Cool Things We Do With Words: Vows, Oaths, and Promises

What is more special than a promise? As children (and let’s be honest, as adults, too) we valued promises highly among our friends and family. The act of promising and the act of being worth promising something to elevates our relationships. It’s a perfect example of how beautiful and powerful words can be.

There are a lot of amazing activities we do with words and language. Few are as sacred or important as the vows or oaths that we make throughout our lives. Whether vocalized or put into writing, these words are something more than words alone; they convey an emotion and intent that is exclusive to the act of promising, the act of commitment to values and action.

This weekend, the President of the United States will be taking the Oath of Office for his second term. It is a very important promise to the U.S., but as we found out last week there are other vows and oaths that people believe have a larger impact in one’s life.

Which vows, oaths, or promises do you think carry the most weight?

Which of these promises do you think are the most beautifully worded?

6 Endangered Words

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, endangered animal species are “in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of [their] range.” Applying the same principle to words, endangered words are used less and less until almost no one knows them anymore. Are your favorite words in danger of extinction?

Ambrosial derives from ambrosia, the mythological food of the goods. Ambrosial describes things that are divine or of exceptional worth. It also means especially pleasant in taste or smell.

Coxcomb has a meaning that’s already extinct. It was an alternative spelling of cockscomb, the fleshy growth on the top of a rooster’s head. The word came to refer to the head or the crown (even of a human), but now that meaning is archaic. The only surviving meaning evolved from professional jesters who once wore caps that resembled cockscombs. Today, a coxcomb is a conceited, foolish, or pretentious man who concerns himself too much with his looks and manners. With one obsolete meaning and one archaic one already under its belt, is coxcomb likely to survive?

Dirty could go “the way of the dodo” within 750 years, according to The Guardian. Researchers from Reading University predicted its extinction by applying the theory of evolution through natural selection. Mark Pagel, the biologist who led the research team, says that dirty is in danger because its evolution was the most rapid of all the words they studied.

Fishwives are almost exactly what they sound like—women who sell fish. In the past, the word wife could refer to any woman, married or unmarried. A second meaning of fishwife is a woman who has coarse manners or uses vulgar language.

Hark was once much more popular than it is now. The meaning “listen” or “hear” is now archaic. If you hear hark nowadays, it might be a hunter encouraging his hounds to follow a scent.

Whom is a pronoun that functions as the dative or objective case of who. People are becoming increasingly likely to use who instead of whom.

Why Words Become Endangered

Many times words seem to go extinct without rhyme or reason. However, sometimes there does seem to be a cause. For example, many people simply think that whom’s usage rules are too difficult to master. Others think that, perhaps because their usage is declining, words like whom and coxcomb sound pretentious. Other words fall into disuse because of their potential for causing offense. For example, fishwife can be offensive for two reasons. First, wife means a married woman in modern English, so it would be strange to call a single woman a wife. Secondly, the tendency of society these days is to use gender-neutral vocabulary. Many prefer fish seller or even fishmonger.

When an animal is endangered, people often take steps to save it. What do you think about the words on this list? Are they worth saving?

What Does It Mean to “Pore Over” Something?

This one’s pretty easy: pouring something over a book would mean spilling something on it. Poring over a book means reading it with great attention. “Pour” and “pore” are never interchangeable; they are two completely different words.

There’s a well of spelling mistakes in the English language that never seems to dry up. A bump on the road that keeps tripping people and never seems to be fixed. A pit people keep falling into. We’re talking about homophones—words that sound alike but have different spellings and different meanings. Probably the most famous triplet of homophones, and the most annoying to those of us who like to see words written properly, is “they’re,” “their,” and “there.”

In this article, while we’re trying to figure out what it means to pore over something, we’ll come across another pair of commonly confused homophones—pore and pour. When you use the phrase “to pore over a book,” it’s important to keep these two straight. If you use pore, you’ll be saying you’re reading the book carefully. If you use pour, you’ll be saying that you’re spilling something on the book.

