Editorial Notes = clarifying information, additional insight, annotations

Hiya Reader,

Like many of you, I have so many passwords to keep track of, almost all of which are force-changed regularly. This is a good thing for the safety and security of my accounts, I suppose. But is it a good thing for my brain?

​Better for my brain is the Password Game, forwarded to me by Michael. It's a gem: true to life, difficult, and funny to boot.​

Please, if you play and win, email me your password (wink wink).

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Example of the Week

Sometimes this is a good example—or a great one. Sometimes this is a bad example—or just a funny blooper. Sometimes a combination. You never know.

A gorgeous description from Maggie O'Farrell's The Marriage Portrait. Look at the way she layers and builds the picture, like a painter. You've probably seen a tiger, but you've never seen a tiger quite like this before.

“And then Lucrezia, hands gripping the windowsill, saw it: a lithe, sinuous shape, moving from one side of the cage to the other. The tigress didn’t so much pace as pour herself, as if her very essence was molten, simmering, like the ooze from a volcano. It was hard to distinguish the bars of the cage from the dark, repeating stripes on the creature’s fur. The animal was orange, burnished gold, fire made flesh; she was power and anger, she was vicious and exquisite; she carried on her body the barred marks of a prison, as if she had been branded for exactly this, as if captivity had been her destiny all along.”

Actionable Tip of the Week

A trick to add to your self-editing toolbox right now!

Decades ago, I found myself assigned to work with a mentor/editor who was, shall we say, my nemesis. I'll call him Ron. Keep reading this article.

Reader Question of the Week

Sara wrote: I am a freelance journalist. When I write an article, I send it to the editor for editing and feedback to make the article special, but now I want to do it myself with the same skill that professional editors do. How can I raise my editing skills?

Sara! This is a huge question, but I commend you for wanting to take on more of the editing task for yourself. Your editors will thank you for it! Read the response here.

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Link of the Week

I love cats but given the severe allergies among two family members, I am sadly unable to have feline pets. Mine were always indoor cats, so I never had to engage help for an up-a-tree rescue. Two arborists in Seattle share video on their various kitty rescues and it's so heartwarming.

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I ❤️ Hearing from You!

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Thanks for reading!

~Helene, your writing sherpa

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