author here

[msjsaplitworld]

The Case for Semicolons

There are very few opportunities in life to have it both ways; semicolons are the rare instance in which you can; there is absolutely no dow

When your English teacher tries to talk you out of it or you don’t know what this beast is for, here’s a lovely article explaining the semicolon.

[msjsaplitworld]

ALA announces 2021 Youth Media Awards

CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, digital media, video and audio books for children and young

Looking for something good to read? Here is this year’s (2021) list of award winners for young readers. The Printz Award is for High School students, but today I discovered ALA also gives out awards for LATINX and Asian and Jewish youth as well. I can’t specifically recommend any of these books as I haven’t read them yet, but I can tell you that when I have read books from this list in past years they have been some of my favorites.

You can always go to your favorite bookstore or library and read a bit more about the book mentioned and see if it appeals to you. Sometimes the winner might not but one of the others listed in a category might. Take a chance. Look for a good book. Surprise your teacher or your parents. Or just yourself.

[rejectingrepublicans]

[msjsaplitworld]

... somewhere in the UK (based on the police uniforms)

[thenatsdorf]

Squirrel barters. 

[thenatsdorf]

Quite simply, the greatest thing ever: a tippy tappy widdle waddling toucan. (2can.tv)

[cartoonpolitics]

(cartoon by Dave Whamond)

[blogology]

[cartoonpolitics]

(cartoon by Matt Wuerker)

[cartoonpolitics]

(cartoon by Rob Rogers)

[writerswritecompany]

Quotable – Sophie van Llewyn

Find out more about the author here

Read: What Is Flash Fiction & Why Should I Write It?

[writerswritecompany]

A Cat & A Comma

Source for comic: Analytical Grammar

[writerswritecompany]

You And Me

We should always say ‘between you and me’. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Find out more about Between You And Me.

A common mistake in English is to say ‘between you and I’.

It is always correct to say ‘between you and me’.

It is always incorrect to say ‘between you and I’.

[writerswritecompany]

What is viewpoint?

Our viewpoint (or point of view) characters are the filters through which we tell the reader the story. We need to decide which vantage point will give our readers the best window into the story.

Once we have decided on a character, or characters, we need to choose a viewpoint for them. We have three choices: first person, second person, and third person.

It is important to know which viewpoint we are going to choose when we tell our story. Most authors prefer third and first person. It is unusual to use second person, but it can be effective.

How do we know which viewpoint to use?

Using third person is the usual way of writing a novel. Readers, agents, and editors like this choice because it is flexible, accepted, and easy to use. It is used in most genres and it is good for action-packed plots, especially in the crime, family saga, fantasy, and science fiction genres. Multiple viewpoint characters in third person give writers many plotting options.

However, I become irritated when I do not know which filter the author is using. This usually happens when the characters are too similar, or when the author head-hops (switches viewpoint) in one scene, or when the author has not made the change in viewpoint clear. All of these problems show an author’s inexperience.

How do authors prevent this from happening?

6 Simple Ways To Handle Viewpoint Changes

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Viewpoint as writer is no different than as reader.

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One of my favorite modern authors. Her writing will shake you up.