Writing / Editing – Karen Lowry, Editor & Writer

No More Mousing Around

You can skip this post if you’re not interested in me nerd-ing out about keyboard shortcuts. 😄

There are meaningful, lyrical pieces written about hope, renewal and vaccination in the new year. This is not one of them. I do feel hopeful – and impressed, yay scientists! – with the covid vaccine rolling out (shooting out? injecting out?) already. But I don’t feel able to offer inspiration to you, lovely readers, becauseContinue reading “Breathing in 2021”

Chapter 1

Being accused of murder sure makes it hard to enjoy new-found freedom from an abusive ex. Escape Artist I’m writing a book! Wanna teaser? It’s a mystery so you might have to sit in suspense for awhile … while I write the rest of it, lol. The link to Chapter 1 of Escape Artist, setContinue reading “Chapter 1”

Let’s circle back to buzzwords because they’re holding you back

A dictionary of ways to avoid annoying readers Early in the pandemic, many of my friends laughed when they heard their partners talk in zoom meetings for work. One friend said, “I didn’t know they were bilingual.” It turned out my friend’s partner was fluent in Management Speak. On zoom, they engaged stakeholders in paradigm-shiftingContinue reading “Let’s circle back to buzzwords because they’re holding you back”

Spelling Rules Only a Canadian Can Love

Frustrated by your spell-checker? Learn to laugh at those squiggly red lines under our Canadianisms. Whether you’re a Canadian writer or someone who comes-from-away writing about us, you need to know these spellings and vocabulary unique to canucks (the people, not the hockey team). We start with a combination of British and American spellings. Then we mixContinue reading “Spelling Rules Only a Canadian Can Love”

Focus

I’ve spent years advising people to declutter their life because it will enhance their ability to focus. Clear away the nonsense and you’re left with what really matters, right? I started out this pandemic with heartbreak about a writing and yoga retreat I’d looked forward to for months. As I realized it would need toContinue reading “Focus”

A Mess of Words

screenshot of a mix of unorganized files

I’m a wannabe-minimalist living a simple, happy life without clutter [see: Every single thing I post]. I choose my excesses with joy [see: ALL THE PENS!] and my favourite is … Words. I write words, play with words, copy words, read words, think in words. I fit words into crossword puzzles, I study words inContinue reading “A Mess of Words”

I Need a User Manual

I drafted a post about needing a user manual for my house. A few neurons connected and it became a metaphor for me needing a user manual, for me. My house is over a hundred years old. The exact date of its construction unknown, the kids and I held a birthday party for its centennialContinue reading “I Need a User Manual”

Excitement!

I did a thing. A fabulous impulsive thing I’m so glad about! I didn’t set out to do the thing, but it was meant to be. I gave them my money – threw all sorts of money at them – and got an email saying thanks, things fill up quickly so we’ll get back toContinue reading “Excitement!”