Local Knowledge: Background and Historical Setting in Novels
You're writing a story set in your local city, but one hundred years in the past. How can you recreate the feel of the past in your words of the present? Local knowledge, that's how. And how do you get this sort of knowledge when your characters were walking around... Read More
Top 10 Common English Goofs by Web Authors
In reviewing and browsing web sites over the years, I have compiled a list of the most common misuses of English by web authors. Here they are in Letterman (reverse) order.10. Who, which or that?"Who" (or "whom") refers to persons. "Which" refers to animals or things, never to persons. "That"... Read More
Best Writing Advice I Ever Got
I've been in the communications business a long time?over 25 years. During that period I've gathered writing suggestions from all over, and put much of it in my new book "Words That Stick."In the next few paragraphs, I'll give you some of the best advice I've received. Perhaps some of... Read More
Get Published: The Nuts and Bolts of English, and How to Impress a Publisher (2)
The tiniest things can be so useful when you come to consider the nuts and bolts of writing. The comma is one of them. No, don't go away: it's a useful device that's often used badly -- or ignored altogether.As an editor of books, I am forever sticking commas into... Read More
Writers: Dr. Phil Goes Fishing with Oprah in His Tackle Box, Shouldn?t You?
Dr. Phil's Life Strategies, #1 New York Times Bestseller catches us on page one. His bait? Oprah Winfrey.A fisherman will spend hours throwing out into the lake one of the many trinkets he holds in his trusty tackle box "baiting" his catch-to-be. By trial and error, practice and perfection, the... Read More
Building Character
Names are important. Names give clues about us, where we live, who we are. In some cases they can even tell what we do! There is a certain ring about George W. Bush, you just know he's American! You can almost feel the Texan, and taste the oilWhen selecting names... Read More
Print-On-Demand: A Definition and a Comparison
The purpose of this article is to consider Print-On-Demand publishing as an alternative for the aspiring author. It has its strengths and its weaknesses. You may wonder as you begin reading this, but in the end I'm going to say some good things about it.The title explains the technology. The... Read More
Top Ten Writing Mistakes Made By New Childrens Writers
Okay. So I'm not David Letterman. But I doubt if he'd know much about the top 10 mistakes made by new children's writers anyway. I, on the other hand, read from 10 to 20 manuscripts for children every week (I'm not bragging - I'm just an instructor with the Institute... Read More
6 Tricks To Squeeze Your Letters Onto One Page
Anyone who has read any of my articles on the subject of letter writing or resume writing will know how important I believe it is to minimize the number of pages, preferably limiting them to one page whenever possible.And, we all know how tacky it looks when we put the... Read More
8 Reasons Why A Freelance Writer Should Use the Internet
What a wonderful resource the Internet is!Students find information to help them with their studies; business people keep in touch with important clients and stay up to date with important business developments; stay-at-home-parents can find ideas for children's activities and feel less isolated by forging friendships with other online parents;... Read More
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Got an Idea? Turn it into a Novel in Thirty Days or Less!
People can't believe I did it, but I did. I... Read More
Why I Write
I started writing as a way of keeping safe memories... Read More
The Value of Adding Images to Technical Documentation
It's cliché, but true-a picture does paint a thousand words.... Read More
Does Your Theme Contain Character, Conflict, Resolution?
Creative Writing Tips ?For a theme to work and the... Read More
To Transcribe or Not To Transcribe Interviews?
11 Secrets from an Experienced InterviewerOne of the unwritten rules... Read More
9 More Writing Tips for Successful Email Marketing
A few months ago, I wrote a guide entitled: 101... Read More
71 Ways For A Writer To Make Money
There are so many ways for writers to make good... Read More
Learning How To Write
As a student of Spanish, my goal was to think... Read More
7 Steps to Successful Publishing
The decision to publish a book is very exciting! It... Read More
Going On A Word Diet
There are three ways to write a first draft. One... Read More
Basic Writing Tips ? Some Controversial, All Correct
As a previous article ("Making Better Word Choices ? 4... Read More
5 Reasons People Like Technology White Papers
A good white paper is a paper that makes you... Read More
Four Easy Ways to Get a Book Written (Especially If You Dont Like to Write)
Becoming an author is probably a lot easier than you... Read More
How To Write to a Word Count
You've finished your story, and you're pretty happy with it.... Read More
Use Real-Life Templates For Writing Success
At some point along the way, most of us have... Read More
The Top Five Writing Mistakes Professionals Make
Yes, you know your subject. You also need to think... Read More
Im Just The Writer
Writers are often are greatly surprised or disappointed by how... Read More
What you Dont Know About Book Publishing Can Cost You
Dream that your book can be a number one best... Read More
Want to start a publishing revolution?
