Tabs on Writing

Just like the Frank Sinatra songs, “Time After Time” and “As Time Goes By,” we use the abbreviations “a.m.” and “p.m.” daily, often with no thought as to what words those initials actually represent. Today we’ll let the secret out: a.m. stands for the Latin words ante meridiem and p.m. means post meridiem, that is, before (ante) noon (meridiem) and [...]

According to a recent article by an attorney, “copyright is a federal law of the United States that protects original works of authorship…copyright attaches as soon as the original work is created.” When you need copy that’s right for your website, newsletter, literature or case studies, please remember that the Atlanta Freelance Writer can do more than just [...]

One of my favorite comedies is the holiday classic starring Steve Martin and John Candy – “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” We did two out of three this past week for Thanksgiving, i.e., we flew to White Plains, NY and then proceeded via the interstate system: I-684 to I-84 into Connecticut. Sadly, while crossing “over the [...]

About a year ago at my writer’s critique group, I had the opportunity to meet Jeff Foxworthy, host of “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader.” He happened to be in the book store where the group meets and dropped by to say hello. Fast forward to the other evening at a neighbor’s house for dinner [...]

In this morning’s local newspaper, an article focusing on the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease referenced a situation where an elderly person was confined at home for too long. A memory expert advised that this senior needed a more engaging lifestyle that would get him out into the world more often, or else he might suffer what [...]

Do you know what to do if you were to lose your iPhone, Android or Blackberry (beside panicking)? Just came across a video by renowned, nationally syndicated Consumer Advocate, Clark Howard that covers several quick action steps to take in order to do damage control. Clark Howard’s renown in the areas of travel bargains, smart shopping and [...]

Instead of telling someone to have a ”Happy” Veterans Day, I prefer to thank a serviceman or servicewoman by wishing them a “Blessed” Veterans Day. It is a somber reminder of thanks to those who have ever fought to defend our country and to those who paid the ultimate price for the sake of you and me. We remember, in a special [...]

Today marks the 236th anniversary of the founding of the United States Marine Corps. The Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James F. Amos, issued a congratulatory video message  of gratitude while commemorating “the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and how the events [...]

One of the most intriguing movies I have seen since “The King’s Speech” is an allegorical film written and directed by Emilio Estavez, and in which he co-stars with his father, Martin Sheen. The story is called “The Way” and describes the 800-kilometer journey that pilgrims, general hikers and soul-searchers take along a 1,000-year old hiking path that stretches along the scenic [...]

Recently came across a character in a novel called Icon written by one of my favorite authors, Frederick Forsyth. The antagonist had a “taste for bad behavior and scatological expressions.” In other words, this person, according to Merriam-Webster, had an ”interest in or treatment of obscene matters especially in literature.” On the other hand, if that person [...]