Tag Archives: language

Words that Make You Weak


Today I bring you three words designed to make you weaker.

Debilitate [dih-bil-i-teyt] (verb):

to make weak or feeble.

Example:

Excessive use of adverbs will debilitate your writing.

Emaciate [ih-mey-shee-eyt] (verb):

to make abnormally lean or thin by wasting away flesh.

Example:

Yes, he fed her. He fed her the food infused with poison, to strengthen then emaciate her, till there was no hope of her survival.

Etiolate [ee-tee-uh-leyt] (verb):

1. to cause (a plant) to wither or grow white by excluding light.

2. to cause to become weak and sickly; drain of color and vigor.

Example:

The curtains had an etiolated, square spot where the sun penetrated from the window in the afternoon and ate its way through the curtain’s soft fabric.

Word of the Day: Salient


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Today’s word is outstanding, so is the photo I added to go with it.

Salient [sey-lee-uhnt, seyl-yuhnt] (adj.):

1. prominent or conspicuous

2. projecting or pointing upward

3. leaping or jumping

Example:

His salient performance on his exams earned him a scholarship to an ivy league university.

Word of the Day: Wanton


bowl-cat-cats-dinner-mean-Favim.com-263960

Looking for another word that has the same meaning as malicious, evil or mean?

Wanton [won-tn] (adj.):

1. done maliciously or unjustifiably.

2. deliberate or without motive, provocative, uncalled-for.

3. without regard of what is right, just, humane.

Example:

I’ve had enough of your wanton pranks!

Lookalikes: Impede Vs. Impend


flat,220x200,075,tToday’s similarly written words have no similarities when it comes to meaning. I used to mix up those two words sometimes.

Impede [im-peed] (verb):

to hinder or obstruct.

Example:

My online window shopping spreeimpeded my work on my graduation.

Impend [im-pend] (verb):

1. to be imminent or about to happen.

2. to threaten or menace.

Example:

I summoned all my energy and focus as the deadline to my graduation project impended.

Word of the Day: Loiter


master procrastinorToday’s word provides an accurate description of my relationship with my graduation project.

Loiter  [loi-ter] (verb):

1. linger aimlessly.

2. move in a slow, idle manner.

3. to waste time, or dawdle over work.

Example:

I loitered away my mornings, afternoons, and evenings between snacks, naps, and web browsing, doing everything but the things that needed to be done.

Stay tuned for a lovely poem as a guest post by my cousin Aya Nehme, in a few minutes 🙂

 

Lookalikes: Elicit vs. Illicit


Today, I’m giving you another set of confused word.

Elicit [ih-lis-it] (verb):

to draw or bring out forth; evoke

Example:

Our words and actions should elicit  positive changes in our society.

Illicit [ih-lis-it] (adj.):

not legally permitted or authorized. (think illegal)

Example:

I refused in participate in any illicit activity.

 

Guest Post by Alexis Campbell Jansky and Richard Jansky


Thanks for Alexis and Richard for contributing a guest post to my blog. Read about their journey below. If you want to be featured, just go to the About Me page on my blog for details.
 
 
 
                                                      Solo Press II Publishing
 
My husband, Richard, and I have begun sharing 30 years of writings and letters from my mom, Gwen E. Campbell. She was a prolific writer, weaver-spinner, needlepoint expert, and all-round open and sometimes quite funny lady.
When she died in 2011, I gathered all her letters and copies of her books as I recollected her life. Rarely does one even have a few letters saved from a loved one, much less 30 years’ worth plus more than twenty books!
We felt we had discovered a rare treasure and realized that her writings were worth sharing. She had made little effort to get them published in the 1980’s. Then we discovered a document that transferred all publishing rights to me!
Richard and I have prepared the first three of twenty unpublished works as e-books. We are also sharing her letters, some of her short stories, poems, and whatever else we discover on our WordPress blog. This blog is about her, but it is about us as well. When I can remember life going on around us at the time of her writing, I insert it to fill out the stories. I kept her letters and she kept many of mine.
Looking forward to all that is “Past and Present”.
Alexis Campbell-Jansky and Richard
 
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We will include here a short description of these first books along with the links, if you wish to take a look at them.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Always Going
Join experienced author, Gwen Campbell as her compelling memoir reveals the intriguing story of her transitory life during the unpretentious days of the 1930’s and 40’s in America. You will experience her joys and feel her disappointment as she and her mother travel through quaint, dusty towns of southwest Texas, Oklahoma and California.
Discover small towns like Junction, Texas;“There was no hurry, no violence, and no worry in Junction. Voices were not raised except at mules and dogs. Whatever anger, illness or sadness that resided below the surface only jumped out now and then, like a fish cleaving the surface of a smooth running river. One jump, one splash and it was gone into the deep once more. I used Junction like medicine…”
In this true story of survival and youthful resilience discover how young Gwen learned to think of people, not places as her home. “No house, no town, no part of the country could ever lay claim to her.”              http://amzn.com/B00GW60PGK
 
