James Blish told me I had the worst case of "said bookism" (that is, using every word except said to indicate dialogue). He told me to limit the verbs to said, replied, asked, and answered and only when absolutely necessary.

The blackest night must end in dawn, the light dispel the dreamer's fear.

Drummer, beat, and piper, blowHarper, strike, and soldier, goFree the flame and sear the grassesTil the dawning Red Star passes

Above us, outlined against the brilliant sky, dragons crowded every available perching space on the Rim. And the sun made a gold of every one of them.

I have a shelf of comfort books, which I read when the world closes in on me or something untoward happens

Make no judgments where you have no compassion.

Mostly I'm telling people that they don't have to be victims