The Edit911 Blog

Mastering the Complex Language of Meme Speak

Over the past few years, internet users have experienced a growing phenomenon called MEMES. Even if you’ve been living under a rock and you’ve never heard of a “meme” (pronounced meem), you’ve probably seen one and just didn’t know that’s what the kids are calling them. It’s given rise to a brand new language — “Memespeak” or “LOLspeak” — the use of intentional misspelling to covey humorous improper pronunciation of the content.

For instance, the phrase “Oh my God” might instead be spelled “Ermahgerd” on a meme, because when sounded out, it sounds much funnier than saying it the normal way, almost like you’re saying it with food in your mouth. This type of meme speak (yes, there are different types) was inspired by Cartman’s voice on the TV show South Park. Arguably the first meme to use this type of meme speak was the “Ermahgerd” girl, who was recently interviewed by Vanity Fair about what it was like to be the face one of the most famous internet memes of our time.

If you’re still lost, here’s a translation: Gersberms = “Goosebumps”, “Mah” = My, “Fravrit” = Favorite, “Berks” = Books.

When saying “Yes” in memespeak, one can either say “Yis” or “Yas”. Added letters convey more excitement or satisfaction, illustrated beautifully by this meme of an owl being stroked by a human being:

“Yisss” = I strongly approve of this.

There are also sub-languages within meme speak, such as “LOLcat” and “doge”.

There are plenty of memes, including LOLcat memes, that don’t alter the English language. When English is used properly in these memes, it’s meant to denote that the speaker is of superior intelligence and intellect than average. Take for instance Grumpy Cat, who speaks in perfect English, but in the short, catch-phraseology of meme speak.

Doge is particularly interesting. Basically, seemingly random words are stuck on a photo, almost like thought bubbles, to convey speech or thoughts in the apparent incongruent, spastic way that dogs think (like the dog in Pixar’s “UP”).

Where and when did all of this start, you ask? It all began with the infamous “I can has cheezburger?” meme. I Can Has Cheezburger? is the name of a weblog-format website featuring videos (usually involving animals) and image macros. It was created in 2007 by Eric Nakagawa (Cheezburger), a blogger from Hawaii, and his friend Kari Unebasami (Tofuburger). The website is one of the most popular internet sites of its kind. It received as many as 1,500,000 hits per day at its peak in May 2007. ICHC was instrumental in bringing animal-based image macros and lolspeak into mainstream usage and making internet memes profitable.

ICHC was created on January 11, 2007, when Nakagawa posted an image from Something Awful of a smiling British Shorthair, known as Happycat, with a caption of the cat asking, “I can has cheezburger?” in a style popularized by 4chan (a huge online message board). It is from this image that the site derives its name. After posting similar images, Nakagawa then converted the site to a monetized blog.

Reference articles (because this is serious stuff):

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/internet-slang

http://io9.com/we-who-spoke-lolcat-now-speak-doge-1481243678

in Writing Humor by Edit911 17 Oct 2015 0 comments

22 Movies About Writers

Next time you set out to write the next Hollywood blockbuster and you don’t know where to begin – don’t forget that dozens of critically acclaimed films have been written about writers! While it may be too obvious a choice for some, don’t forget the incredible diversity and creativity in this collection of films – from The Shining to Adaptation, there is some seriously juicy material to be discovered when you dive inward to your writing experiences for writing inspiration! Fun side note: Meryl Streep does a lot of films about authors.

Julie & Julia

Frustrated with a soul-killing job, New Yorker Julie Powell (Amy Adams) embarks on a daring project: she vows to prepare all 524 recipes in Julia Childs’ landmark cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” Intertwined with Julie’s story is the true tale of how Julia Child (Meryl Streep) herself conquered French cuisine with passion, fearlessness, and plenty of butter.

Saving Mr. Banks

Named after the father in author P.L. Travers’ story “Mary Poppins”, Saving Mr. Banks depicts the author’s fortnight-long meetings during 1961 in Los Angeles, as she is persuaded by Disney in his attempts to obtain the screen rights to her novels.