Calling all publishers, editors, journalists and freelance writers. It's time... Read More
Retail Margin, Trade Discount, and What it Means for the Author
DEFINITIONSRetail margin is basically the difference between your book's wholesale... Read More
Screenwriting, Screenplays, Screenwriters ? Good Ideas for Stories
The principle for writing good screenplays begins with good idea... Read More
Increase Your Web Traffic By Using Keyword Articles
If you have an online home based business you know... Read More
Have You Plotted Your Story Before Writing It?
Creative Writing Tips ?The writer, who doesn't have the time... Read More
How To Avoid Viewpoint Slips
Sit back, and imagine what it feels like to be... Read More
Journaling
How many of you take the time to really write... Read More
Effective Editing: It Spells the Difference!
If you think proofreading equals editing, then you're wrong! Editing... Read More
Making Better Word Choices ? 4 Examples
Choosing the wrong words can have a poor effect on... Read More
Have You Completed A Character Questionnaire?
Creative Writing Tips ?Complete a character questionnaire for each of... Read More
Break in with Fillers: The Best Market for New Writers
Interested in breaking into writing or breaking into a new... Read More
Apotheosis - the Seminal Insight of the Hero for Screenwriting
Every hero has a seminal insight - the apotheosis. Once... Read More
Writing For Free: When & When Not to Do It!
Right off the bat, I want to say that there... Read More
Writing Query Letters
A QUERY LETTER is written to an editor or agent... Read More
6 Ways to Leverage Technical Articles
Technology vendors often contribute bylined articles to trade journals. The... Read More
Ten Quick Tips for Inexperienced Writers
One of the biggest problems that inexperienced writers have is... Read More
Editing and Polishing - How Much is Enough?
A few days ago, I critiqued a chapter for a... Read More
Time-Saving Skills to Get More from Your Writing
As you set out to create your first niche non-fiction... Read More
Idea-Mining for Writers, 102
As many authors are fond of stating, "Ideas are all... Read More
Personal Journaling - Strategies To Make It Easy
Recently I was watching the Oprah show and it was... Read More
Effective Collaboration - Working With Your Ghostwriter
Using a ghostwriter to craft your free reprint articles and... Read More
Write Your Life
Take out a white piece of paper and place it... Read More
Dreading the Writing Assignment? Outlines to the Rescue
Writing technical articles is a challenge. There you sit, surrounded... Read More
Whose Story Is It?
Whenever you sit down to plot a story (or even... Read More
The Cost of Being a Writer
You are the only one who knows what being a... Read More
The Writers Identity: Exploring the Writer Within
Les Edgerton writes in his book, Finding Your Voice, that... Read More
Publication Road
The journey to having my first novel for children published... Read More
6 Tricks To Squeeze Your Letters Onto One Page
Anyone who has read any of my articles on the... Read More
Write With Passion: 4 Steps To Emotionally Charge A Nonfiction Article
You have just completed a draft of an article. It... Read More
Ten Tips To Get Started Writing Your Book
You are far more likely to successfully write and publish... Read More
How to Publish a Book: Key Differences Between Publishing and Self Publishing
For many authors just starting out, it can be a... Read More
Want to start a publishing revolution?
Calling all publishers, editors, journalists and freelance writers. It's time... Read More
Uncommon Advice for Beginning Novelists
1) Convince yourself you want to do something else. If... Read More
Mexican Living: Pasatiempo
It occurred to me one day that I needed something... Read More
Learning to Question Your Elephant Child: Who, What, Where, When and Why
Having problems writing? I don't know why. San Francisco Chronicle... Read More
Idea Mining for Writers 101
Want to write an article or book, but are stuck... Read More
Generating Nonfiction Book Titles Without a Hassle
The process of developing a working title for your nonfiction... Read More
Think Market!
Griselda spent hours polishing up her resume. No detail was... Read More
How to Have an Effective Writing Group
The works you've written are numerous, ranging from short stories... Read More
Help! I Cant Write!
Writer's Block can strike like a King Cobra, paralyzing every... Read More
In Your Own Words
More Tips For New Writers (Part I)Explain in your own... Read More
Top Seven Ways to Write your Print or eBook Fast
Want to write your book? But, need a blueprint on... Read More
The Practice of Writing
Virgil, the great Roman poet, wrote "Practice and thought might... Read More
Focusing Your Reading and Finding Ideas
Many experts recommend reading as a way to get ideas,... Read More
Business Writing Tip: Question & Answer Format
Traditionally, business writing uses the "one thing after another" format,... Read More
New Year Resolutions for Writers - The Best Kind to Make and How to Keep Them
On the first day of a bright and shiny new... Read More
Writing Made Them Rich #4: Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho was born on August 24th 1947 in Rio... Read More
Learning How To Write
As a student of Spanish, my goal was to think... Read More
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