Pore and How to Use It

The verb pore is a word whose roots are hard to trace. It might have its origin in the Old English root purian, which is found in spyrian—to investigate—and spor—a trace or a vestige. Today we usually use the verb pore with the adverbs “over” or “through.” It means

To read or study something carefully:

Instead of hiring expensive assistants to pore over cases and sort through tickets, law firms are increasingly turning toward artificially-intelligent machines to do the expensive menial jobs instead. —Tech Insider

Three years ago, Devon Trevelyan took a chance on the classic war-themed game of “Risk”—and about 1,000 other board games—when he opened Knight Moves, a Brooklyn cafe where people gather to wind down and pore over puzzles and strategy games. —Boston Globe

Speaking of pore, it might also be worth mentioning that there’s another word spelled the same—pore, the noun, which means:

A small opening on a surface such as skin, leaves, or even rocks:

There’s no denying it—pore strips are extremely satisfying. —Marie Claire

With an all-solid mahogany top, back and sides and an open-pore finish that’s smooth and soft to the touch, it’s the perfect acoustic complement for passionate players who prefer a more natural look and feel. —Guitar World Magazine

Pour and How to Use It

The origins of pour are unclear, but today this verb is used in a few ways.

To describe a movement of liquid:

The 22-year-old wore just her underwear and a bull horn headband as she poured buckets of fake blood over herself as part of the demonstration organised by AnimaNaturalis and PETA. —The Daily Mail

To say that it rains profusely:

As rain continued to pour, there weren’t too many takers for the log flume but the same could not be said for the waltzer, which proved an immediate hit with punters who were quick off the mark. —ChronicleLive

To describe a movement of a large quantity of something:

The Quebec government says it has no plans to pour more money into the massively overbudget new cement production plant on the Gaspé Peninsula. —The Globe and Mail

How to Write a Resignation Letter and Exit in Style

When it comes to making big shifts in the direction of your life, changing jobs ranks right up there among the most significant. You’ll be leaving behind familiar faces, tasks, and roles to sail into unknown waters. It’s energizing and daunting at the same time!

Once you’ve made the decision to leave your job, you’re faced with the challenge of leaving on good terms. How you tender your resignation letter can mean the difference between building a network of positive connections and burning bridges.

Give Two Weeks’ Notice in Person When Possible

When you leave a job, it’s customary to give your employer at least two weeks’ notice unless you have an HR handbook or contract that says differently. Whenever possible, quit your job in person by speaking with your boss.

Don’t go in cold! Rehearse what to say so you don’t make any missteps. According to The Muse, you should

• Explain that you have received an offer from another company and have accepted
• Express gratitude for the opportunities given to you
• State when your final day at work will be
• Offer help with the transition process

Writing a Letter of Resignation

Although it’s best to quit in person whenever you can, it’s a good idea to prepare a more formal letter of resignation for your employment file. Your letter should include

• Your announcement of your intent to resign
• The date your resignation is effective
• A thank you for the opportunity your employer gave you

A printed letter should have a formal heading, like this:

Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code Your Phone Number Your Personal Email Address

Date

Name Title Organization Address City, State, Zip Code

You can leave off the heading for a resignation email. Just include a subject header that states “Resignation: FirstName LastName.”

Be sure to carefully proofread your letter. Not only is it important to correct any typos, it’s essential to make sure you’ve stated everything clearly and positively. Here’s an example:

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from Alpha Omega, Inc. My last day will be on June 23, 2017.

I’m grateful for the opportunity you and Alpha Omega have given me to learn and grow as a marketing professional. It’s been exciting to be a part of such an innovative and fast-paced team over the past three years.

I’m eager to do whatever I can to help with this transition. [Optional: I’ve put together the attached transition plan, which should make the process smoother.] I wish you and Alpha Omega all the best in reaching your goals.

Keep your letter brief and stick to the point. Don’t explain why you’re leaving—that’s not relevant here. Your letter of resignation is also not the place to share criticism, even of the most constructive kind. Simply state the facts and answer any further questions that your boss may have in person or during the exit interview.

Here’s a tip: The only time it makes sense to explain why you’re leaving is if you’ve received a better offer from another company and you’re willing to accept a counteroffer from your current employer. Then, you might say “I have received a better offer from ABC Corp. I’m willing to entertain a counteroffer.”

