Mark Twain's Advice

I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English--it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don't let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in. When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them--then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are wide apart. An adjective habit, or a wordy, diffuse, flowery habit, once fastened upon a person, is as hard to get rid of as any other vice.
- Letter to D. W. Bowser, 3/20/1880

Twainquotes.com

I'm Eligible to be Nominated! Who knew?

Ah, there are such interesting things to be learned by Googling oneself. I admit it. I did it and guess what I learned?
I'm in my second year of eligibility to be nominated for a John W. Campbell Best New Writer Award!
I honestly have to say I have no idea how this happened, since I've never heard of this award before today. The fact that my story "Before Paphos", published in 2007 at Strange Horizons, is even eligible has to mean that someone had to notice it and like it enough to make sure it made it into the pool of eligible nominees. I think.
Being on the list of eligible nominees is a long way from being nominated and even further away from winning, but it's nice to be noticed.
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately for them, I don't know anyone who is a voting member or they'd be getting a few dozen pleading emails from me over the next few weeks. Do you know anyone??? :-)

Who's Looking For Love?

Years ago, I entered a contest where the object was to create, using seventy words or fewer, a personal ad for a literary character. This was my entry:


About me:
I am no beauty. In truth, I am plain. However, I am clever, kind, loving, staunchly moral and upright. Perhaps I am more forgiving than I should be.

I am looking for:
A relationship with no secrets!

Note: To be considered, any swarthy gentleman in possession of a shadowy manse must agree to a thorough inspection of all buildings—attics included.

Contact me at jneyre1847@email.com

I didn't win, or even place, but I thought it was cute enough.

Okay, technically, Mrs. Rochester wasn't in the attic, but I was nipping at the word limit.