Misery

A few days after being rescued and sheltered from a car crash caused by a blizzard, by a nurse who claims to be his number one fan, a well-known author begins suspecting the mental health of his savior.

The Hours

The story of how the novel “Mrs. Dalloway” affects three generations of women, all of whom, in one way or another, have had to deal with suicide in their lives.

Capote

In 1959, Truman Capote learns of the murder of a Kansas family and decides to write a book about the case. While researching for his novel In Cold Blood, Capote forms a relationship with one of the killers, Perry Smith, who is on death row.

Finding Neverland

The story of J.M. Barrie’s friendship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan.

Atonement

Fledgling writer Briony Tallis, as a 13-year-old, irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister’s lover of a crime he did not commit. Based on the British romance novel by Ian McEwan.

Shadowlands

C.S. Lewis, a world-renowned Christian theologian, writer and professor, leads a passionless life until he meets a spirited poet from the U.S.

Sophie’s Choice

Sophie is the survivor of Nazi concentration camps, who has found a reason to live in Nathan, a sparkling if unsteady American Jew obsessed with the Holocaust. They befriend Stingo, the movie’s narrator, a young American writer new to New York City. But the happiness of Sophie and Nathan is endangered by her ghosts and his obsessions.

Adaptation

A lovelorn screenwriter becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean for the screen.

Shakespeare In Love

A young Shakespeare, out of ideas and short of cash, meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.

The Libertine

The story of John Wilmot, a.k.a. the Earl of Rochester, a 17th century poet who famously drank and debauched his way to an early grave, only to earn posthumous critical acclaim for his life’s work.

Becoming Jane

A biographical portrait of a pre-fame Jane Austen and her romance with a young Irishman.

Miss Potter

The story of Beatrix Potter, the author of the beloved and best-selling children’s book, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit”, and her struggle for love, happiness and success.

Author! Author!

While facing the stress of his play being produced on Broadway, a playwright deals with having to raise his son, his stepdaughters, and his stepsons.

Julia

At the behest of an old and dear friend, playwright Lillian Hellman undertakes a dangerous mission to smuggle funds into Nazi Germany.

Finding Forrester

A young writing prodigy finds a mentor in a reclusive author.

The Shining

Jack Torrance, a writer and recovering alcoholic, takes a job as an off-season caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel. His young son possesses psychic abilities and is able to see things from the past and future, such as the ghosts who inhabit the hotel. Some time after settling in, the family is trapped in the hotel by a snowstorm, and Jack gradually becomes influenced by a supernatural presence and descends into madness.

Quills

Inspired by the life and work of the Marquis de Sade, Quills re-imagines the last years of the Marquis’ incarceration in the insane asylum at Charenton.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

An oddball journalist and his psychopathic lawyer travel to Las Vegas for a series of psychedelic escapades.

8 ½

Guido Anselmi, a famous Italian film director, is suffering from “director’s block”. Stalled on his new science fiction film that includes veiled autobiographical references, he has lost interest amid artistic and marital difficulties. As Guido struggles half-heartedly to work on the film, a series of flashbacks and dreams delve into his memories and fantasies; they are frequently interwoven with reality.

Sideways

Two men reaching middle age with not much to show but disappointment, embark on a week long road trip through California’s wine country, just as one is about to take a trip down the aisle.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Twin Peaks

One of our favorite writers of all time is David Lynch. With principal filming for the new Twin Peaks starting this week, we’re celebrating the rebirth of this cult classic television show. Are you as excited as we are about its return? After re-watching the entire series we discovered some fun facts that other fans of the show might not have caught on to.

1. There were a ton of parents of famous actors on the show. Donna Hayward’s mom (played by Mary Jo Deschanel) is Zooey & Emily Deschanel’s mother. Having been a successful actress herself, she helped launch her daughters’ extremely successful careers in Hollywood.

