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Lara Willard

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Word

Tips on Diction, plus the occasional word that is divine, awkward, or interesting.

DICTION

English Word Origins
The Diction Holy Grail
Diction: Latinate versus Anglo-Saxon
Voice: Talk Like a Pirate

WORDS

Chraractonym
100 Funniest Words
Sprachgefuhl
Cacoethes

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Hi! I'm Lara. Welcome to my virtual home!

Recent Posts

Writing Exercises: Voice
Writing When You Don’t Feel 100% or Even 60%
Tips and Tricks for Writing Successful Twitter Pitches
Commercial and Literary Fiction as Paintings
[Download] Printable 2019 Quarterly Calendar

Let people know you won #70pit17 by adding a GIF badge to your blog or website!

Top Posts from the Archive

Characters: MBTI continued
Diction: Latinate versus Anglo-Saxon
Character Profile Worksheets
The 8 C's of Plotting: Introduction
The 8 C's of Plotting: Worksheets
POV Part 3—e.g. (examples)
Chapter Outlining like a Pantser
A Lesson in Backstory and Goals
QUIZ: How should you start your novel?
The Quick and Easy Guide to Dashes

Instagram @VerityLane

Who are your favorite lady heroes? And who do you relate to the most? I love Wonder Woman and Leia Organa. I'm inspired by Rey and Holdo. Velma I relate to SO HARD--unfortunately she's a side character. I wonder what she would be like as a protagonist. More like a Nancy Drew, I suppose? I relate to Katniss, too, but mostly her so-called negative aspects. Haymitch and Joanna are my favorites.

Well, I can't call my husband "Capt" anymore. In major need of a new abbreviation. #USMCwife #semperfidelis

My beautiful motivation to get my homework done this weekend 😍😍😍😍😍😍 When I got it from the book store, it was sold off the shelves and one bookseller had to get more from the back. At the checkout, the teen at the register said "Oh I love Ibi Zoboi!" and I said "Look at the endpapers" and she lovingly opened the cover, and she gasped, and in unison we went "IT'S SO PRETTY!" #PrideRemix

#socksunday and my favorite fall read. I can't even remember if Tuck Everlasting takes place in fall, but this cover says autumn and the book says love. 💛📙 This old paperback belonged to my Mami, my childhood BFF's mom, in whose house I practically lived for the better part of my adolescence. We are coming up on the anniversary of her death. I'm so thankful for the stories she shared with me and my juvenile writer heart she nourished.

My kind of fall dessert drink. #butterbeer

What's your favorite MG or teen historical novel or comic? 📖 I used to read so much historical fiction. Number the Stars was my favorite books as a child. . (If you were as into the Dear America and Royal Diaries books as I was, you'll be just as shocked as I was how hard they are to find these days. My entire metro county has not one copy!) . I read barely any historical fiction in middle and high school, and none in college until I discovered the Dovecote Crest and The Dreamer webcomics. Then I finally started reading adult historical fiction. And now in grad school it's almost all I'm reading! #socksunday #historicalfiction

Beautiful day for a wedding! We haven't cleaned up this good in a LONG time.

I'm not immature because I read middle grade as an adult. I'm immature because I DID NOT ANTICIPATE THIS DRIP OF ICE CREAM. 😨 By the way, Merci Suárez Changes Gears is available in stores! I preordered it but couldn't pick up my copy until today. And I'm already crying just from the blurbs on the back cover. 😭 I got to hear @megmedinabooks read a passage this summer at #HamlineMFAC and I'm already in love with this book. Suggested for ages 9-13 so I'll see if my 8yo is ready for it. He spilled WAY more ice cream than I did, for the record. #mercisuarezchangesgears

Today's #ChampReads is The Essential Calvin and Hobbes. Now that he's 8, he's understanding a lot more of the humor. It's nonstop giggles out of this corner.

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Guest Posts

7 TIPS FOR WRITING REALISTIC DIALOGUE

About Me

I've been grading grammar homework since 2005 and editing fiction and poetry since 2008. In 2013, I started editing comics and full manuscripts for novelists and literary agents.

Read "7 Reasons to Make Me Your Editor."

In 2015, I assembled a team of freelance editors of various specialties.

In 2018, I started my MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Hamline University.

See what I'm up to.

Find out more about me.

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