WordNerd: Jentacular
The WordNerd loves a fancy word, one that you'd never use in daily chat, but which you can bring out for special occasions. Jentacular is just such a word. It's an umbrella word for all the foods that you'd eat at breakfast.
The WordNerd plans to drop this into conversation at a hotel breakfast buffet. As she gazes at the scrambled eggs, fried meats and fruit plates, she'll declare, "What a marvellous jentacular display."
What’s Going On: Irish Hospice Foundation Project
Last newsletter I mentioned I'm working with a big organisation devoted to health and wellbeing. Now I can reveal that the organisation in question – the Irish Hospice Foundation.
I was honoured to be chosen, along with three other artists, to develop a suite of creative tools for frontline healthcare staff.
My tools are storytelling prompts that will help the staff find fun and freedom during their stressful working days. The project is reaching its final stage, so I'll bore you all with details about it as it progresses.
Grammar Grouch: An Amnesty for Illegally Parked Cars
The Grammar Grouch was in a hurry one day and was sorely tempted to park on a double yellow line. A nearby sign appeared to endorse his decision. It said: 'Illegally parked cars will be fine.'
Phew, he thought. But then he realised. The sign was missing a crucial letter – the letter D. It was meant to read: 'Illegally parked cars will be fined.' With a heavy heart, the Grammar Grouch drove on, cursing the gods of grammar.
Photo Description: This pic shows the front of a white car, with the wheel clamped, on a footpath.
Writing Resource: No-Nonsense Guide to Grants
Applying for grants can feel like a minefield. You'd be forgiven for thinking there's some mysterious magic you need to harness in order to be awarded one. But according to author Oisin McGann, it's just about using your commonsense – and it's worth the effort.
Here's Oisin's no-nonsense guide to applying for grants. They're Arts Council of Ireland grants, but his techniques could be applied to any grant awarding body.
Special Shout Out: Waterford Council Arts Office
I want to give a special shout-out to Waterford Council Arts Office in this newsletter. Martina Dalton, runner up in the Waterford Poetry Prize run by the Arts Office, has now been nominated for Poem of the Year at the Irish Book Awards.
This is a testament to the brilliant support Waterford Council's Arts Office gives to writers. If you want to vote for Martina's poem in the Irish Book Awards, click here.
It's also worth noting that the Short Story of the Year shortlist includes a story by Neil Tully published in The Waxed Lemon, a literary journal supported by Waterford Council's Arts Office.
If you'd like to chat about any aspect of this newsletter or anything wordy, you can get in touch with me via derbhile@writewordseditorial.ie or 0876959799.
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