2. Zooey & Emily’s dad, Caleb Deschanel, also directed a few episodes. Caleb & Mary Jo met on another David Lynch project.

3. Norma Jennings (played by Peggy Lipton) is Rashida Jones’ mom. Rashida is known as Quincey Jones’ daughter, but what many don’t know is that her mom is also a great actress.

4. Jake & Maggie Gyllenhaals dad, Stephen Gyllenhaal, directed 1 episode.

5. Warren Frost, who played Doc Hayward, was Mark Frost’s dad (the producer of the show).

6. Amber Tamblyn is Russ Tamblyn’s (Dr. Jacoby) daughter. She’s appeared with her dad at Twin Peaks events.

7. The timeframe for the first 2 seasons was only 28 days. It only took Coop and the Bookhouse Boys 15 days to solve Laura’s murder and there were only 13 more days before the final scene of the series.

8. There is a Twin Peaks Festival held yearly, plus a Twin Peaks magazine called “Wrapped In Plastic” and many of the actors and crew involved in the series attend Twin Peaks events frequently held around the world.

9. The haunting, powerful score behind Twin Peaks was created in 20 minutes by Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti.

10. Damon Lindelof has stated that LOST was heavily influenced by David Lynch/Twin Peaks. We thought that scene with the donkey wheel in the ice cave with Ben was awfully similar to the scene in owl cave!

in Great Writers / News by Marc Baldwin 14 Sep 2015 0 comments

6 Keys to Writing a Good Newsletter

A newsletter is often distributed to share information among people with common interests.
Schools, clubs/organizations, social service groups, and others share information that is of
interest and relevance to the target audience. Some newsletters arrive in the mail while others come electronically. No doubt, you likely receive one or more newsletters and at some point, you will have the opportunity to be involved in writing and distributing news for your favorite group. Here are six keys to writing a good newsletter.

1. Know your audience and get their interest.

Take a few moments to decide what topics will interest your audience. Make sure that the content you are putting in the newsletter will connect with the readers on a personal level. Use the six questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how to give your newsletter versatility. Each article needs to give relevant information that will keep your audience interested. You may have to do a little bit of research on the topic(s) in the newsletter but that will make it more valuable for your audience. It is important that you cite sources from your research in the newsletter articles.

2. Simple and easy to read format.

Use a font (size and type) that is easy to read. Consider using a slightly larger font if your target audience is older. Make sure the format is easy to follow. When possible keep the complete article on one page so that people do not have to search for the remaining paragraphs on the topic. Black text is always best unless you are trying to highlight a few words. Some people have difficulties in seeing certain colors so black type is always best. Make sure your vocabulary is concise and comprehensible so that everyone of all reading levels can easily understand the content.

3. Use Interesting Headlines and Pictures.

Use action verbs and write dynamic headlines that grabs the attention of your audience. A picture next to a headline might be the best combination because the picture will grab the attention of your reader and the headline will sell them on the idea that this is must read information. Without an interesting headline, readers may skim over articles. It is also important that articles with more than a few paragraphs have sub-headings to help break up the text.

4. Have your information accurate, timely, and engaging.

Include a variety of topics and sections that will make your newsletter more interesting to a larger audience. It is best to split your topics equally among activities and news that has occurred since the last newsletter and new items that will be coming up before your next publication date. A calendar of events is always welcome in a newsletter. Above all else, make sure the information you provide in your newsletter is accurate.

5. A table of contents is helpful.

A table of contents is very helpful. This can be placed on a side bar or in a small section. Having a table of contents turns the newsletter into a resource that people know they can easily grab and find the information relevant to them now.

6. Grammar and Spelling are important.

After writing your articles, proofread for typos and edit all articles for consistency of writing style. If multiple people have contributed, make sure that the entire newsletter has the same tone and writing style. Always have multiple people proofread for spelling and grammar. Once you believe you have edited enough, go over it one more time.

These six keys will help you develop and deliver a quality newsletter that will make your
organization the envy of the community.