Vocabbett

After around 20 episodes, season 2 of the Vocabbett podcast is coming to a close! I’d gladly continue it forever, but I was recently accepted to UCSD’s college counseling program. Since they operate on a quarterly system, I’m able to start my first class in March! I honestly don’t know exactly how the college counseling certificate will play into the future of Vocabbett, but as I discuss in the podcast, I do want to turn Vocabbett into a profitable, sustainable business, and while I’m having a blast with what I’m currently doing, it’s not exactly self-sustaining. In episode 76, I dive into various ways I could grow Vocabbett moving forward. You can listen below or on your favorite podcast player. And if you have any ideas or thoughts about all this, please, let me know! Seriously, just shoot me an email at contact@vocabbett.com.

If you’ve seen The Durrells in Corfu, you’ll undoubtedly remember the slightly dotty daughter in the series, Margo. When I finished the show (a slightly heartbreaking moment – I hope they release a new season in the future!), I was exceptionally curious about what happened next for the family. Though the show offers a fictionalized account of the Durrells’ lives, the characters were based on real people. To think of them in the clutches of World War II… For episode 75 of the Vocabbett podcast, I share more about the remarkable life of Margo Durrell. You can listen below or on your favorite podcast player! Referenced In This Episode: https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/933123/The-Durrells-ITV-Margo-Durrell-Gerald-Durrell-Daisy-Waterstone-Keeley-Hawes

We've all heard of Cleopatra, but how many people know she had a little sister -- and a pretty remarkable one at that? Arsinoe IV was about ten years younger than Cleopatra, but my guess is that, had their ages been reversed, we'd all know Arsinoe and it would be, "Cleopatra who?" At around 12 years old, she was commanding an army and outwitting Julius Caesar! Listen to episode 74 of the Vocabbett podcast to learn all about her. And as promised, here is the link to the episode of "Drunk History" about her for those who want to watch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ab4rYDR0yY&t I said it in the podcast, but I'll say it again here: there is a lot of profanity in this video! It's hilarious if you don't mind that sort of thing, but there are about 1,000 swear words in 10 minutes and some PG-13-level vulgarity. Consider yourself warned!

When most of us think of suffragettes (a.k.a. women who fought for the right to vote), we think of Susan B. Anthony or Emmeline Pankhurst. We should, however, also be thinking about the extraordinary Nazek al-Abid! In the latest installment in our “forgotten women” mini-series, we explore the story of this remarkable woman. Exiled countless times for voicing (and acting upon) her beliefs, she never stopped fighting. Get the whole story in episode 72 of the Vocabbett podcast! (By the way, because her name is transliterated from Arabic, it’s sometimes spelled “Naziq” or “Nazik.” None are incorrect; I just went with what was on the Syrian stamp!) - Read More: ‘Forgotten Princesses’ article I reference throughout the episode: https://www.rejectedprincesses.com/princesses/naziq-al-abid

“18th century heiress turned pirate” may sound like the tagline of a cheesy romance novel, but remarkably, it’s a fairly accurate description of the indomitable Anne Bonny. A few episodes into our “Forgotten Women” mini-series -- where I sneakily boost your vocabulary by telling you about some people you probably didn’t learn about in school -- we’re shedding light on one of the most famous female pirates from the so-called “Golden Age” of piracy. It’s a story you won’t want to miss! You can listen for free on your favorite podcast player, or tune in over at Vocabbett.  Referenced in this episode: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/if-theres-a-man-among-ye-the-tale-of-pirate-queens-anne-bonny-and-mary-read-45576461/ https://www.gutenberg.org/files/40580/40580-h/40580-h.htm#page-171

If you’re an Anglophile (lover of the English) like me, you’ve probably heard of Boudica, the warrior queen who took on the Romans. But did you know that there’s *another* British warrior queen with an equally fascinating tale? Around the 8th century, Viking raiders were taking over regions of England left and right. Alfred the Great dreamed of not only fighting them off, but uniting England under one king. Sadly, he died before seeing his dream come true. Alfred’s daughter, Aethelflaed, leaped onto my radar in The Last Kingdom (available on Netflix, though very violent, so don’t watch unless you have a parent’s permission). I loved her storyline (from season 2) so much, I couldn’t help but Google what happened to her later! Obviously not everything from the show is true, but later in life, she went on to do extraordinary things. Aethelflaed took on the Vikings, negotiating with them when possible and fighting them when it wasn’t. She was a shrewd tactician, and knew exactly which roads and river passages to attack to make the battle as swift as possible. It got to the point where her enemies (the freaking Vikings) would surrender without a fight! Learn more about this amazing woman in episode 71 of the Vocabbett podcast! Quoted & Referenced in This Episode: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-44069889 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-44429911