A Word About Transition Plans

In some cases, it’s a good idea to outline your responsibilities and projects so that your employer knows what’s in the works and can help figure out who’ll step in for you until your replacement comes on board. Here are a few things to include:

• A list of your tasks and projects
• Any important deadlines associated with your projects
• A list of tasks you will complete before you leave and their completion dates
• Your recommendations for any co-workers who could take over for you in the interim

Although your boss may want to manage the transition herself, having everything outlined in advance is helpful and will ensure you leave your job in good standing.

Two Weeks’ Notice Do’s and Don’ts

Do tell your boss first

If you can help it, don’t let your impending departure become a rumor before you have a chance to make it official. Tell your boss that you’re quitting before you discuss your departure with your teammates. (Unless, of course, you’ve used any of them as references.)

Don’t be negative

Even if you hate your job and don’t get along with your boss, keep it professional. People learn from their work experiences, even in the worst cases. Try to focus on what you’ve learned rather than what you didn’t like. You’re moving onward and upward!

Here’s a tip: Never put your negative feelings toward your company in writing. They can only come back to haunt you. The Balance offers this list of what not to say when you quit your job.

Do prepare for a counteroffer

Are you willing to entertain a counteroffer? Give this question some serious thought before you turn in your resignation so you’re prepared in case you’re asked. If you’ve received a better offer from another company but you’re willing to stay on if your current employer matches or exceeds it, let your boss know.

Don’t brag about your new gig

Moving up the career ladder is exciting, but be sure to stay grounded while you’re transitioning out of your current job. It’s okay to express enthusiasm for the new opportunities that await you, but it’s also important to show your colleagues that you’ve appreciated your time with them.

Do invite colleagues to keep in touch

Make sure you connect with colleagues on LinkedIn and let them know that you’d like to keep in touch. You never know when a contact will be helpful in the future. Consider including a LinkedIn invite in the form of a goodbye letter to your teammates.

Leaving a job is a big step. With a little planning and a lot of tact, you can ensure that you exit with class and style. Now, onward to the farewell celebration cake!

Need a Pick-Me-Up? 5 Best Short Stories of All Time

Short stories often go underappreciated, but they represent an art form few authors truly master. For readers, the short story is the perfect literary snack, a choice morsel that fills a spare hour, refreshes the brain, and gives a moment of escape from daily routines. When you need something to nibble and lack the time for a novel, feast your eyes on these tiny tomes with outsized impact.

For Esme—with Love and Squalor

No list of short stories would be complete without the work of J.D. Salinger, and “For Esme” is one of his finest. First published in 1950 in The New Yorker and anthologized two years later, the story takes place in England during World War II and involves a soldier who meets an adolescent girl during a church visit in Devon. A year later, the soldier suffers a nervous breakdown in the weeks following V-E Day, but a letter from Esme, the young lady, inspires his recovery. This beautifully written story sings with a message of redemption.

Harrison Bergeron

When life hands you lemons, why not wallow in a deeply satirical critique of authoritarian dystopia? This story, published in Kurt Vonnegut’s Welcome to the Monkey House collection, is set in the year 2081 and features a society in which everyone is “handicapped” by the government to ensure equality among all. The beautiful must wear masks; the intelligent, a headset that blasts shrill sounds to interrupt their thinking. Harrison, the protagonist, rebels against the Handicapper General and attempts to overthrow the tyrannical government. The dark humor and tight journalistic style make this an easy, if somewhat disturbing, read.

The Three Questions

Tolstoy is the recognized master of epic novels, but few appreciate his skill with the short story. This story was first published in 1885 and is written in parable form. A king seeks answers to the three questions he considers most important in life and after receiving inadequate responses from the educated men in his kingdom, he looks to a wise hermit in a neighboring village. In an ironic twist, the king learns the answers to his questions as he helps the hermit care for a severely wounded man who shows up at the hermit’s hut. This story is classic for its timeless answers and masterful way they are revealed.

