Lamentable Languagisms: Literally

23 Monday Jul 2012

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There’s a few words that get terrible treatment from modern English speakers. Their meanings are mangled, their usages are damaged. One particularly annoying example is the word “literally.” Here’s what “literally” means. It means that a word or phrase is describing reality as it actually is, without any figures of speech such as a metaphor or simile. It’s usually linked to a phrase that would often be used figuratively, but in this particularly circumstance isn’t. For example, if you say “Bill was literary scared to death,” it means Bill was so frightened he actually died of a heart attack. If you say “I’m literally jumping for joy,” it means you’re so happy that you are actually jumping up and down right now.

That is what “literally” means, but it often isn’t how “literally” is used. People like to use it to mean “very” or “really.” As in, “I have literally a mountain of work today.” They don’t mean they’re actually staring at a mountain formed of their work, they mean they have a lot of work to do. They say “I’m literally starving,” and they mean they’re really, really hungry, not that they’re actually dying from lack of food.

This is really annoying because it ruins “literally” as a word. It makes it mean absolutely nothing. After all, “a mountain of work” already means a lot of work. Adding “literally” doesn’t give any extra information unless there’s an actual mountain of paper for you to climb. And then it destroys the opportunity to use it when you mean “no, no, though this is usually figurative, right now it’s actually happening. I am actually hopping mad. I’m such a – figurative – ball of rage that I’m literally jumping up and down. It provides clarity, and isn’t that the main purpose of language? To provide clarity through communication?

So if you’re talking to someone who uses “literally” when they mean “figuratively,” slap them in the face. Not hard. Just enough to get their attention. It’s for their own good and for the good of the language.

“Giants of Main Street” Launch Party

18 Wednesday Jul 2012

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You’re invited to the launch party of Giants of Main Street, the latest graphic novel anthology from Cloudscape Comics. Come and meet the hub of Vancouver’s indy graphic novel artists, including veteran underground cartoonist Colin Upton, VanCAF organizer Shannon Campbell, Xeric grant winners Jonathon Dalton and Steve LeCouilliard, and Toren Atkinson (vocalist and lyricist for horror-themed rock band Darkest of the Hillside Thickets).

And of course, I’ll be there too. I wrote two of the stories in Giants, including “Fallen Star,” the story of the Minotaur, a tale I’m especially proud of. I also collected and wrote the book’s bestiary, which was a lot of fun. I’ve always loved playing around with fabulous beasts and impossible creatures. And I was the copyeditor. So definitely a project I’ve been heavily involved with.

When: Wednesday, August 1, from 6:00-8:00 PM.

Where: The Cultch, Vancouver East Cultural Centre, 1895 Venables, downtown.

Cost: Free! All are welcome to attend!

We’ll be selling signed copies of Giants of Main Street and our other books, and there’ll be a gallery showing of our members’ art.

Come take a look!

Brand Journalism

18 Sunday Mar 2012

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One fascinating thing about the Web is how it continues to redefine how people express ideas and how companies connect to people. Many jobs and roles that have existed for a long time in the “real world” become subtly changed when brought into the Internet environment and many of these jobs have developed their own Net-specific variations and permutations. That’s one reason I find it so fascinating to write for the Web. It is such a dynamic medium and constantly redefines how companies discuss themselves and their products and relate to their potential audience.

One job that has become pivotal in the Internet age is that of brand journalism, which is one of the many hats I wear. Here’s an interesting article analyzing it:

“Brands now have the ability to bypass the traditional press and tell their own story in their own voice in a unique and compelling way. As I see it, good content isn’t about storytelling; it’s about telling a true story well.

Unfortunately, many businesses don’t tell their story well. In our recent survey of more than 1,000 B2B marketers (conducted with the Content Marketing Institute), we found that creating compelling content is the biggest pain point for businesses. Which is why I favor the idea of hiring or contracting content creators who function within your company as embedded brand or corporate journalists….”

For more on this article, see “Seven Reasons Your Content Marketing Needs a Brand Journalist.”