“Mary had a little lamb…” Be honest. Did you go, “little lamb” again after you read that? Those five words are so catchy, they were the first words Thomas Edison ever recorded in the phonograph (making them the first words ever recorded on a machine). Not only that, but they were also some of the first words Alexander Graham Bell spoke into the telephone! It’s astonishing to me that a mere century (or so) after her death, Sarah Josepha Hale — the creator of this nursery rhyme — has faded into obscurity. It would be one thing if her accomplishments had also faded, but we’re still hugely impacted by her legacy. And I’m not just talking about ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb.’ In fact, if you’d asked Sarah to list what she was most proud of, “Mary had a little lamb” probably wouldn’t even make the first page! The only reason I know about this woman is that I’m lucky to be (very) loosely related to her. But it got me thinking, how many other stories of remarkable women have been forgotten? In episode 70 of the Vocabbett podcast, I share the (very abbreviated) story of Sarah Josepha Hale in a new “Forgotten Women” mini-series. I’m still boosting your vocabulary throughout; I’m just finding new, fun stories to incorporate while doing it! : ) You can listen to the podcast for free on your favorite player, and I’ve included a sneak peek of the members’-only podcast accompaniment below. Become a Vocabbett member to watch the whole video if you haven’t already!

I don’t remember the first time I heard the word “kudos,” but I distinctly remember thinking that it was 1970’s slang. How wrong I was! I only found out last week, though, that “kudos” goes all the way back to the days of Homer, meaning “magical glory” in ancient Greek. This means, if someone says, “kudos, you did a great job at the game,” the original meaning was more like, “Magical glory! Man, you’ve been blessed by the gods. Great job.” How cool is that? There’s a fierce battle raging among linguists about this word (something I’d love to see in person). I go into details in episode 69 of the Vocabbett podcast!

Amid the recent inauguration news, I kept hearing the word “rostrum.” “As he approaches the rostrum tomorrow…” “Donald Trump began his term from the same rostrum…” “In his inaugural address Wednesday, delivered from a rostrum…” Obviously this word wasn’t crucial to my understanding of what was happening, but being the inquisitive sort, I needed to know all about it. A rostrum is basically a podium. There are subtle differences, but for all intents and purposes, it’s a podium.  That’s not the good bit, though. The good bit is what comes before the definition, the story of how we got the definition.  Like so many others, this story goes back to ancient Rome (and their fighting preferences). Learn all about it on episode 68 of the Vocabbett podcast!

With colleges dropping the SAT left and right — and the recent announcement that they’re dropping the essay and subject tests — it’s normal to feel a reluctant pang of sympathy for a dying rite of passage. Here’s the thing, though: The College Board (the organization that runs the SAT) is stronger than ever. Most people don’t know that the AP program is also managed by The College Board, so while people celebrate the end of a standardized test…we’re unwittingly letting them standardize the entire high school curriculum. I’m not against AP’s. There are some great AP courses! But when one organization has so much power, there are bound to be issues because we don’t all want the same thing. I dive into this issue in greater detail in episode 67 of the Vocabbett podcast. I’d consider it a must-listen for students, parents, and educators!

Imagine not knowing how to say that you're tired. It wouldn't make sense, right? And yet there's an emotion that most of us experience all the time, whether we want to or not...but we awkwardly don't name it.  If you don't know the word "schadenfreude," you're not alone. In fact, the very history of this emotion is full of people who didn't want to bring it into the English language! Schadenfreude is when you're happy about, or interested in, the misfortunes of others.  In more practical terms, it's when you laugh at a video of someone falling, read all the details of some scandal, watch reality TV, or (let's be honest) read the news. How often do they report "man gets his mail" without some catastrophe attached to it? It's been said that we're currently living in an era of schadenfreude because, when you think about it, many of our forms of entertainment focus on reveling in someone else's misfortunes. It's created some new moral conundrums that I find fascinating! Get all the information in episode 66 of the Vocabbett podcast.

You may already know that what we in the U.S. call “soccer,” most of the rest of the world refers to as “football.” But do you know why we call it soccer when almost no one else does? Is it just some cowboy American thing? A refusal to go with the flow? The story behind the soccer vs. football debate is fascinating, and I share it in episode 65 of the Vocabbett podcast! Take a listen below or on your favorite podcast player. Until next time! - Referenced in this episode:  'The English Game' on Netflix https://www.dictionary.com/e/soccer-or-football/

Blatherskite - “A person who talks at great length without saying much of sense.” Basically, a blatherer. What a great word. Definitely my favorite word du jour. Do you know what makes this word even better? The amazing route it took to reach our fair shores. Originally a pseudo-Scottish insult, the word became popular through a song, Maggie Lauder, that was popular with American troops during the Revolutionary War! You’ve GOT to listen to episode 64 of the Vocabbett podcast, which features a popular modern rendition of the song. And if you’re not yet a Vocabbett member, sign up to get access to the accompanying video! https://vocabbett.com/signup!  - *Listen to the whole 'Maggie Lauder' song!* https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Yiq... (It's live, and starts around 30 seconds in) - Referenced in This Episode: The Dictionary of Difficult Words by Jane Solomon and Louise Lockhart (https://amzn.to/3q8TcR7 - Amazon Associate link, which means I may earn a small commission at no added cost to you)

If you're a fan of Greek history, you're probably familiar with the story of Theseus and the minotaur. But did you know that the word "academy" traces its roots all the way back to that story? To be more specific, "academies" are etymologically named in honor of the man who saved Helen of Troy from having to become Theseus' wife! We think of Theseus as this great Greek hero, but if you've ever been in any of my history classes, you know he's a total pig. From abandoning Ariadne on an island to kidnapping Helen of Troy (from the temple where she was praying, no less)...he's no good, folks. Tune into episode 63 of the Vocabbett podcast for the ins and outs of this fascinating story!