A Man from the South

This Roald Dahl masterpiece was published in 1948 in the magazine Collier’s and was adapted for film in a 1960 episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” starring Steve McQueen. In the story, Carlos, an old man, offers a young American his gorgeous green Cadillac if he can light his lighter 10 times in a row. The catch, however, is that if he cannot, the old man will chop off the Gambler’s finger. The story involves a mysterious woman, a zinger of a plot twist, and an unexpected ending, just the thing to perk up a tired brain.

A Good Man Is Hard to Find

In this 1953 story, Flannery O’Connor tells the tale of a manipulative grandmother and her son, his wife, and his children, who encounter a dangerous escaped criminal after their car overturns on a journey from Georgia to Florida. It is a stunning and disturbing story that deals with universal themes of cowardice, selfishness, redemption, and grace—and coming to terms with a person’s true self. The controversial final scene is the subject of endless scholarly debate and will be indelibly stamped in your brain once you’ve read it.

Next time you need a quick refresher for a tired brain, pick up an anthology of short stories and curl up on the couch for an empowering hour of literary diversion. What’s your favorite short story and why?

14 People Who May Love Books More Than You Do

Loving books is not a competition. There’s no such thing as a bookworm grand prix. But then again, it’s hard not to notice that some people are bigger bookworms than others or are expressing their love of books in ways that other people might find a little bit too out there. From creating elaborate reading corners and having tattoos of books to building bookshelves that spell “worm” and simply having a lot of books on a to-read list, people celebrate their love of books in many different, creative ways. We’ve found fourteen people from all around the Internet whose love of books might inspire you to add some oomph to your bookishness.

1 Line your walls with book-themed wallpapers!

This is what I'm currently reading. It is really good so far and I'm at page 151. I really want to find out what happens! #bookstagram #bookworm #books #book #read #reader #reading

A photo posted by @leavemewithbooks on Aug 7, 2016 at 2:13am PDT

2Do you have so many books you can’t even tell how many books you have?

3When bookishness is your number one criterion for picking a soulmate.

I just want someone who's willing to spend hours with me in a bookstore and is willing to put up with me fangirling over books & comics help

— angelica (@PixelatedAngel_) August 7, 2016

4Admit it, you like that bookshelf.

5The perfect hiding spot.

6Like you never wanted to take a whole bookstore home with you.

7Get them while they’re young!

Future Bookworm Onsie

Customize in 188 styles and/or colors! https://t.co/rpsK0uWbE3 #ihsnet #homeschool pic.twitter.com/YR2j4RqVSP

— iHomeschool Network (@iHomeschoolNet) August 7, 2016

8The importance of being honest with oneself.

Am I a sensible bookworm who collects #books calmly and doesn't overwhelm self?

No.

But do I try to be?!?!?!

Also no.#bookwormproblems

— Cait (@PaperFury) August 4, 2016

9If left untreated, to-read piles will grow to be three bookshelves large.

I remember when my tbr pile only consisted of 3 books and not 3 shelves ??✨

A photo posted by Audrey (@audreysbooknook) on Jul 19, 2016 at 3:19am PDT

10DIY + being a bookworm = a great bookshelf.

11Do you measure the amount of books you have by how close you are to arranging them into a heart?

A WORK IN PROGRESS #bookstagram pic.twitter.com/AeMcAJ5XWf

— An/jill/ica Schuyler (@booknerd_jill) August 5, 2016

12Planning will get you a long way in life. It doesn’t hurt your bibliophilic ambitions, either.

13The point where you can teach others how to be a bookworm. Spreading the joy!

Comment from discussion Any tips on becoming a bookworm?.

14Just so you can carry some books with you always.

Are you a bibliophile? Show us your love by commenting and sharing your photos with us on social media. Remember to tag your post with #BookLove.

Brand Imposters: 7 Funniest Misspelled Product Knock-Offs

One of the best things about language is its malleability. You can switch around a few letters, relocate a comma, or replace a pronoun, and you’ve suddenly changed the meaning of a sentence. The same principle applies to product logos. A small change can make a big — and hilarious — difference. Here is a short list of some side-splittingly funny product knock-offs from around the world.

Sunbucks Coffee

Realistically, the name Sunbucks makes more sense for a coffee shop than Starbucks, right? After all, more people drink coffee in the morning than they do at night. Sunbucks in China serves up coffee under a logo like Starbucks, but instead of the goddess Siren as their logo, they use a crazy-looking dog.

