David Moldawer

New pub: Myths of Origins: Literary and Cultural Patterns Myths of Origins explores the timeless power of origin myths in literature, spanning from ancient texts to contemporary works. This collection of essays delves into the six foundational models of beginnings in Western literature, examining how these frameworks shape narratives across eras. https://lnkd.in/eXDG9Cgu

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The Midpoint (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 7 of 12) via Helping Writers Become Authors #amwriting #writetip #nanowrimo #pubtip https://lnkd.in/ewEiumuZ

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Editing pet peeve: the goofy obsession with the Oxford comma. Oxford enthusiasts—whom I often refer to as "Oxfordnistas"—insist that the serial comma is the ultimate arbiter of clarity and slayer of ambiguity. And they demonstrate this overstated power through a series of reductionist—albeit humorous—memes. Below on the left is one such example. Again, this meme assuredly suggests a moment where a lack of a serial comma may confuse readers. Rather than express a list of the three, the Oxford-less sentence seems to imply an appositive suggesting the exotic dancers are, in fact, Stalin and JFK. But what happens if you change strippers (plural) to stripper (singular). One good contrived strawman argument deserves another, right? On the right is the counterpoint. Here, the sentence with the Oxford comma introduces ambiguity. Is that JFK on stage three collecting singles, or is somebody else? The trick is simple: When in doubt, rewrite. "We invited JFK, Stalin and the strippers." See how this is clearly a list of three? See how I didn't need the comma to do so? Ultimately, the Oxford comma is a stylistic convention, so it is a matter of personal preference. You can also write, "We invited JFK, Stalin, and the strippers." That *also* works. Either way, stop pretending that your prescriptivist take on the Oxford comma is holy writ. #Oxfordcomma

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New blog post on IndirReader.com

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The Power of a Pitch "Publishing credentials, well-researched comp titles, and a bit of personalization will certainly help your case, but your pitch is currency." https://buff.ly/3Yv3wqF #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writerslife #amwriting

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Writers often explore taboo subjects to challenge societal norms, provoke thought, or explore the darker aspects of human experience. They’re often avoided because they can be distressing, controversial, or offensive to readers, but... There are reasons we—if called to write about them—must write about them. In this video I talk about what taboo subjects are, why writers resist writing about them, and what to do about it. Stuck in your writing practice? Join my email list: https://lnkd.in/g9hJmZQv Get my COMPLIMENTARY "Alchemy of Writing—First Steps to Conjure and Nurture Your Writing Practice!": https://lnkd.in/gKkdfqwt... JOIN the Alchemy of Writing Membership Group - STILL at the Founding Member price - $18 - https://lnkd.in/gnWxSuv2 My website: https://lnkd.in/g9hJmZQv My blog: https://lnkd.in/g-6KuTkG Instagram: @johnniemazzocco Pinterest: @johnniemazzocco #writing #writinglife #writingpractice #astrology #astrologyandwriting #writingandastrology #writingsupport #writingtips #writinghelp #writingtips #taboo #taboosubjects #taboosubject

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'When the board expressed the need for a copy editor, Elsevier's response, they said, was "to maintain that the editors should not be paying attention to language, grammar, readability, consistency, or accuracy of proper nomenclature or formatting."' https://lnkd.in/gGR6iXAY

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'When the board expressed the need for a copy editor, Elsevier's response, they said, was "to maintain that the editors should not be paying attention to language, grammar, readability, consistency, or accuracy of proper nomenclature or formatting."' https://lnkd.in/gGR6iXAY

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