I’ve been in love with words since age five, when I realized that a connection existed between the words my mother was “reading” to me and the symbols on the page. It was a milestone, as definitive for me as the turning from the old century to the new. Whole worlds opened for me; and one of the happiest days of my life was when I got my first library card.
With this newfound skill, and with access to newspapers and books, I realized that I was no longer limited to what my parents had, and my teachers would, teach me as I passed through their care. Now I’m full grown and in charge of my own words, and I think of myself as a wordsmith. I have, through my working life, developed and honed my skills. I made my living helping others make their points with the aid of my discreet editing, murmured suggestions and well-stocked vocabulary. I also learned to navigate among the more colorful print disasters which threatened regularly.
To me, one of the best things about words is that they can be combined in an infinite variety of ways. What magic to be able to take words and weave them together, evoking feelings and exciting passions in others. Words have so many textures; there are moments I’d swear I could almost taste a word, hear its music, see its colors, inhale its fragrance and embrace its meaning.
Over and over I read each word I write, testing to see if the flavor is right or if there’s one that better conveys my meaning. Do my tenses agree? Are my infinitives split? (Why is there so much cat hair in my keyboard?) Will my words touch someone deep inside? I imagine a reader, perhaps you, seeing my words and saying, “Yes, I know just what she means.” To be human is often to be lonely and isolated. How rare and beautiful, if only briefly, to cross the void that divides us and connect with a kindred spirit.
So that is my back story, some of which has been cribbed from an earlier story, and here we are. If you are interested and I am able, I’d like to be a resource for those thorny “lie”/”lay” issues. Don’t know the difference between “discreet” and “discrete”? Fuzzy on your parts of speech? Let me help you ease the ‘agony of the feat’ of finding just the right word. I enjoy bringing order, helping to make a writer’s piece perfect, making that first and lasting impression a positive one. Let me be “The Final Word In Editing” for you.
Theresa H Hall said:
I am so pleased to provide you a reference Melody. For the past four years, we have worked together on various projects and I count on you to give my work the polish that only you can add. Many thanks for all you have done and all of the work ahead. Cheers!
She is A++ make certain you hire the finest editor possible and that is Melody!
Melody J Haislip said:
Theresa, thank you so much. It has been a pleasure working with you. I appreciate the reference. There’s nothing like a satisfied customer!
Harnew said:
Hey! Welcome to WordPress
Melody J Haislip said:
Thank you. Actually this is my second blog on wordpress. This is my grammar geek site, where I will let my inner editor fly free! Appreciate the welcome.
Harnew said:
You’re welcome. What’s the focus of your other one?
Melody J Haislip said:
Poetry, essays, rants, comedy, politics. Essentially whatever interests or moves me. Here’s the link: http://pacificmelody.wordpress.com/
Harnew said:
I just noticed your gravatar. You have about four personal links. Which one do you give the most attention to?
Melody J Haislip said:
Maybe a bit more for BrooWaha and PacificMelody’s blog; least on the BC articles; and I’ve just begun this writing/editing blog. I love writing and editing, so I think I may post more here, at least at first, because I’ve got four more posts ready to go.
Beau Horner said:
Can’t wait to see your next post. Words for me have to flow and trigger emotions, facial expressions… things of that nature. Don’t disappoint me 😉
Melody J Haislip said:
I’ll do my very best. New post tomorrow!
Melody J Haislip said:
Beau, does this flow for you? http://www.broowaha.com/articles/10003/star-stuff 🙂
Beau Horner said:
I like. I’d post some of my stuff pertaining to that category, but you’d have to be on my facebook to see most of it.
pushhyarag2000 said:
Melody,
Happy to have been here for the launch of your word blog to the world!
I have a great fascination for words myself & will always want to be right with the most appropriate word for the context. Though English is not my native language, I have a penchant for speaking & writing grammatically correct and of caliber. This 2009 article Romancing With Words” speaks of the fancy words hold for me. Would love to engage with this exposition in semantics!
Melody J Haislip said:
Pushhyarag, I read, enjoyed and commented on your article. Never write down to your audience. Think of it as encouraging your readers to enrich their vocabularies. With hundreds of thousands of words available, why wouldn’t they? You’ll be doing them a favor. 🙂
Jen and Tonic said:
Melody, I didn’t know you were an editor! You’re a woman of many talents 🙂
Melody J Haislip said:
Hey, Jen, thanks for the visit. Yes, I have talents I haven’t discovered yet (like my dancing talent, for example, that one’s really well hidden). 😛 Yes, I like editing; always have. I proof everything I read, which can be a drag. I’m looking for a good therapist. 🙂
Neil Killion said:
I’m very pleased to visit your new site and endorse the work you are doing. It is my belief that some bloggers (no-one we know of course), do let themselves and their message down, with poor grammar. If I have any queries in editing I shall contact you.
Melody J Haislip said:
Thank you, and, yes, it’s very disruptive to be reading an interesting article and suddenly run into a grammatical error. It’s distracting and from then on I’m subconsciously waiting for the next clanger. I, of course, never make misteaks!
clarkscottroger said:
happy to frequent this here blog here! ( the wordpress that I am signing in as, is my ‘accessory’ blogsite, but it will connect a visitor to the main Wakefield Doctrine site).
The subject matter of this blog could not be of greater timeliness! I am fond of saying that, when I was in school and my teacher was trying to show me the ways of grammar, I was concerned only with trying to learn the lead riff in the song ‘Sunshine of Your Love’!
Damn, wish I had paid more attention (lol). I have a bunch of lttle-played guitars in my closet, but I spend most of my time here…tryin to fit these frickin adverbly-challenged syntactically ill-fitting words together.
(Suspect I may be a frequent visitor… )
Melody J Haislip said:
Clark, thanks for making me smile – several times. I suspect you’re not quite so grammatically challenged as you’d have us believe. Speaking of believing, they were still diagramming sentences when I was in school. Boring but effective and slightly more palatable than Latin or Algebra, at least to me. Stop in any time. In fact, check out today’s blog linking verbs and Lady Gaga. I know, it’s a gift. not everybody could make the leap. Thanks for the kind words, too.
Melody J Haislip said:
Dennis, there are times I’m not sure if children here are even learning English! But then again I have discovered some very brilliant, thoughtful and articulate young people populating the (another hideous word) blogosphere. I can put up with a great deal, and I consider myself accepting rather than simply tolerant, but there are times when I think I’ll Taser the next person who says, “I’m going to go lay down.” Standing over the writhing body I will scream, “Lay … down … what?” Sorry, I’m all right now. I’ll certainly check out your essay.
clarkscottroger said:
…my god!! is that a participle on her…??!
Melody J Haislip said:
Yes, and ~oh, the horror of it all ~ it’s dangling! It’s the end of life as we know it!
nothingprofound said:
Good luck with the new blog, Melody! Your prose is always very elegant and that’s a great recommendation for you as an editor and guide.
Melody J Haislip said:
Thank you, NP, what a lovely compliment ~ elegant prose. It would make a good title. I call dibs! I appreciate your good wishes, my gallant friend.