As if Sunbucks isn’t enough, Bucksstar is another Starbucks knock-off in the Middle Kingdom.

KicKer Candy Bars

“Give me a break. Break me off a piece of that KicKer bar.” KicKer bars are basically KitKats; they’re chocolately deliciousness draped over thin, crispy wafers. Of course, the name “KicKer” might make the candy sound more like a punishment — or a cocktail — than a sugary treat, but, hey, why not just go with it?

Arm and Hatchet Baking Soda

You can use baking soda for all sorts of things; use it to clean your house, do your laundry, or brighten up your smile. Sure, you could go with the classic Arm and Hammer baking soda, but Arm and Hatchet sounds a little more powerful, doesn’t it? The products are the same, but the labels and the pictures are different. Arm and Hatchet’s logo features —you guessed it—a hand holding a small axe instead of a hammer.

ABCIDS Athletic Wear

Adidas is an icon in the sports world, so it makes sense that someone would try to capitalize on the brand’s popularity by creating products with a similar image and font but with a different brand name. Some claim that “ADIDAS” is an acronym for “All day I dream about sports.” ABCIDS, however, well…it kind of sounds like some sort of alphabet disease.

WuMart: The Wal-Mart of China

There’s no shortage of bargains in China, and you’ll find plenty of good prices at WuMart. It is the same sort of business as Wal-Mart; a range of items at low prices. However, the company logos are different. WuMart has more red and they don’t use a star. Their stores’ signs include an English translation that calls WuMart a hypermarket, whatever that is. What does the “Wu” in WuMart mean? The character they use literally means “object,” “thing,” or “matter.” Seems reasonable, right?

Goojje.com — Who Needs Google, Anyway?

The only way to use Google in China is via a VPN. Naturally, the solution is to create a knock-off version of Google known as Goojje. Sure, the scope of Goojje’s services don’t really compare to the company that served as the inspiration behind the copy, but you have to give Goojje’s creators credit for seeking to fill a consumer want.

S&M’s Chocolate Candies

While this product might sound like something that belongs in “Fifty Shades of Grey,” S&M’s are actually just a knock-off of good old M&M’s. Hopefully they taste better than their ill-thought-out name implies. Maybe they’re the perfect treat for date night!

Funny phrases and intentional misspellings make for some of the most laughable products out there. While you might never visit a WuMart or wake up with Sunbucks coffee, it is still amusing to know that shameless imitation is around to keep the entrepreneurial spirit alive. What are some of your favorite, funny product knock-offs?

These young grammar police don’t fool around. Would you join the force?

Smosh gets 100% credit for commitment. These grammar-loving cops don’t kid around!

How To Keep Your Kids Writing During Holiday Break

Writing is like falling in love. Those who really succeed at the endeavor are those who are willing to put their hearts out there and risk being rejected. As you can imagine, this can be a wonderful experience–or it can be agonizing. At least for adults.

For children, falling in love with writing is less dramatic. It’s about learning to tell their stories and committing to paper all of the make-believe worlds they have created. The agonizing part of the process is finding the discipline to keep on writing when they’d rather be doing something else. This is evident during winter break, when the lure of shopping or sledding may be stronger than that of writing.

So, what is the best way to encourage young writers to practice their craft this holiday season? Read on for some practical tips.

Fill your child’s life with stories. Read to your children every day from various types of books. Take turns reading the pages aloud, or read from books that are above their reading level. Tell your own stories at bedtime, and or even when you are on a long car trip or waiting in the doctor’s office. Talk to your children constantly about everything. By keeping them aware of the world around them, as well as other pieces of literature, you’ll expand their imagination (and vocabulary!) and teach them that when they write, the sky is the limit.

Celebrate your child’s writing. When your child brings you a piece of paper with scribbles on it and tells you it’s her name, you’re looking at the child’s earliest form of writing. If you appreciate the work that she does from a young age, she will continue to do it. Celebrate all forms of her writing and she will be filled with the confidence to keep writing–even if it is the holiday season.