Featured Vendor at the Studio

26 Sunday Feb 2012

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I’m the featured vendor for the Studio’s February 2012 newsletter.

Here’s what it says about me:

Vendor of the Month 

Bevan Thomas
webcolor?

Bevan Thomas is a freelance writer and editor who works with numerous clients to present their documents and other text in a clear and engaging format. He has revitalized websites, written press releases and advertisements, and even developed scripts for graphic novels and television shows.

Among his various projects, Bevan has:

* Created and edited copy for numerous clients of Personae Concepts, a Vancouver communications company.

* Wrote the press release for the Viscera Film Festival.

* Scripted a one-page comic strip ad for STUD underwear.

*Developed Cloudscape Comics‘ web content and optimized it for search engines.

* Wrote stories for Cloudscape‘s graphic novel anthologies.

* Developed a television pilot that is currently being optioned by a producer.

* Blogged for Broken Frontier, a comic news site

A consummate storyteller, Bevan devotes much of his free time to writing comic books and teleplays, and engaging in improv acting. He is never happier than when telling tales or building worlds.

Bevan’s wide experience with both copy and storytelling projects has allowed him to combine a crisp and focused writing style with an engaging sense of narrative that keeps the reader interested and involved. He always strives to present his client’s information creatively and compellingly: he has turned advertisements into comic strips, used anecdotes to introduce web content, referenced urban legends in press releases, and incorporated other innovative material to capture the readers’ attention.

“Making sure your writing says what you want it to say.”

 

Interview with Jeff Ellis, part 2

29 Sunday Jan 2012

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by Bevan Thomas

(originally appeared on the Cloudscape website)

For the first half of the interview with Jeff Ellis, see part 1

“Who would you call your biggest artistic influences?” I asked Jeff Ellis.

“I used to be totally obsessed with Mark Bagley and John Romita Jr., really impressed by their work ethic,” Jeff replied. “I’m probably the most stylistically influenced by Steve Rolston. I was actually in the comic store when Steve got his acceptance letter from Oni; me and Steve both used to buy our comics from ABC Book & Comic Emporium.”

“It must have been a real coup then, for Steve Rolston to illustrate the cover of Cloudscape’s fifth anthology, 21 Journeys.”

“Yeah, that was awesome.” Jeff grinned.

“Frequently your art reminds me of Phillip Bond, similar energy, visual clarity, and round, expressive figures,” I said. “You know his work? He’s done a lot of stuff with Grant Morrison, such as Kill Your Boyfriend and Invisibles.”

“I know of him, yeah. I think Steve was influenced by Phillip Bond, and I was influenced by Steve. Craig Thompson and Chris Ware are also big influences for my art.” Continue reading »

Interview with Jeff Ellis, part 1

26 Thursday Jan 2012

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by Bevan Thomas

(originally appeared on the Cloudscape website)

At one of Cloudscape Comics’ Wednesday meetings, I sat down to chat with Jeff Ellis, the organization’s founder, as around us numerous fellow cartoonists worked on their own projects.

Jeff Ellis

In many ways, Jeff’s appearance captures the archetype of the “geek” in the best possible way; a slim, bespectacled bright-eyed man with a mouth rarely far from a gentle smile. He is approachable and unassuming, even shy, and yet when he speaks, his words are confident, thoughtful, and earnest. Dedicated to his own projects, but always interested in the works of others, welcoming to new associates but always loyal to old ones; perhaps he above anyone else embodies the creativity and openness of Cloudscape.

“You’ve spent most of your life in Vancouver?” I asked.

“Yeah. I grew-up here. Though I did live for two and a half years in Japan, from 2004 to 2007.”

“What made you decide to go to Japan?”

At this question, Jeff dropped his gaze in slight embarrassment. “I wanted a fresh start.”

“A fresh start?”

“I’d graduated from college,” Jeff began, “a three-year program in graphic design, and couldn’t find a job. Any art job, I mean. I was working retail and was sick of it; I wanted a change. A friend of mine had gone to Japan before and had found it easy to get a teaching job; so she suggested I give it a shot.”

Continue reading »