I'm impressed, Linda. I've done one foot in the mouth often enough, but I can't say that I ever tried both. Didn't think it was possible - anatomically speaking that is. But I might give it a go - given the right opportunity. 😁

I'm soured on the whole - Here are 10 Tricks to ____ routine. There aren't any tricks. As you say, there's good writing first and foremost. Then an eye for headlines and a decent marketing sense.

Then there's environment - what's happening around you when the article hits. That links the need "out there" to your content. Publish on Tuesday and you get 82 views. Publish on Friday after some news evert and you get 1882 views.

If someone wants to write like Hemmingway - slap him upside the head. He can write in the style of Hemmingway, but it'll be his words and his humor and his life that's bleeding onto the pages.

I wish I had the magic formula. The bottle with the Genie in it waiting to make my writing life better - I have looked. All I find is me, my keyboard, my heart and desire and an abiding sense that someday - hopefully real soon - I too will become Hemmingway II, or is it IV? Sorry, I lost track. 😉

Great rant . . . I mean article. I love shoes, so a perfect match of wit and footwear. 👍💚