The WORD, get it? Haha, wordplay. You tend to hear the word "anecdote" in two contexts these days. Either it's a fancy stand-in for "story," or it's a disparaging adjective, as in, "you only have anecdotal evidence." But did you know the root of the word anecdote is far more salacious? It goes back to the juiciest tell-all novel of the Byzantine empire, when a respected historian basically published the "Gossip Girl" of Justinian's court after his death. While he was alive, he secretly documented all the scandals: whom the generals' wives were secretly seeing, the pious empress's threats to have people executed, the emperor's fondness for lying and wasting money, that sort of thing. After his death, he released the story under the title "Anekdota," which roughly translates as "not to publish." It's sort of the equivalent of "Confidential" or "Top Secret," a title sure to pique a person's interest! Over time, the word "Anekdota," and later "anecdote," came to be more associated with these personal stories of Justinian's court than the original meaning ("not to publish"). For more details on this story, be sure to tune into episode 62 of the Vocabbett podcast!

We're all probably familiar with the legends of werewolves and madmen emerging from the dark on a full moon...but did you know that this legend is so pervasive, it actually made an impact on the English language? Yes, my friends. The word "lunatic," among others, is directly pulled by the Latin root luna, for moon! In episode 63 of the Vocabbett podcast, I dive into some of the theories as to why this occurred, and I also share a brilliant writing tip from Neil Gaiman's Masterclass. Referenced in this episode:  https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/why-do-we-still-believe-in-lunacy-during-a-full-moon

Have you ever looked at the calendar and thought, “Well, that makes no sense”? October starts with “oct,” but it’s not the 8th month. November starts with “nov,” but it’s not the 9th month. December starts with “dec,” but it’s not the 10th month. I always encourage people to pay attention to the Greek and Latin roots, but sometimes, they can mislead you! That’s why stories are such a great (and important) part of improving your vocabulary – they explain the inconsistencies. And this story, as with so many others, begins in ancient Rome. You see, when the ancient Romans first implemented a calendar, it had only ten months, plus a bunch of “off” days before the calendar started back up. It makes perfect sense when you think about why they created the calendar in the first place. The calendar was primarily used to plan farming and agricultural activities, and there were two months a year where you couldn’t do much to the soil. The calendar began in March (in honor of Mars, the god of war). So to the ancient Romans, the numbers matched up perfectly! The biggest change wasn’t adding January and February, though. I explain it all in episode 60 of the Vocabbett podcast!

After a hot 59 episodes, it’s time to put the Vocabbett podcast on hiatus to write book 2! The podcast WILL be back. I LOVE doing it; I just need all the creative energy focused on one goal at the moment. Thanks for tuning in! You can listen to the entire backlist at vocabbett.com/season-1. See you in a bit!

We’ve talked ideas, outlines, writing tips, and more in this writing series. But amid the technical tips, one very important component of writing can get overlooked: love of the craft. If you want to be a writer, you must enjoy writing! I’ve mentioned before that this series is modeled after the writing process of Barbara Mertz a.k.a. Elizabeth Peters. I was able to research her creative process for my Master’s, and do you know what stuck with me more than anything else? How much fun she was having! Of course there were difficult days, but this is a woman who clearly loved her work. Her joy is evident at every stage of the process. In her stream-of -consciousness notes for The Seventh Sinner for instance, she wrote: “The crux of the plot—ha—is the numeral VII, which must come to haunt all the characters, including the heroine, so that when she sees the scrawl in the victim’s blood, it never occurs to her that it could be anything but a number…” I love that little “ha” at the beginning! It’s just so telling. Amelia Peabody, Elizabeth Peters’ primary protagonist, goes so far as to say that paradise would be a continuation of the life she loves with those she loves beside her. A source tells me Mertz felt the same way toward the end of her life. Think about that for a second: that heaven would be a continuation of this life.  How many of us can say that? I think it’d be pretty hard to do if you don't love your work! Whether you want to be a writer or something else, that sense of fun and enjoyment is an incredible goal. The ultimate goal? Making your life so amazing that heaven could be a continuation of the life you’re already living. 

The resounding writing advice today tends to be, “Just get the words on paper. You can edit it later. You can’t edit a blank page. All first drafts are garbage anyway…Just get your word count and keep going!” I can virtually guarantee that if you take this approach with essays, you’ll end up with a garbage product or you’ll have to re-do it. For books? Well, my experience is largely the same. The editing process is BRUTAL when you play fast and loose with the first draft. So, contrary to popular opinion today, I would argue that it’s OK to write a more measured first draft and save yourself a headache in edits! This doesn’t mean every word needs to be perfect before you write it down. The big difference is that you work with the sentence/scene a bit longer, moving on when you feel satisfied (for now), rather than just writing the first thing that pops into your head. It definitely makes editing easier, but I think it might make your overall process faster, too! In episode 57 of the Vocabbett podcast, I dive into the drawbacks of this process. Listen below or on your favorite podcast player!

