The second Virgo of the series ~ and this one, unlike the last (HERE!), is in no doubt how typical she is of this sign. Welcome meticulous business systems writer turned fiction author, Elizabeth Ducie. Okay, Elizabeth, I'll admit it - I've just removed the justification from the right hand margin of your piece. It's a test. See how long you can resist emailing me to request rejustification!
"As a scientist and technical author for a long time
before I turned to creative writing, I have always dismissed astrology as
superstitious nonsense—but I have to admit I am a typical Virgo. I spend far
more time than I should working on newsletters, updating websites or formatting
anthologies for my writing groups; I prepare detailed ‘To’Do’ lists on an
annual, monthly and daily basis—and sometimes, I even stick to them. I find the
process of editing to be engaging and can sit for hours trawling through text
for stray commas."
"I use correct punctuation in texts. I scream at the
TV if someone uses ‘less than’ instead of ‘fewer’ and am far more likely to
judge a piece of writing by the accuracy of the apostrophes than the message of
the words. My writing is carefully catalogued in duplicate on my laptop, and my
desk is generally clean and empty at the end of the day; however, in the rest
of my life, I am very untidy, scattering shoes, bags and books all over the
house!"
★.:*´`*:.☆
As followers of this series will have noticed, I change to 'bold' the phrases, words and sentences which typify the sign of the writer ~ with this one I felt I might as well give up and 'bold' the whole lot! Even the way it was written is super-Virgo; it's also typical of the sign to be messy around the house, actually. (Elizabeth, I have four planets in this sign in my natal chart, and am meticulous and ordered in all work, hardly do any housework and use correct punctuation in texts, too).
I must add that Elizabeth is also modest, kind and helpful - other positive traits of the sign :)
I must add that Elizabeth is also modest, kind and helpful - other positive traits of the sign :)
You can follow Elizabeth on Twitter and have a look at her website, on which you will find her most interesting pieces on the business of writing, and details about her own work, including her short story collections and first full length novel, Gorgito's Ice Rink.
Now, Ms Ducie, here are two more Virgos with whom you might like to discuss the infuriating misuse of semicolons...
As Gorgito's Ice Rink is set in Russia, I've chosen Virgo Leo Tolstoy
- perhaps he just wrote such long books for the joy of editing them!
...and as you've written so many short stories,
here's a Virgo who has written a few himself - Roald Dahl :)
Coming next: at last, the first Libra!
Previous Posts (click name to see article):
Leo and Aries: Terry Tyler and Proofreader Julia
Aquarius and Capricorn: Nicky Black
Aquarius: Cathy Ryan, Lynda Renham
Sagittarius: Wendy J Lennox, Katrina Mountfort
Virgo: Barb Taub
Pisces: Sacha Black
Cancer: Katie Oliver, Mark Barry