Practice what you preach. If you want your child to continue to write over the holidays, make sure he sees you do the same. Any time you write something–whether it’s an email or a grocery list–invite him to help if it is appropriate. Addressing holiday cards is a great opportunity to include children in your writing activities during the holiday season.

Give your child the tools. The tools can be as simple as a writing surface and a container of chalk, pens, and markers. Just make sure she is comfortable and relaxed in her chosen space. Providing a comfortable space for writing helps children and adults alike, as it associates positive feelings with the act of putting pen to paper.

Write with your child. Invite your children to write a story with you. Encourage younger ones to draw illustrations for the story while you write, and then switch jobs. Making writing a way to spend quality time with your children will make them want to do it again and again.

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be easy to forget about writing. However, by making some simple changes in your holiday routine, you can provide your child with the building blocks necessary to become a lifelong writer and storyteller.

How are you encouraging your children to write this holiday season? Share your tips with us.

To Correct or Not to Correct? How to Instill Strong Language Skills in Children

By Laura Wallis for The Stir by CafeMom

I come from a long line of English teachers on my mother’s side. I remember being corrected on my grammar pretty much as soon as I could speak—for my grandmother, my full grasp of the distinction between “bring” and “take” was as vital as covering my mouth when I yawned. Speaking and writing correctly was just good manners.

These days, though, the school of thought on correcting kids has relaxed somewhat. Even if you have the heart to correct your kids (see our previous post, “Too Cute To Correct”)—it isn’t necessarily the best thing to do. Here are a couple of reasons why and some suggestions on what you might do instead.

Correcting can actually disrupt learning

In the early years of writing, your child is absorbing a lot of information. Learning to tell a story, explaining who the major characters are, adding details and action, and expressing emotions are complicated tasks. I learned this lesson from my children’s kindergarten and first-grade teachers, who would remind us parents to let small things like spelling mistakes go when reviewing our kids’ early writing efforts.

Many teachers think that the creative or “temporary” spellings of words that our kids come up with are perfectly fine placeholders and help to keep kids on task. Focusing on the correct spelling of each word—and even on proper punctuation—can slow down all the heavy-duty thinking that goes into writing.

What to do instead of correct? Take cues from the teacher. What is the focus of the writing assignment? If it’s persuasive writing, look for an instance where your child made a good argument, and praise that. Same if she did a great job of adding descriptive detail in recounting a small moment. If a word from your child’s weekly sight-word spelling list appears, it’s okay to make sure that one is spelled correctly and review it if not. Otherwise, it might be better to let it go.

Correcting can discourage

Although some mistakes can be grating and hard to ignore, interrupting your child’s speech on the regular to say “Jimmy and I, dear, not Jimmy and ME” is a pretty good way to torpedo your kid’s confidence.

A friendlier, and maybe even more effective approach in the long run, is to take a page from the nursery school teachers’ playbook and model correct speech yourself. If your little one says “Daddy drived me to school” you can say “He drove you to school? Did you miss the bus?”

It’s just a nicer way to go, and if she hears it the right way often enough, eventually it’s sure to stick.

---

Laura Wallis is a freelance writer and editor specializing in all things family, home, food, and health. She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children, and dog—none of whom take grammar as seriously as they should. She writes for The Stir by CafeMom.

What’s your opinion about academic writing standards?

Academic writing is the epitome of formality and requires generally strict adherence to various style guides—usually a different standard for each subject. Should academic writing and English remain strict and formal, or is it time to relax the rules a bit?

Hot Off the Presses: New changes to the AP Stylebook

The Associated Press Stylebook is a guide for style and usage in written news reporting. Why do writers need a style guide? A style guide helps writers know what the rules are: whether the Oxford comma should be used or not, when to spell out numerals, how to capitalize the names of organizations, etc. Writers may use other style guides in different situations, including the Chicago Manual of Style and the American Medical Association Manual of Style. Each year, the AP Stylebook is updated to include new terms and popular word usages. Here are two interesting updates being made to this year’s Stylebook:

Social media terminology Social media users, rejoice! The terms “favorite” (used as a verb) and “meme” have been added to the AP Stylebook this year.