If you're following along and writing a book with me, you're probably into the actual drafting process. Woohoo! While exciting, I'll be the first to admit that this can be a uniquely intimidating time. It's one thing to have an outline; it's another thing to stare down the barrel of 300-odd blank pages. So today, I'm letting you in on what I think is the easiest way to populate the various scenes in your book (it's also the method I use for short stories!). Called the popcorn method, it's actually quite simple. You start with a "kernel" — an observation, quote, line — something that starts as a jumping-off point. From there, you just let that kernel "pop," and follow where it goes! For instance, here was the kernel for The Boudicea Story from episode 10: Like a mad scientist, but with history (modern Boudicea describing her dad) There aren't many people who'd name their child Boudicea today. What kind of life might this girl have? What kind of nicknames would she get at school? How does she feel about history? That little kernel created a 7-odd page story, and if you listened to episode 10 of the Vocabbett podcast, you know that it could go on! Another kernel I've been hanging on to? Coastal avocado I can't remember where I heard this, but I wrote it down in my handy "kernels" doc, and these two words have exploded into a huge part of the sequel for Ahead of Her Time. It's not describing a food in the traditional sense. Rather, it was the way someone described something that I might naively call "green." What type of person describes something as "coastal avocado" instead of green? What type of industry might they work in? How might they treat their assistants? And what might happen if a certain person (*cough*) goes to work for them? Little kernels like that are all over the place, and if you want to be a writer, it's time you start writing them down! Whether it's in a physical notebook or (my preferred method) my phone and then a Google Doc, what matters is that you capture these kernels for a rainy day. Starting with a kernel will make your final scene or story so much easier to create! Learn more about this technique in episode 56 of the Vocabbett podcast.

As we wrap up our writing mini-series, I have just a few more pieces of word-altering advice to give you! Today's advice has two meanings, and it's: is your subject your subject? Big Picture Are you telling the story from the right point of view? In drafting book #2, I realized my predetermined subject was no longer the only person with a gripping story to tell, and decided to have two narrators instead of the one I'd imagined. It's worth examining your story from a few perspectives before diving in! Line-by-Line This seems so obvious when you point it out, but I had no idea how often I made this mistake until learning this bit of advice from Rick Riordan! Whenever possible, try to make the subject of your sentence what you want your reader to focus on. Not only that, but try to make that word as strong as possible! For instance, he notes that "It was a beautiful day" encourages readers to think about a vague "it". Alternatively, "The sky was a brilliant blue" encourages people to think about the sky. A simple fix, but impactful! In the podcast, I talk about a story of my own where I made this swap, and was practically thunderstruck by how much better the sentence became. Listen to the entire episode below, or on your favorite player!

I'll never forget my experience listening to Frankenstein on Audible. I went to the store, got groceries, was driving home, and sweet Mary Shelley (or the narrator, at any rate) was still droning on about some mountain. Now, Mary Shelley is far more successful than I will ever be, so perhaps I shouldn't weigh in here, but I'm of the opinion that shorter descriptions are better. And that leads me into today's topic in our writing mini-series: how to write non-boring descriptions. Continuing in the tradition of getting expert advice, today, I have three gems for you from three different authors. Listen now to hear them all!  - Referenced in this episode:  bit.ly/ahead-of-her-time https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/how-to-make-your-setting-a-character https://rickriordan.com/about/advice-for-writers/

The most important piece of creative writing advice you'll ever receive?  Show. Don't. Tell. You might have heard it before, but it definitely bears repeating! In a nutshell, here's the difference between the two... When you're telling the story, it sounds like:  Sally was sad.  When you're *showing* the story, it sounds like:  Sally ate her popcorn on the couch, ugly-crying and shouting at the TV that love isn't real.  - Now, it's a rather cliche example, but which one of these characters do you feel like you know better? And therefore, who are you more invested in? We've all probably read a book where we don't care if the characters live or die. Usually that's because the characters don't feel real.  People care about real people. If you want people to invest in your story, you need to show them who they are! (By the way, this rule still applies when everything is magical or made up - to the reader, they should still feel real!) I dive a little deeper into this concept in episode 53 of the Vocabbett podcast. Listen now!

