In addition to expletives — For over 15 years, when I’ve written professionally, I’ve trained myself to replace the verb “to get” — and its variables — with more accurate or precise words depending on context. Why? Because “to get” is chosen so often colloquially to sub in for a variety of meanings, that it…

100-word writing advice —

An un-BEE-lievable exercise in idea generation — If you’re having a difficult time generating ideas to inspire your writing, this article is for you. One of the best sources to turn to for the first seed of inspiration is the news. Open your local newspaper (or visit their website), watch the evening news broadcast on tv, or…

Let’s punctuate sentences like it’s 1962 — Does your writing feel dull? Perhaps your use of punctuation is in need of a bang — an interrobang. The interrobang looks like a question mark and an exclamation point hooked up one night to make sweet, sweet grammar together. Then surprise: the interrobang was born. Journalist turned advertising exec…

In a bustling downtown Toronto neighborhood, there’s a Chihuahua with three legs — two legs at the front and one at the back. Unyielding, it treks along with its crew; two larger dogs lead, with their human in the middle holding on to three leashes, and the tiny Chihuahua trailing…

Animal life on the small scale — “Do you want to see something?” a masculine voice called out. If I had been in a big city, my first thought would have been that someone was attempting to scam me. Instead, I was on the island of Barbados, on the grounds of a beach-side hotel. The friendly voice…

Two’s company, but three is when the party really starts — Often, when we think of balance, we think of opposing pairs that together create a whole — yin and yang, black and white. Yet, a two-legged chair isn’t balanced enough to hold you up, but a three-legged bar stool can. …

Courtesy of a professional writer — You have a great idea, yet you can’t seem to start writing about it. You have an essay due, and you can’t motivate yourself to finish it, despite the looming deadline. …

A girl has got to eat while on holiday — When travelling, one of my top concerns is what I’m going to eat. Finding foods that are both gluten-free and dairy-free can be difficult, so much so that I often carry dry goods, such as gluten-free cereal, granola bars and cookies in my carry-on bag and checked luggage. I even…