No Christmas Cliches: Nixing "reaching out!"

Too funny! Overused Christmas cliches? Not that I didn't love a little rant on this blog touted by one of my favorite book a publicist, Joan Stewart:

But we only have to put up with  Christmas clichés once a year. In another article Stewart recommended, the writer used "reached out"  to introduce the rant to introduce his essay. Now, that Clive really bothers me  because it has begun to  lose its original meaning– – Yes, I am old enough to remember when "reach out" became popular. There was a touchy – feely aspect to it.  It him ply deed on the part of the reacher, or on the part of the reachee.  It imparted the notion of giving and receiving. In the process good old words that have always worked for us got neglected. Words like "interviews" or "asked." They are old words– – not very fancy or poetic– – but they are basics that need no dressing up to get the point across.

Just thought I would share with you my own little cliche rant today.  Find this fun article on Christmas cliches that are often inspired Christmas songs where they sounded just fine at: http://m.ragan.com/Main/Articles/10_clichs_to_ditch_this_holiday_season_51955.aspx. 

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits, consults, and speaks on issues of writing and publishing. Find her at http://howtodoitfrugally.com. Find the second edition of her multi award-winning The Frugal Editor: Do-it-yourself editing secrets for authors: From your query letter to final manuscript to the marketing of your bestseller. (HowToDoItFrugally Series of Books for Writers). Learn more about her other authors' aids at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/writers_books.htm , where writers find lists and other helps including , Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips on the Resources for Writers page. She blogs on all things publishing (not just editing!) at her SharingingwithWriters blog. She tweets writers' resources at www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo . Please tweet this post to your followers. We all need a little help with editing. (-:

Don't Emulate TV Reporters and Anchors--At Least Not This Way!

Another editing tips from my SharingwithWriters newsletter, just part of my ongoing attack on cliches and wordiness. 

Avoid the b-o-o-o-ring repetitive phrases that politicians and TV media use ad infinitum in your writing. I’m thinking of phrases like “boots on the ground.” I’d really like some plain old English like “We don’t plan to send troops to Mali.”

Those who don't want to miss a single editing, craft, or marketing tips may subscribe to the newsletter at http://howtodoitfrugally.com and get a little e-booklet on tricky homonyms and style choices. It's available in paperback at http://budurl.com/wordtripperspb .
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Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits, consults. and speaks on issues of publishing. Find her The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success (How To Do It Frugally series of book for writers). Learn more about her other authors' aids at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/writers_books.htm , where writers will find lists and other helps including Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips on the Resources for Writers page. She blogs on all things publishing (not just editing!) at her Sharing with Writers blog. She tweets writers' resources at www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo . Please tweet this post to your followers. We all need a little help with editing. (-:

Tip for Improving Your Cliche Detector

I thought I should include this "Tip" for readers of The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. It is from my weekly newsletter (which is always filled with tips on everything from craft to marketing), Sharing with Writers. To subscribe, send me an e-mail to HoJoNews@aol.com and put SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

Tip:
It is always easier for others to find our clichés than for us to do it for ourselves. Taking a poetry class may help with identifying clichés. Some words you'd never expect are tip-offs that you may be writing in clichés (or at least generalizations) rather than in solid images. Words like "soul," and "memories," as an example.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits, consults and speaks on issues of publishing. Find her The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870. Learn more about her other authors' aids at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. She blogs on all things publishing (not just editing!) at www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com.