Well hello! If you’re new to Vocabbett, I help students improve their vocabulary through stories. Because of that, I tend to do a lot of writing. At the moment, I’m taking you behind the scenes as I write the sequel to Ahead of Her Time! Today, we’re talking about character sketches, and I’m continuing to draw on the creative process of Barbara Mertz (a.k.a. Elizabeth Peters) for inspiration. Here’s what I found while researching her process: She did use character sketches early in her career, but stopped by 1992(ish). As she explained in her winter 1992-1993 newsletter: “I have to see my people in action before I know what they’re like.” -BARBARA MERTZ A.K.A. ELIZABETH PETERS One thing to keep in mind, though, is that by 1992, Mertz was a very proficient writer. She had also largely moved away from standalone books, focusing primarily on the Vicky Bliss and Amelia Peabody series for the rest of her career. It makes sense, to me at least, that you wouldn’t need to do character sketches on characters you already know! There is a flip side to this, though. While she may not have done pre-draft character sketches for her later books, I did find quite a few post-book character notes. It seems as though she went through her books after writing them, collating details for consistency. One of my favorite, about characters in the Vicky Bliss books, below! So, to recap: Character sketches can be helpful, but it seems like they’re more helpful with standalone books or the first book in a series. On the flip side, if you are writing a series, post-book character sketches may be helpful in keeping everything consistent! Get more information in episode 52 of the Vocabbett podcast!  - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett 

In today’s installment of our “how to write a book” mini-series, we’re diving into outlines! And, yes, I know outlines aren’t the most fascinating topic, so I’ll keep it short. : ) Here’s what you should know: not every author uses an outline. In general, there are two camps in the writing community: Plotters, who plot their novels in advance Pantsers, who follow where the book leads (writing “by the seat of their pants”) I’ve mentioned before that, in drafting the sequel to Ahead of Her Time, I’m trying to base my process on that of Elizabeth Peters. She was a fanatical outliner. In research I did on her writing process, she almost universally had multiple outlines for each book (a short 1-3 page outline, and a longer 7-15 page outline). Here’s what I’m doing differently, though. Rather than write a synopsis-style outline, as she did, I’m creating a chapter-by-chapter outline. Since I (officially!) decided to dually-narrate this one, I just find that it’s easier to keep track of things if I outline by chapter, rather than writing a miniature version of the story! What are your thoughts on outlines? For essays, I’m a firm believer in their necessity, but I’m not experienced enough with novel-writing to have strong opinions for books yet!

*SPOILERS AHEAD* – If you haven’t yet read Ahead of Her Time (which you can download for free as a Vocabbett member!), start there and come back! - Fans of Noor & co, rejoice! I am starting to make real headway on the sequel to Ahead of Her Time. In episode 50 of the Vocabbett podcast, I share where I am in the idea-formulating process, revealing some (non-spoilery) details about book 2. I also share some difficulties I’m facing, and how I’ve tentatively resolved them. Specifically, I grappled with the knowledge that “Cleopatra in the present day” is a pretty interesting hook…but then, is it still Noor’s story? When I utilized the questions secret, asking my brain and the muse point-blank what the most interesting way to capture the story would be, the response was quite interesting! Into my brain dropped a rough outline for the first seven chapters of the book, and it’s dually-narrated by Noor and Cleopatra! There are still a lot of questions that remain, even within those chapters. For instance, what exactly is Cleopatra’s job going to be? I lean towards something in fashion, but not sure… The other big one to figure out? THE LOVE STORY. Who ends up with whom? I wish I knew. Get all this and more in episode 50 of the podcast!

Have you ever loved a book so much that when you finished it, you just sat in stunned silence for a moment? How did the author get these ideas? you ask. Maybe you turn to Google and find some witty response from the author, or nothing at all. For aspiring writers, this can be maddening! If each book is an invention, ideas are the schematics and blueprints. I want to know how you built this! Today on the Vocabbett podcast, we're diving into the "behind the scenes" of how authors get their ideas, drawing on the work of bestselling author Barbara Mertz, who is perhaps better known by her pen name "Elizabeth Peters." I was able to do original research on Mertz's creative process for my Master's degree, going through countless boxes of her notes, outlines, and manuscripts just after they donated by her estate. Most hadn't even been archived by the librarians yet! What I learned was invaluable for anyone who wants to write a book. It was like being a fly on the wall as a new product is being invented, and getting to take notes at the same time!  How are bestselling ideas born? Tune into the Vocabbett podcast to find out!

Aspiring writers are often told to “write what you know.” It’s valuable advice, no doubt, lending verisimilitude to an otherwise unbelievable narrative. HOWEVER, here’s the problem: our lives rarely conform to a three-act structure. While writing what we “know” may leave us with good scenes, it often leaves us lacking in the plot department. That’s exactly what happened with me while writing Ahead of Her Time. I can’t tell you how many hundreds of pages I had to re-write to turn my hodgepodge collection of scenes into a proper story! I’m starting to work on the sequel, but this time, I’m going about things very differently. One of the things I’m changing? I’m not going to rely quite as much on what I “know.” For book one, many of the scenes were pulled directly from my own life — some were even once blog posts or journal entries! I basically just changed the names. I had to do some fancy editing to turn all these real-life scenes into a workable story. This time, I’m starting with the story. Whatever “real” experiences or knowledge I can weave in, great. But the story leads. Not what I “know”! I dive more into what I’ve learned since writing Ahead of Her Time in episode 48 of the Vocabbett podcast. Listen now!  - Referenced in this episode:  Save the Cat! Writes a Novel (affiliate link)

I probably couldn’t pick a worse time to do this. Who has time to write a book amid all the back-to-school madness? Unfortunately, inspiration is striking at the moment, and I’m a slave to the muse, so I’m going to get started on book 2! But that’s the beautiful thing about the internet, isn’t it? You can write a book with me now, in real time, or come back to this series later! Over the next few weeks, as I get started on the sequel to Ahead of Her Time, I’m going to pull back the curtain on every aspect of my writing process. Unlike last time, I’m going to be very methodical this go-round, basing my process largely off of Elizabeth Peters’. I was able to study her creative process for my Master’s, and I’m going to do my best to replicate it! As always, tune into the podcast for a much deeper dive!

