Stuart Aken's Blog, page 328

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: X

Image via Wikipedia
X: noun – 24th letter of the English alphabet & 21st of ancient Roman, the letter, its sound; the shape of the letter; a diagonal cross marking a point on a map; incorrect; to place a vote; indicate a kiss; signature of someone who can't write; Roman numeral for ten; an unknown or variable quantity in maths; an unknown or unspecified person, thing or number; a quantity measured along a horizontal axis in a graph; sex chromosome associate with the female; a special quality or talent; of films, those suitable for adults; Ecstasy, the drug. Shorthand for Christ, as in  Xtian – Christian, Christmas - Xmas.
'Long John Silver, so called due his short stature, told Inspector Barnaby that the treasure he sought was hidden at the point marked with an 'x' on the map he'd stolen from the criminal, Bluebeard.'
'Jane kissed the Valentine card and sealed it, writing an 'x' along the seal for each year she'd known and desired Kevin.'
'When George put the 'x' on the form, he thought he was gaining permission to watch an x rated film, but it turned out to be a serious documentary concerning the x chromosome and it went way over his head.'

The Edit Goes on.

Very brief: been dancing tonight, following a demanding day at the office. Managed to get one chapter done, so up to page 259. Tomorrow in the deep south, supporting daughter for university interview. So no more until either Wednesday (if we're back in time) or Thursday.
Still going well with what's passed through, though.

Stuart's Word Spot: Wacky

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Wacky: noun - A mad, peculiar or crazy person, an eccentric. Adjective - Left-handed, eccentric, peculiar, crazy, mad, weird.
'Salvador Dali could be described as a wacky, due to his odd and eccentric behaviour.'
'There was a growing trend in the 1980s to describe something as wacky if it was a little bit unusual, different or outrageous, which was a shame, as it devalued the word through over use.'

Further Progress with the Edit

Image via WikipediaChapter 26 complete. 27 and page249 await. I wish I'd done more, but other things must be done. And I've prepared blog posts for the coming week, when I'll be away for a couple of days, as my daughter has an interview at a university down south. Another writer invited me to interview on his blog and I've prepared my answers to his questions. There's a new group on Facebook  dealing with the distortion of language and altered meanings of words. I've joined that (you might like to as well - the link is highlighted for you) and made a few comments during the day.
Tomorrow I work and then indulge in a ballroom dance class with my wife in the evening, so I doubt I'll get much done then. It could be Thursday before I have another chance at this edit, which is going well and feeding my desire to get the next part of the story written.

Stuart's Word Spot: Vacancy

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Vacancy: noun - condition of a position, office, etc., being vacant; a vacant position, room in a hotel; empty space, a gap or opening; in crystallography; a defect in a crystal lattice where an atom or ion is missing from a position where there should be one; empty or unoccupied, emptiness; lack of intelligence, mental vacuity, inanity.
'The unusual vacancy advertised at the employment agency was exactly the job Suzanne had been seeking for years.'
'The town Mayor stared into space during the entire council meeting, demonstrating the general air of vacancy that his peers had recognised as making him perfect for the role.'

Progressing more slowly than the editing deserves.

[image error] Image via WikipediaI've now completed 22 chapters and will start on chapter 23, page 209 tomorrow. The chapter is entitled 'Consequences' and I'm forced to consider that there have been consequences from my activities last night and today. Last night I was the taxi driver for my daughter and her friends as they attended a fancy dress party some distance from home. not only did this mean I couldn't have a drop of the red stuff during the evening, but the ending of the party resulted in me climbing into bed at 02.10 this morning. Knackered.
A late rise as a result and then the visit to my brother, who celebrates a birthday tomorrow, and for whom my wife and I wished to give a card and present. So, a social visit. We found his son, daughter and her boyfriend there and the short visit inevitably became a prolonged one in which, all of us being readers of one sort or another, books were discussed. Tomorrow the rain is promised, so today also became the designated day for our usual weekend walk.
The consequence of all this is that I have done so little of the edit. Sometimes, life gets in the way of writing.
And, this evening, I had to catch that TV programme of Sebastian Faulkes talking about the role of the lover in novels, of course. Not to be missed, by the way, and if you didn't catch it, have a look on the BBC iPlayer. Well worth the time spent in viewing. Add to that my attempt to finish Jane Eyre so I can discuss it with my daughter (studying it for A level) and the day is gone.
Ah, well, perhaps tomorrow will be more fruitful.

Stuart's Word Spot: Ubiquitous

Image by infomatique via Flickr
Ubiquitous: adjective - omnipresent, present, found, or appearing everywhere;
'The inability of politicians to comprehend honesty appears as ubiquitous as the failure of bankers to understand the meaning of theft.'

Edit Progressing, and Going Well

Image via WikipediaSo it continues. Last night I finished chapter 20, so, this morning I start at page 189. Chapter 21 is titled 'Dangerous Words', which sets off the thought, often expressed, that words are powerful influences. We toss and fling them about at our peril and that of others. In conversation, we are quite careless, understandably, since constant consideration of our words would make talking a stilted and hesitant occupation. But, in writing, there's really no excuse for carelessness. In writing, we can always go back over what was written, find the right word and replace that phrase we wrote in the heat of creativity.
And that is what editing is about, mostly. The work I'm currently trying to make perfect has been considered many times since it was first written. It is no longer raw, no longer the unsculpted product of my frenzy at the keyboard. I have revisited with the tools of the craft to remove the carbuncles, soften the spikes, sharpen the contours and repair the odd fissures that have occurred in the making. That is, perhaps, why it is taking less time to polish now. Most of the work has been done and this visit is only to provide that final sheen and to ensure that I haven't, inadvertently, changed the colour of a character's eyes or emasculated a man by turning him into a woman along the way.

What's the biggest single mistake writers make when querying?

In this lengthy feature, Jordan Tohline analyses the results he gleaned from asking 100 agents the same question – 'What's the biggest single mistake writers make when querying you?'It's worth the 20-30 minutes it'll take to read this, if you're serious about getting a positive reaction when you send your darling off as a sacrifice to the agents. Neglect it at your peril.http://www.jmtohline.com/2010/12/biggest-mistakes-writers-make-when.html

Stuart's Word Spot: Tab

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Tab: noun - A small flap or strip fixed to an object, by which it can be held, hung, fastened or labelled, a pull tab, ear, list of charges, bill, (in a bar or restaurant), cigarette, tablet, a pill, a curtain, a key on a computer keyboard. verb - Furnish with a tab or tabs, name, label watch, keep tabs on.
'Mae West examined the tab brought by the waiter and offered him money including a generous tip for his good service.'
'Gloria told him she would tab all the points in the typed piece, so they would be easy to identify.'