Vonda McIntyre

s long. The people of Le Havre pressed close on either side, cheering their King and his court,

Calling all who adore the sublime made actual, and all who revere those among us who are reaching beyond the comfort of assumption and habit to find new delights: Here is a set of shoulders we can stand on.

But don’t let all this relevance scare you.

Useful technique: It’s easier to describe something if it’s broken. If something is broken, then you notice it. If it’s working right, it just sits there being invisible doing its job. Not to be overused!

Pitfall #1: The Expository Lump

are weasel words that allow you to evade the responsibility of being precise.

It’s Almost Writing,
or,
Half Baked Weasels

Their use will drain the life from your prose. “Some kind of” has recently joined the infamous company of weasel words.

tries and fails to conceal a lack of intensity, style, substance, or all those qualities, in your prose.