 
 
 
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The Disappearance of E.A.B.
What if you discovered your whole world was an insane lie?
What if another’s single choice – changed everything for you?
Discovering her father’s diary along with thousands of copies of an out-of-town newspaper sends Anna Kinner on a life changing quest. She realizes that every choice has consequences and now she sees that her parents’ choices had profoundly changed her life. She faces her fears and travels to the place where it all began, struggling to unravel the reasons and choices others had made. Her search leads eventually to a man who changes the whole meaning of her life.
 Follow this fascinating tale of a desperate young woman searching for her true identity. Witness Anna’s struggle as she grapples with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, insanity and loyalty. Will Anna find the peace of mind she seeks or will she discover the root of madness within herself. An intriguing novel about compelling love, questionable family ties, perseverance  and the connections that bind us to others-whether we like it or not. http://amzn.com/B00IA8SMK4
 
 
 
 
Purse Cover Final
Purse’averence –a novella
Follow the tale of life as told by a purse. Watch as a girl finds the forlorn object on a department store half-priced table and brings her home to family and life. Follow the story of love, friendship and life in the closet, as only an accessory can tell it. Face the fear of being kidnapped and lost to the world while longing to be rescued and brought back home again. You will be delighted and charmed by the interaction of all the enchanting accessories that follow us through our daily lives.
 
 
 

New Short Story Published


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Pleased to announce that my short thriller “Ernest’s Awakening” is published on “5 Stories” literary magazine.

Ernest wakes up in a strange house, next to a strange woman, only to find out that the house is his, and the woman is his wife. Just as he is ready to surrender to his amnesia, a mnemonic incident reveals to Ernest that something more sinister than murder is lurking in his memory.

Purchase your copy for only $1.99: http://www.magzter.com/IN/Cresco-Books/5Stories/Entertainment/

Waiting for your feedback!

Guest Post by Janet Noble


Here’s a new guest post by author of the soon to be published children’s book. Enjoy! You can also submit your guests post to me by email. Just visit the “Contact me” page on my blog for more details.

Where are the real girl’s stories in kids’ books? As a child I can recall reading children’s books about the brave Anne Frank, the bossy Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, the adventurous Pippi Longstocking and the scheming Katy in What Katy Did, but mostly I had to read about a male hero.

Fast forward to today, and there are certain ways in which women are portrayed in the popular media that throw up many challenges for parents bringing up girls. Magazine racks are littered with female celebrities who lurch from one crisis to the next and depicted in popular movies being rescued by men. Unfortunately, a dominant theme in magazines seems to be the need for women to present themselves as sexually desirable in order to attract male attention.

Furthermore, the media is sexualising children at a very young age by valuing girls for their appearance rather than their other attributes. This message is seen across toys, clothing and stationary sold for girls. Indeed, I find myself surrounded by books all about naughty boys! Where do you find funny stories about misbehaving girls? As a writer of first fiction for children aged 6 – 8 years old, current popular children book series such as Horrid Henry, Dirty Bertie and Captain Underpants seem to be about (and for) boys. BUT GIRLS WANNA HAVE FUN,TOO!  Recent series such as Agatha Parrot, Wilma Tenderfoot, Penny Dreadful and Clementine are  full of lively and funny girl characters. But is there a little too much sugar? Spice? All things nice? It seems that in the 21st century girls are not expected to behave truly badly.

bestsy

You’re a Pest, Betsy Thumbslurp! , a first chapter book for children ages 6- 8 year olds with illustrations by Jacob Turner, is my attempt to create a sassy, feisty (and, occasionally, not very nice) girl character in a story that combines lashings of laugh-out-loud rude humour with huge helpings of ‘girl power’  and salami-size sluggettes of sibling rivalry. (Note to self – must cut down on alliteration!)

You’re a Pest, Betsy Thumbslurp! E-book will be published at http://www.amazon.co.uk in March 2014.

Biography:

Hi. I’m 49 years young, have 1 husband (so far), 2 cats, 3 children and have spent the last 20 or so years promoting a love of books and reading as a children’s librarian. When I’m not blogging about my favourite children’s books I love to write my own.

Contact me at:

Website: http://www.janetpamelanoble.com

Twitter: @jampamnoble and @BetsyThumbslurp

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Janet-Pamela-Noble-Childrens-Book-Blogger-and-Author/163364630491984

Word of the Day: Unscathed


we_will_survive_together_by_mr_ripley-d5h0vcdHello everyone. I hope you’re all having a fun and responsible weekend. Speaking of responsibility and safety, here’s today’s word.

Unscathed [uhn-skeythd] (adj):

unharmed, uninjured.

Example:

While his luck was running scarce, he wondered if he would come out of the next challenge unscathed.