Interlude: Resolutions, Ease, and Passive Voice
Happy New Year!
I'm doing something a little different this year. Rather than choosing a word to help me set an intention for the year, I'm choosing a question.
How can this be easy?
As you know, I already use a similar philosophy to guide my writing and editing: make the reader's job easy. But this year, I want to apply this guiding question to all other areas of my life, from my business to my personal activities. But most importantly, I want to make things easier—and more enjoyable—for you.
So, the first thing I'm doing is creating a little name for this newsletter so that you know what it is when it arrives in your inbox. I'm calling it Interlude.
Historically, an interlude is a pause in a play or other entertainment during which the audience can enjoy music or a short drama. So, in essence, an interlude is a break in a story when you can enjoy something else. I want this newsletter to be a break in your busy day when you can enjoy something different than the typical emails in your inbox. My hope is that you will grab a cup of coffee, tea, or other favorite beverage to pause and enjoy the Interlude.
So, let's get to it. Here is my latest round-up of tips, tools, and resources.
💌 Round-up
🎉 Featured
Invited Board Member for the AMWA Journal
I am delighted to share that I was recently invited to join the board of the AMWA Journal. I am looking forward to working with a fantastic team to develop insightful and informative issues in the upcoming year.
👓 Reading
Public Access to Scientific Research Findings and Principles of Biomedical Research—A New Policy for the JAMA Network
"Beginning in 2023, JAMA and all of the journals in the JAMA Network will adopt a new policy that permits authors of original research investigations to deposit their accepted manuscript in a public repository of their choosing immediately on the day that the manuscript is published by the JAMA Network."
💭 Thoughts
Writing with passive voice is a lot like cooking with salt.
You need a little to tie things together. But too much leads to indigestible writing.
📝 Challenge
This week, use the Editor function in word to find passive voice in your writing. Then ask yourself whether you are using it intentionally to enhance the writing or simply by habit.
Thank you so much for reading.
Warmly,
Crystal