Lately, I’ve been bombarded with ads for shows on NBC’s new streaming service, Peacock TV. Top among their new shows, it seems, is Brave New World, a fresh take on the classic dystopian novel. I hate to ever leave a bad review about anything, but I suspect students might stumble upon it after being assigned the book, so let me just say… This show is shockingly inappropriate for something kids might accidentally tune into. Seriously, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen cleaner episodes of Game of Thrones. Let me just repeat: THIS IS NOT A SHOW FOR KIDS. There’s, like, HBOx5-level nudity in this show. Constantly. It’s a shame because the premise is actually rather interesting. The actors did a great job. But could I ever, ever recommend it to a student? AB-SO-FREAKING-LUTELY NOT. Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it to an adult. If you’re looking for a good new show on Peacock TV, I did like The Capture. It has nothing to do with building your vocabulary, but I found it interesting. Brave New World, though? Not as interesting, and insanely inappropriate. Consider yourself warned. Caveat emptor! (Buyer beware!) You can learn more about the show, and get my take on some of the vocabulary words used in it, in episode 46 of the Vocabbett podcast!

Isn’t it a shame that shows only seem to become cult classics once they’re over? That’s what seems to be happening with Schitt’s Creek, a Canadian comedy that recently aired its final season. For Vocabbett readers, though, this show offers more than just some laughs… You might also learn a word or two from the show’s inimitable matriarch, Moira Rose! I’ll be honest. When I first saw the show, I was a little confused by her character. I couldn’t figure out what her accent was supposed to be, among other things, but now I adore her. For any fans of Schitt’s Creek (who are also looking to boost their vocabulary!), New York Magazine put together a hilarious little montage “pettifogging” Moira’s ridiculously large (and hilarious) vocabulary. I dive more into a few of the words in the video — and how you can remember them! — in episode 45 of the Vocabbett podcast.  Pettifogging? Unasinous? Bombilate? Are these even words? Well…kind of…but even if you can’t find them all in the dictionary, most have a legitimate origin somewhere, check out etymologically, and are downright amazing, so let’s just say yes!

Let's be honest: music is no good for reinforcing proper grammar habits, even if we all love it.  However, I think for most songs, we kind of know when they're abusing grammatical conventions to fit the rhyme.  There are times, though — times like these — when the errors are so subtle (and so commonly-used!) that we might not even realize they're happening.  As a result, we get LOTS of erroneous impressions, and when the opportunity arises to use the right version, it just doesn't sound "right."  In episode 44 of the Vocabbett podcast, we dive into a few more songs with grammar errors so subtle, and so frequently-made, you might not even realize they're errors! Listen now!

Love, jealousy, betrayal, friends turning each other into animals...all hiding in one tiny SAT word! In episode 43 of the Vocabbett podcast, we dive into the story (stories, really!) behind the word "cynosure."  You'll never believe the path it's taken, starting on the humble backside of a dog and ending as a word befitting the queen.  Listen now to hear the story! 

We're all looking for a certain something to make our lot in life better.  I can't promise that this episode will bring it forth, but it will give you an elevated vocabulary to describe what you're looking for!  In episode 42 of the Vocabbett podcast, we dive into the word "ameliorate" and what to do when you don't have an interesting etymological backstory.  - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett 

It’s not often that someone’s name transforms into an insult, but when it does, it’s usually pretty memorable! We’ve recently witnessed the transformation of “Karen” from a pretty innocuous name to one with a whole host of negative connotations, but this isn’t the first time such a transformation has occurred. Throughout history, there’s a strong pattern of names being used as insults, particularly for traitors. If someone’s a Benedict Arnold, you probably know that means they’re a traitor. But what about a quisling? Same thing! Vidkun Quisling was a Norwegian politician during World War II who led the collaborationist government after the German invasion. Unlike most of his compatriots, however, he welcomed the invasion and supported the Nazis’ vile agenda. Norwegians quickly began using the word “quisling” as shorthand for “traitor,” and we picked up the word in English shortly thereafter. For more information on this fascinating vocabulary word, listen to the entire episode!  - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett 

