The Cup Challenge

I’ve made my living as a copywriter in the corporate world for many years. And I've been lucky. My boss encourages me to push the copy limits, to write the unexpected sentence. However, there is just so much pushing and unexpected you can get by with in a newsletter.

And that’s where the saving grace of this blog came in. I’ve been able to write what I want and to go further with language. I've watched my style evolve during the four months of the Cup's existence. But I’ve also become aware of my limitations. Specifically, a writer’s biggest pitfall: overusing certain words, to the point where those words lose their power.

I recently mentioned to my professorial pal that I wanted to break out of my writing trap. His response: “In other words, you want to stop writing like a fag?”

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Both the professor and I are liberal-minded souls who love and embrace all cultures and persuasions, never discriminating against others simply because they are different. I cannot speak for the professor, but I am proud to have many friends who are gay, most of whom rarely use fabulous or brilliant in conversation.

Yes, the professor is correct in his assessment of my style; at times I do write like Richard Simmons on an endorphin high. I have an effusive personality. In conversation, my sentences are punctuated with exclamation points! And lots of arm-waving and extremes (I love it or I hate it; very few in-betweens). That over-the-topness comes through in my writing. I enjoy being the Auntie Mame of Blogger, but there are limits. I've worn out the fabulousness of fabulous. Great is no longer great, thanks to my pounding it into this site’s ground. Brilliant, well, it ain’t so brilliant when used eight times a day. And I’ve cried too many wonderful wolves (lower).

That’s where The Cup Challenge comes in. For one week, I will not publish a post using the any variation of these words:

• brilliant
• excellent
• fabulous
• fantastic
• great
• love
• wonderful

I will also strive not to publish posts that read like an IBM newsletter. A tough challenge? You betcha. But I need this challenge to help me strengthen my writing style. There’s a deadline in 30 days that requires me to be at my literary best.

If I were truly daring, I would also ban starting sentences with So and And. But there’s just so much a girl can give up for a week. Maybe during the next Cup Challenge.

So, you’re on notice. Nail me if you see me slip in one of my lazy words. And let me know how I’m doing this week. It’s gonna be fabu… um, marvelous (a little faggy … but it ain’t on the list. And it’s the first day, Rome being built and all that).

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