Editorial Notes = clarifying information, additional insight, annotations Hiya Reader, As a nerdy middle schooler, I asked my parents for the Oxford English Dictionary as a holiday present one year. Not the single volume, simple dictionary my father gifted, but this one, the multi-volume definitive history of the language: OED I wanted the improbable set largely due to my fascination with etymology, i.e., the entries detailing word origins and their shifts in meaning over time. I told you I...
27 days ago • 5 min read
Editorial Notes = clarifying information, additional insight, annotations Hiya Reader, A subscriber and fellow bibliophile shared this piece from LitHub: Nothing Better Than a Whole Lot of Books: In Praise of Bibliomania. On a recent trip to Seoul, I got to experience the absolutely gorgeous Starfield library, the shelves of which are more than 40 feet tall. A whole lotta books and a happy place indeed. Starfield Library, Seoul Think a friend would appreciate Editorial Notes? Send them this...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Editorial Notes = clarifying information, additional insight, annotations Hiya Reader, I have no idea how this started, but in my family, my then-teenagers started to falsely-on-purpose "correct" any spoken usage of less to fewer and vice versa. "Use a little less flour." Response: "Fewer flour." "Fewer leaves to rake than last week." Response: "Less leaves." This ridiculousness went on for so many years that I now, genuinely, have to stop and think which word is actually correct. (Fewer is...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Editorial Notes = clarifying information, additional insight, annotations Hiya Reader, I just finished a light, fun read, This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch: The Joy of Loving Something–Anything–Like Your Life Depends On It by Tabitha Carvin. IYKYK 😉 My son is an actor, and his mannerisms remind me of Cumberbatch's Sherlock. Do with that useless info what you will. Think a friend would appreciate Editorial Notes? Send them this link to sign up: Refer a Friend! (And if you’re the...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Editorial Notes = clarifying information, additional insight, annotations Hiya Reader, In advance of the upcoming lists of "best books of the year," I've been plowing through the books on my TBR pile. I know I'm making progress — I'm reading! I'm doing it! — yet somehow the stack doesn't seem to shrink. Is there a word for this? My father's reading log numbers pages and pages and pages. Yet he still, somehow, read some books more than once, not realizing until as much as three-quarters of the...
3 months ago • 4 min read
Editorial Notes = clarifying information, additional insight, annotations Hiya Reader, How are you doing? No, really. It's been a challenging season over here in my little world. Consider this your reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do for your writing and, more importantly, your self, is to take a break. Pick whatever metaphor you prefer: Our electronic gadgets all need batteries recharged or they go dead. You can't get or give water from an empty pitcher. The car won't start if...
3 months ago • 4 min read
Hello Reader, This is the final Editorial Notes issue of 2025. I'm on holiday, so here's a reader favorite from the archives. I'll be back with a new issue in your Inbox on January 7, 2026! Happy New Year! Earlier this week, I came across a sobering yet inspiring statistic that I just had to share with you! Assuming you average seven to eight hours of sleep in each 24-hour period (#lifegoals), ten minutes equals approximately one percent of your waking time. One percent! On the one hand, it's...
4 months ago • 5 min read
Editorial Notes = clarifying information, additional insight, annotations Hiya Reader, Have you ever wondered why water bottles are always 16.9 ounces? Well, I sure did. I reached out to Caitlin Olson who publishes the quirky and always fascinating Today You Should Know which you should subscribe to if you don't already. Here is her response: "A 16.9-ounce bottle comes out to 500 ml, which confirms the metric system’s influence. My guess is this size stuck in the U.S. thanks to the...
4 months ago • 4 min read
Editorial Notes = clarifying information, additional insight, annotations Hiya Reader, Ever feel like you have no idea what people are talking about? C'mon, I know it's not just me! Fortunately, Merriam-Webster recently added over 5,000 words to its collegiate dictionary! Now you will really understand how terrible a situation it is when you find yourself adulting. You're welcome. Think a friend would appreciate Editorial Notes? Send them this link to sign up: Refer a Friend! (And if you’re...
5 months ago • 3 min read