The following needs no introduction, but I’ve written up a short list of things I try to avoid when writing anything other than a grocery list.

1. I don’t want to write that something needs no introduction and then introduce it.
   
2. I’d like to be an emcee who says “this next guest needs no introduction,” and then walk off the stage.
3. The dictionary defines nausea as “extreme disgust; loathing; repugnance.”
4. It nauseates me when a written piece begins with a definition.
5. Let’s get this one out of the way early: I don’t want to over-exclaim. I loathe exclamation points! They make me nauseous.
6. I don’t want to write “nauseous” when the correct word is “nauseated.”
7. I’d rather not be too anal about the difference between “nauseous” and “nauseated”.
8. On a related subject, did you know the correct spelling is “adviser” rather than “advisor?”
9.  Again, I don’t want to be anal about stuff no one else cares about.
10. And what’s the deal with asking questions in the middle of a list?
11. If I write a novel about a murder, I won’t call it a brutal murder.
12. “Brutal murder” strikes me as redundant.
13. I mean, is there a nice kind of murder?
14. I suddenly remember that when I finish writing  a novel, I need to do Ctrl F to delete all references to “suddenly.”
15. That word doesn’t belong anywhere except in a nostalgic piece about an old sitcom starring Brooke Shields.
16. I do not feel wistful for Brooke Shields sitcoms, especially ones co-starring Kathy Griffin.
17. I think semi-colons are a bit pretentious; honestly, I’m never sure how to use them correctly.
18. “Honestly” always reads like I’m lying.
19. Was everything written before that point dishonest?
20. There I go, asking questions again.
21. I don’t want to write anything with a zombie…
22. Archer…
23. Or wizard in it. Other writers have that stuff pretty well covered.
24. I’ll stick with my little stories about regular people.
25. I could always change my mind on that.

 

P.S. To see how well I’ve done so far with this list, check out my books here, here and here. Please. I have a daughter starting college soon.