Wordy Wednesday

~ my word (s) ~ 9 Comments

This week, I decided to see what the last word beginning with Q was in my Oxford English Dictionary. With that in mind, my word for today is qwerty.

I might have guessed that this would be the last Q word in the dictionary, due to its lack of U after Q. The word denotes the standard layout on English language typewriters and keyboards; you’ll even see it on your smartphone ‘keyboard’. It is a delightfully easy word to type, given that the letters appear one after the other from the left.

I can remember my mum, who was an incredibly fast typist, referring to her qwerty keys. Later, as computers took over, she complained they were too slow because they couldn’t keep up with her!

Most of us don’t use typewriters anymore but the qwerty keyboard lives on …

Flaunt it Friday

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What are you pleased with yourself about this week? Go ahead, flaunt it.

I’m feeling very satisfied to have continued to ask independent bookshops across the UK to stock The Clocker, my children’s book. My Books

I decided that I would physically post some of these, including the information from the publisher and one of my bookmarks. I’m gradually lengthening my list of bookshops to contact, including a number specialist children’s bookshops. I made an effort to include something I had noted from their websites, to make it more personal.

As I popped them into the postbox down the road, I felt a great sense of achievement.

Putting letters into envelopes

Wordy Wednesday

~ my word (s) ~ 6 Comments

Another week has passed and it’s Wordy Wednesday again. My word for today is flabbergasted, for no other reason than I like it.

According to my Oxford English Dictionary, the word comes from the late 18th century; of unknown origin. Its meaning is to surprise (someone) greatly. An example of usage might be I was utterly flabbergasted to win the prize.

Comedian Frankie Howerd was known for mixing the word up – never has my flabber been so gasted.

I was flabbergasted to see my name up on a large screen when I went to do my first library event My Books

Sum up Sunday

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What’s your week been like? Sum it up in 25 words or less. Here’s mine:

Lots of buses and writing research

A very odd film (but comfy seats)

Successful shopping day

Listen to audiobooks

I do love a shopping day now and then!

Flaunt it Friday

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It’s that time of the week to share what you’re pleased with.

A few months back, I contacted Young Page Turners UK to ask if they’d consider reviewing my children’s book, The Clocker My Books

I got a response quite quickly saying yes and asking me to post a copy to the reviewer, which I did. This week I had an email with an apology for the delay and a link to the review on their website. Young Page Turners are passionate about books and they provide independent reviews of children’s and YA books. They do not charge for this service.

Not only was the review 5* but gives a comprehensive insight into the book and its appeal. I loved this – “ The Clocker, in particular, becomes a symbol of courage and self-acceptance. Through his daily care he provides for his hens, Nev also learns to care for himself, discovering an inner strength he didn’t realise he had.”

See the full review here https://youngpageturners.co.uk/the-clocker-by-liz-mackenzie-review/

To use a Wordy Wednesday word, I’m chuffed.

Wordy Wednesday

~ my word (s) ~ 5 Comments

My word for today is mizzle, meaning light rain; drizzle. I thought of this word last week when, at times, it was decidedly mizzly.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, its origin is late Middle English, probably from mist. In German there is miseln and in Dutch miezelen.

Mizzle seems to sum up this type of rain well, expressing the mood of drizzling, persistent rain so well.

There are so many different words to express weather conditions. Do you have any favourites?

It’s been mizzling all day

Sum up Sunday

~ my word (s) ~ 12 Comments

How has your week been? I’d love to hear your sum-up in 25 words or less. Here’s mine:

A bus here, a bus there

Several drenchings

Edit and then edit more

Tearoom lunch for B’s birthday

‘Bettys’ parcel brings joy.

Lunch in a proper tearoom

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 5 Comments

Having completed the first draft of my next children’s book, I felt a bit daunted at the thought of starting the editing process. I remembered I still had access to some online talks on editing and decided to listen to the one on developmental editing.

It occurred to me as I listened that I knew how to do this. There was nothing in the tutorial that I couldn’t do, or hadn’t done before. It felt reassuring to have a way forward.

I’m pleased to say I’ve made a start. I’ve been through the whole manuscript noting areas I’d identified in square brackets that needed research or clarification. I’m now halfway through reading the manuscript to check for inconsistencies. That feels like quite an achievement.

What are you pleased about this week?

Focussed on editing

Wordy Wednesday

~ my word (s) ~ 6 Comments

Last week I went to a TenX9 and Kino Kolo combined event. TenX9 is a storytelling event where (usually) 9 people read a true-life story for 10 minutes each. There’s always a theme. For this event, the theme was fashion. Kino Kolo is a community cinema bringing Eastern European films to the East Midlands. For this event, there were short films and TenX9 readers.

The first storyteller’s piece was about shoes. As she described her childhood in Dundee, my interest was piqued by the word dubs. This word, though originally referring to a stagnant pool of water, is now used to refer to puddles. The storyteller referred to splashing through dubs with her wellies. What a wonderful word and a new one for me; I love it.

Even adults love splashing through dubs in their wellies