I before E except…

The words on the exceptions list are greater than the list of words that adhere to the rule. 

Stupid rule. 

Like … 

I before E except when your foreign neighbor Keith receives eight counterfeit beige sleighs from feisty caffeinated weightlifters. Weird. 

More exceptions – forfeit, glacier, and seize.

Merriam-Webster

For a bit more of an explanation, see Merriam-Webster’s I before E.

Best advice?

Just look it up in the dictionary.

Here’s a fun video from Ben Knight. 

Ben Knight

*****

A dragon-sized thank you to Shawn MacKenzie who has been editing and proofreading all these SpewagE blogs since I started them September 5, 2021. Shawn is the author of The Dragon Keeper’s Handbook, Dragons for Beginners, Llewellyn’s Little Book of Dragons, and the upcoming Tarot of Dragons (about which you’ll be hearing more in the months to come), as well as numerous other fictions and essays.

How to play well with others – blog guidelines

We’re about to start a new year, and I’m developing blog theme weeks. As such, I am expecting a lot of guests. I decided to go to my own guidelines to propel this first “Blogging with others” blog. Later, I’ll cover “Hosting a guest blogger,” “Querying another blogger,” and “Being a guest on another blog.”

Open and inviting – If you openly invite others to write an article for your blog, you should consider creating your own guidelines. And then post your guidelines on your blog so they are readily available.

My guidelines – These guidelines work for me. I am quick to tell guests that my guidelines are just that – guidelines – not hard and fast rules. I tweak my own guidelines from time to time, depending on my experiences and my blog’s development.

My Guest Blog Guidelines –

I like blogs that are helpful to other writers or something that is fun and/or educational. For instance –

Blogging tips

Writing tips

Social Networking

Branding

Platform

Inspirational

Dealing with writer’s block

Word play

Proofreading or editing

Grammar

Punctuation

Spelling

Vocabulary

Foreign words or phrases

Words, phrases, or acronyms for a specific job or hobby, like hiking terms, cooking terms, hunting terms, gardening terms, scrapbooking terms, and so on.

Flexible – I’m flexible. If your blog post does not cover any of the above suggestions, that’s okay. I look at uniqueness and originality, too.

Opening photo – I always post a picture/photo on top of blog posts. If you have a suggestion for a picture, I’m all ears (or eyes, rather). The final decision on picture selection is mine.

Quotes – Many of my original blogs have a famous quote at the end of the post. If you have a suggestion for a quote, I’m all ears. The final decision on quote selection is mine.

Style – I like small blocks of text with bolded headers (proven blog winners). I do not like huge blocks or text with no white space.

Word count – If I feel the blog is too long, I will suggest edits. My blogs are normally about a 1,000 words; I may make an exception if I feel the content is compelling. Please do not be offended if I suggest edits or changes.

Headlines – I try to encourage readership with good headlines. I reserve the right to create a headline or edit your headline.

Re-post – I’m happy to post something that you have previously posted (as long as it belongs to you). If you are submitting a new article as a guest blog, I’m happy to include links to content on your blog if it’s pertinent.

Proofread – I’m sort of a nit-picky stickler for punctuation, typos, grammar, but I do allow for casual flair. It’s a blog – not a letter to the President.

The f-word – I do not care for foul language although an occasional use of a body part or slang on a bad word is okay. I will look at each blog post with fresh eyes and take the entire blog post on its overall merits.

Deadlines – I require that your draft blog post be in my inbox a week before the scheduled blog post. This is to allow me to give it the once-over and to be sure I have it prior to its scheduled posting date. My deadlines are firm. And, um, I won’t apologize if you are late.

Linking and blog love – I will link to your blog, Facebook page, website, Twitter, etc. I ask that you mention your contribution and my blog somewhere in your social networking, i.e., on your blog, Facebook page, Twitter, etc.

Guest blogger pic and bio – I like to post a profile picture (yours!) and a bio (yours!) so don’t get shy on me.

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Do you have blog guidelines? What blog guideline is an absolute must for you? What would you add to or delete from my guidelines for your blog?

“Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

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