Never thought you’d read that title, eh? No, The College Board has not implemented some kind of Hunger Games-style exit questionnaire, but the story is equally shocking! The book of Judges, in the Old Testament of the Bible, tells the story of a battle between the Ephraimites and the Gileadites. Having won the battle, the Gileadites decided they didn’t want any survivors to make it home, so they set up checkpoints along the Jordan River. Anyone who wanted to pass was asked two questions: Are you an Ephraimite? How do you pronounce “shibboleth”? You see, the Ephraimites didn’t have the “sh” sound in their dialect, so many of them had a difficult time pronouncing the word. If they “could not frame to pronounce it right,” according to the book of Judges, they were killed! God wasn’t pleased after all this, but philologists (people who study languages) were. They brought the word “shibboleth” into English, and re-invented its meaning around this story. Now, a shibboleth is a distinguishing feature about a group of people, whether it’s their language, customs, etc. It might also describe their dialect or accent. Why didn’t the Ephraimites just say the “sh,” you ask? Get my take, and learn more about this fascinating word, episode 37 of the Vocabbett podcast! - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett 

Wow, that’s really manly of you, to be such a good person!” – Ancient Romans As we continue diving into the study of etymology, it may amuse (annoy? probably not surprise…) you to find sneaky double meanings in many English words, many of which are rather sexist. For instance, since the Latin root “vir” meant “man,” many of our “vir” words have an element of “manliness” built into them. Are you virtuous? If you’re a man, it means you’re a good man. And if you’re a woman? You’re good…like a man, I guess? So women can be good “like” men, but if we become too manly (a.ka. strong or opinionated)? By goodness, then we become a virago, which is SAT-speak for “ballbuster.” The list of funny “man” words and their origins goes on. If you want to learn the potential link to the word “virus” (and it’s probably NOT what you think!), have a listen to the entire episode! Referenced In This Episode:  https://davidporush.com/2020/04/12/what-does-virus-really-mean-a-pandemic-etymology/ - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett 

Would you believe me if I told you that the word "money," something so valued and coveted, actually traces its roots back to a flock of geese? In episode 36 of the Vocabbett podcast, we dive into the "mon" root and some of its derivatives, words like "premonition" and "monetize." You won't believe the route this root has taken! : )  To take your study of etymology to the next level, sign up for a Vocabbett membership at www.vocabbett.com. - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett 

I started this episode of the Vocabbett podcast with a quick apology...The last episode wasn't up to my usual standards, and without making excuses, I wanted to share why! : )  After that, we returned to our regular vocabulary-boosting content!  There are two sides to the coin when it comes to using stories to improve your vocabulary. If you’re a seasoned Vocabbett listener, you’re probably familiar with the first: I write stories and weave “big” words into them. Like immersion for learning a foreign language, this immerses you in the world of SAT words, painlessly and passively boosting your vocabulary. But there’s another side to the coin: starting with the “big” word, and hearing its story. The study of etymology is magical when it comes to boosting your vocabulary. And I swear, once you tap into this skill, words start to talk to you. They can’t wait to tell you what they mean! You can only imagine how helpful that might be on, say, the SAT! On This Episode: The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English Language by Mark Forsyth - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett  - (This is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission from Amazon at no additional cost to you on qualifying purchases)

We're all watching more TV than normal these days, but if you want to keep your edge and come out of quarantine smarter than ever, it's time to become more intentional about your TV choices. There's nothing inherently wrong with watching Friends re-runs for the 400th time, but it's probably not going to teach you much either! In this podcast, I share more about how to look at TV during this time. And over at Vocabbett, I've compiled a list of my top 5 shows that are (in my opinion!) just as entertaining as they are edifying. Have you seen any of them? Are there any you think I should add to the list? Let me know in the comments! - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett 

Let me ask you a question:  If you could take a pill and emerge from quarantine smarter, richer, and healthier than ever before — with zero side effects — would you take it? To be honest, I think most of us would!  The crazy part? You might be able to get all that from the simple act of reading.  Yep! Reading has statistically been shown to improve standardized test scores, both mental and physical health, and even been linked to increased earning power. In episode 33 of the Vocabbett podcast, I share more about how developing a voracious reading habit is arguably the best thing you can do to emerge from quarantine smarter than ever. It can be uniquely demoralizing to sit back and wait for school news to be released, then be forced to wonder whether those plans will even be in effect in a few weeks. It's time to take matters into your own hands. It's time to get a Goodreads account (not sponsored, I just love Goodreads) and get reading! And don't forget to follow me once you're there! - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett 

In episode 31 of the Vocabbett podcast, I asked how YOU are feeling about back-to-school plans, creating a survey and asking people to reach out. For this episode, I thought you might be interested to hear the results! Now, let’s be clear: this is a survey of the Vocabbett audience. It’s a pretty small sample size, and should not be construed as the thoughts of the entire country! However, I was very surprised by some of what I learned! Tune in to episode 32 of the podcast to hear it all! - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett 

Well, hello! After a week off for the 4th of July, I returned to find that my local school district announced some big changes for the fall. People are being asked to decide whether they want 100% in-person or 100% virtual schooling. To be honest, I don’t know if I’d be comfortable with either of these options. Has your school made any announcements yet? What are your thoughts? Are you happy with your current situation? In episode 31 of the Vocabbett podcast, I discuss how I fear our education system is following in the footsteps of the airline industry. While taking off our shoes/belts, removing liquids, getting patted down, going through metal detectors, etc. etc. may make us more safe, it diminishes the experience of flying. Similarly, sequestering yourself in one room with a mask and a gallon of hand sanitizer may make you safer, but let’s be honest: it’s going to take away from the school experience. What I’d like to know is: if I created entire courses at Vocabbett (not just SAT prep), would that be helpful for you? These courses would be specifically designed with this time period in mind; they aren’t physical courses that have been put on Zoom. I would focus on English and history, and would teach students in grades 7-12. You could choose between a self-managed model, where I create the course but parents manage the implementation, or a done-for-you option where I essentially become your teacher! The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that this would be an extraordinary opportunity for students. And what better time to take a risk? I don’t think there’s a college out there that would object to you being proactive about your education during such an uncertain time. If you have a minute, do you mind letting me know your thoughts? Fill out this quick survey to help me help you!

