Newsletter: Wonky Animals and Garden Paths
In this newsletter, I bring you happy words and lead you up the garden path.
WordNerd: Confelicity
The WordNerd thinks confelicity is a truly delicious word that deserves to be revived. Confelicity refers to the pleasure we take from the happiness of others. Explains why people love to see other people winning money on telly.
Confelicity combines the Latin word con, meaning with, and felix, meaning happy. It comes to us via the French felicité.
What's On: MCing at Spoken Word Events
In the last month, I've MCed at two events in Waterford, Speak Up and Speak Easy. It was mighty crack. As the pieces people read are often quite serious, I like to inject humour into my intros and comments, to make the events fun nights out for everyone.
I love MCing - the chance to meet interesting people and introduce their work to the world. And I'd like to do more of it, professionally or for free if it's a charity event. To find out more, about my MC shtick, email me on derbhile@writewordseditorial.ie or phone 0876050800
Grammar Grouch: Garden Path Sentences
The Grammar Grouch was delighted to stumble upon the phenomenon of garden path sentences, sentences that are grammatically correct, but have an ambiguous meaning. A sentence like 'Doors must be kept closed at all times' is technically correct.
But the Grammar Grouch wonders how you are supposed to get through a door if it is always closed. Quite literally, these sentences lead you up the garden path.
Photo Descriptions: This pic shows a sunlit garden path. Trees line the path, and the trees have pink blossoms on them.
Writing Resource: WORDS Ireland Payscale
I'm pretty sure I posted about this payscale in the newsletter before, but thought it was worth reminding you, because the recommendations in this payscale have shot up since I last posted about it.
WORDS Ireland protects the interests of writers in Ireland and this is their payscale of expected fees for workshops, readings, mentoring etc. Newsletter subscribers in other countries can convert the rates to their own currencies and living situations. Here's the payscale.
Submission Opportunity: Wonky Animals Poetry Competition
What struck me about this competition is that it incentivises you to look at the website of the organiser in order to enter. You purchase a copy of a Wonky Animals pamphlet in order to be eligible to enter your poem.
You should just about have time to do this before the deadline on 30 April. And if you buy the pamphlet, you can enter two poems. Take a look at the entry criteria here.
To chat more about anything you've read in this newsletter, you can contact me on derbhile@writewordseditorial.ie or 0876959799. And if you like what you've read, hit the Subscribe button.