Sarah

@usewordsbetter.bsky.social

474 Followers 482 Following

written-word wrangler | Houston

A small white dog curled on a large pillow in a hazy beam of light from a large window.
Juvenile finch with wild white eyebrows puts their whole body into screeching at a parent
From a bird feeder cam by a vine-covered fence, a female house finch feeds a screeching juvenile who has old-man eyebrows and a mouth agape
On a bird feeder cam on a vine-covered patio, a male cardinal repeatedly feeds seeds to a female cardinal.
From the view of a bird feeder on a patio, a male cardinal gives a sunflower seed to a female cardinal as soon as she alights, and both peacefully munch seeds side by side. There is a flowering trumpet creeper behind them.
white terrier with bat ears in a passenger seat wearing a hot pink sleeveless bodysuit and a forearm bandage with a cartoon octopus
A male cardinal on snow-covered patio furniture next to snow-covered nandina bushes
A white terrier, hair trimmed, large ears pointed back, sitting on a mousepad in a home workspace in dramatic afternoon shadows
A child’s painting on a tile embedded in a brick wall, depicting a girl walking g a tiger like it’s a dog, their limbs respectively noodle-like and bulbous
A small white terrier with short fur and enormous upright ears wears a long little orange pillow strapped to her back with a dark green sash. The idea is she’s sushi. She is relaxed on a couch.
A woman in brightly colored silk, embroidered in contrasting colors and sequined in gold, including a red blouse, a large pink cross-body sash, and orange trousers. It’s a sunny day and she has pink sunglasses on. It’s a slightly cocky selfie.
“So why do experienced writers tend to benefit from overt grammar and usage instruction, but not beginning writers? While grammar and usage are often talked about as “the basics” or the “nuts and bolts” of writing, it is better understood as the fine artistic styling and finishing touches of good writing completed by experts. Think of it in terms of another artistic medium, such as sculpture. If you were going to your first college level on sculpting, do you imagine your instructor would have you start by sculpting the tiny details such as the veins on the clenched hand of Michaelangelo’s David? Of course not, because you are so inexperienced with sculpting that you don’t yet really understand how to chip a chunk of marble into the general shape of a human body.”
A round wooden plate with a couple fried eggs and a row of avocado slices piled with queso fresco crumbles, bits of red and green onions, tomato slices, and drizzles of crema and Valentina. Under the toppings are salsa-soaked tortillas, but they’re basically hidden.
A round loaf scored in a way that looks like strewn leaves with the edges flaking upward and a floury spiral imprint visible on the intact crust
The text reads, “and I will not allow a male teaching assistant to wear a dress or high heals or any type of drag attire while working for me. Although I am not opposed to hiring a cross-dresser or transvestite as a teaching assistant, they must refrain from this behavior while on the job and when interacting with my students in any way.” The word “they” is highlighted.
A white dog wearing a lion’s mane, big white ears poking out, bewildered expression
A small white dog belly up getting a rub, back arched and arms curled, a shadowy sepia mood to the colors
A mound of labneh topped with olive spread, olive oil, and pepper flakes with two pieces of focaccia at the ready, on a colorful plate