• Humour

    Writers’ Generic Disclaimer

    There’s something that every writer I’ve ever met has, at one time or another, said to their friend, writing buddy or critique group.  It’s the dreaded Writers’ Generic Disclaimer, or what I like to call the WGD.  The WGD goes something like this: “I had trouble with this piece.  It still needs a lot of work.”   Another common variant is: “It’s only a first draft,” or possibly, “It’s still pretty rough.”   Occasionally you’ll hear: “Promise you’ll tell me if it’s no good, but please, be kind.”   There are hundreds of variations on this theme.  We all do it.  But why? In the vast majority of cases, use…

  • Grammar

    The Relevance of Good Grammar

    How many different skills have you learned in your lifetime? I’ll bet, if you count them all up, you’ll find you have hundreds, maybe even thousands of life-skills.  Many of these skills are acquired by a sort of unconscious osmosis, through societal culture, family habits and traditions or sheer trial and error.  Others are the ones you’ll have consciously developed, the better to get a job or a date, be more attractive to the opposite sex, speak more clearly or learn another language, master a hobby or career, even overcome a disability or illness.   From the time we’re conceived, we grow and change.  From the time we’re born, we…