Welcome to episode 30 of the Vocabbett podcast! I wrote this story when I was studying abroad in Cairo, and while it draws on true experiences, it is definitely a work of fiction! **Note: there is a curse word in it, so if you don't want to hear it, maybe skip this episode!** To read along to this story, and get the definitions of SAT vocabulary words at the bottom of each page, become a Vocabbett member at www.vocabbett.com! - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett 

There’s an old quote that the world is a book, and those who don’t travel read only one page. I quite agree, but I have my own little spin on it — that those who don’t read live only one life.  I can’t imagine how much less rich my life would be if I’d only lived in this time and space. Because of books, I feel like I’ve gotten to live in Henry VIII’s court, been chased by lions in the Colosseum, the list goes on...! I recently read an excellent summer reading book called Salt to Sea by Ruta Sepetys, and it opened my eyes to a specific period of history I didn’t know much about. If it's on your summer reading list, I highly recommend it! It's a World War II book, and it largely centers around Operation Hannibal and the sinking of the MV Wilhelm Gustloff. Sometimes, when books have such a good plot, the characters or writing quality suffer. Neither happened here. The plot, characters, and writing were all phenomenal! In this Episode: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys  Get it on Amazon (affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you) Love Vocabbett? Become a Member and Take Your Learning to the Next Level. 

On this episode of the Vocabbett podcast, we're taking a little break from the vocabulary-boosting stories to share some more details about our "500 Words in 50 Days" summer SAT challenge!  Among the details we discuss:  1) How I'm going to help you learn/master 500 words 2) The fact that the top three winners will earn cash prizes 3) How long the challenge will take to complete (spoiler alert: you probably won't need the full 50 days!) Sign up today at vocabbett.com/500words! 

Could you learn 500 words in 50 days? With Vocabbett, my guess is "yes"!  I'm so excited about this episode because I'm launching an amazing summer challenge that, honestly, *every* high school student should be signing up for!  A roadmap to get the most out of Vocabbett in the shortest amount of time — plus challenges, prizes, and more — you are going to LOVE it!  And, yes, I said prizes. The challenges will have points, and the person with the most points by the end of the challenge will receive a $50 gift card to the store of their choice!* 2nd and 3d place winners will receive $20 gift cards, as well.  While I can't guarantee that you'll learn 500 words in 50 days, I can guarantee that if you participate, you'll have an incredible head start on building a strong mental arsenal for the SAT!  Vocabbett members get access for FREE (simply email me to let me know you'd like to participate).  If you're not yet a member, sign up at www.vocabbett.com/500words. Can't wait to get started! - Also Referenced In this Episode: The Vocabbett Ambassador Program Apply for the Vocabbett Ambassador program at www.vocabbett.com/ambassadors. 

Welcome to episode 26 of the Vocabbett podcast! This is a special episode for me because it closes the loop on a story I first started writing more than TEN years ago.  Filled with obscure history, love, and heartache, it's a tad more serious than the stories I normally write, but hopefully you still like it!  In order to read along, simply become a Vocabbett member www.vocabbett.com.  -- Mentioned in This Episode:  Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic (affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you) - Loving Vocabbett? Refer a friend and earn up to $40. Apply for the Vocabbett Ambassador program at www.vocabbett.com/ambassadors.  - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett 

We're back this week with another vocabulary-boosting short story!  A parody poking fun at an archetype in society today, "Karen and the Weed" is a lighthearted tale about a woman frustrated by her neighbor's (lack of) lawn maintenance.  Featuring nearly 30 high-frequency SAT words, it's both educational and entertaining! - Loving Vocabbett? Refer a friend and earn up to $40. Apply for the Vocabbett Ambassador program at www.vocabbett.com/ambassadors.  - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett 

In the last episode of the Vocabbett podcast, I suggested that a more autonomous trend might emerge in education in a post-COVID-19 world.  That episode largely spoke to parents and students. In this *bonus* episode, I wanted to speak to educators about how they can make changes to the existing framework to better respect and nurture the students in their care.  Are you an educator who doesn't want to walk away from the existing system, but knows changes need to be made? Hit play for one way you can change your curriculum next year. It's not the answer by any means, but it's a great place to begin your discussion!  - Loving Vocabbett? Refer a friend and earn up to $40. Apply for the Vocabbett Ambassador program at www.vocabbett.com/ambassadors.  - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett