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 b...
Feb 25, 2021•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, ...
Feb 23, 2021•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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"...
Feb 16, 2021•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Feb 11, 2021•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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 lis...
Feb 09, 2021•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Feb 04, 2021•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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 o...
Feb 02, 2021•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 l...
Jan 28, 2021•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 goo...
Jan 26, 2021•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 entir...
Jan 21, 2021•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Jan 19, 2021•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Ne...
Jan 14, 2021•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 p...
Jan 12, 2021•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Jan 07, 2021•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 document...
Jan 05, 2021•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Dec 31, 2020•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 wi...
Dec 29, 2020•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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!
Oct 13, 2020•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Oct 08, 2020•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Oct 06, 2020•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 actu...
Oct 01, 2020•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 div...
Sep 29, 2020•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 t...
Sep 24, 2020•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 fee...
Sep 22, 2020•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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, ...
Sep 17, 2020•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Tim...
Sep 15, 2020•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast *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 ...
Sep 10, 2020•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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,...
Sep 08, 2020•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 hodgepodg...
Sep 03, 2020•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Sep 01, 2020•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