Global warming In the past, it’s been unclear whether journalists should use the term “global warming” or “climate change.” Now writers don’t have to choose because the AP has declared that the terms can be used interchangeably.

The AP bases its Stylebook updates on common usage of words so that the language writers use is accurate and makes sense to readers. What terminology do you think should be added to or clarified in the AP Stylebook? Share your thoughts in the comments!

7 Fundamental Rules of Poetry

Some people let poetry intimidate them because they get the idea that poetry is all about rhyming, iambic pentameter, and obscure language. While it is true that some of the most beautiful poems are also difficult to understand, poetry in general isn’t that tough. By following some simple guidelines, you can pen verses that are poignant, pure, and easy on the ears.

Employ Imagery

Evoke, don’t emote. You can tell someone “I’m sad” a million times, but the person will have a hard time empathizing if the words don’t have anything to back them up. Imagery, like idioms, takes an abstract idea, such as an emotion, and turns it into something concrete. In the mind and heart of the reader, it goes back to being something abstract. As an exercise, try writing down all the items you can think of that you associate with a certain emotion. You could also take a walk and jot down how the sight of certain things makes you feel. Use those images in your next poem.

Avoid Clichés

Clichés are someone else’s words. Use them, and you steal away your poetry’s true potential. Clichés might be convenient to use, and some are easy to find rhymes for, but the use of clichés will make your readers turn away the moment they stumble upon those trite and tired truisms.

Keep the Reins on Your Rhymes

“No more rhymes now, I mean it!”

“Anybody want a peanut?”

Vizzini from “The Princess Bride” may have been inconceivably mean, but he did have a valid point when he told Fezzik to stop rhyming. That isn’t to say that all rhyming in poetry is bad; it has its time and place, but you should never rhyme simply for the sake of it. Don’t sacrifice the meaning of your poem because you feel obligated to rhyme. The same principles apply to metering. There is something enthralling about a sonnet in perfect iambic pentameter, but only use forms like that if it truly fits what you’re writing about.

Pay Attention to Form

Even poets who write free verse may choose to stick to a certain form. They may try to make all their lines about the same length, or they may vary the length of each line so the poem has a certain shape. You should consider those things, too. Also, think about how you use empty space in a poem. The way you present your work on paper contributes to the poem’s overall message.

Don’t Overdo Anything

Poetic devices like similes, alliteration, repetition, anapest, and onomatopoeia are a great way to add impact to your writing, but overuse can make your poem seem silly. For example, if you want to convey a serious message but start most words in your poem with the letter “b,” that will distract readers from what you want to say.

Bare Yourself

No, poets don’t have to be streakers. However, you should bear in mind that the more honest you are in your poetry, the better. As lovetoknow.com points out, “This is probably the only rule that you should rely on all the time. If you’re not honest with yourself in your poetry, no one else is going to feel anything genuine when they read your work. It can be painfully terrifying to open up and honestly express your feelings on paper, but that’s the name of the game.”

Learn the Rules and Break Them

The above tips are by no means the laws of poetry. Poetry is anarchy. You can do pretty much anything you want with it. However, you should learn as much as you can about it so you can make wise decisions about how to express yourself. For example, you might discover that a sestina was the perfect way to commemorate your anniversary.

Are you a poet? Share some of your favorite methods for penning gorgeous verse.

21 Books to Read Before Your 21st Birthday

Our memories of the books we read as children tend to stick fondly in our minds for years after we’ve grown up. We asked our Twitter followers to share their favorite children’s books with us, and here’s what they said. Whether you have children of your own or you’re looking to recapture a bit of the magic of childhood, there’s something on this list for you:

1. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 2. Matilda by Roald Dahl 3. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch 4. Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola 5. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo 6. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren 7. Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi 8. Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome 9. The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis 10. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery 11. Goodnight Opus by Berkeley Breathed 12. The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle 13. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White 14. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg 15. Wonder by R.J. Palacio 16. Uncle Wiggily’s Story Book by Howard R. Garis 17. The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein 18. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein 19. The Balloon Tree by Phoebe Gilman 20. The Kiss That Missed by David Melling 21. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

What’s your favorite children’s book? Share the title and author in the comments!