Writing and Publishing Advice | Lillie Ammann, Writer and Editor

Comma Abuse

by Lillie

August 23rd, 2017

I’ve heard a story about a bestselling author who isn’t confident about using commas. When she sends her manuscripts to her editor, she includes a page typed full of commas with a note, “I know these need to go somewhere, but you can figure out where.”

From my experience as an editor, a lot of writers—whether successful, struggling, aspiring, or amateur—feel the same way. I spend a lot of time removing unnecessary commas and adding needed commas.

The following guidelines regarding commas are the ones I find most commonly abused in work I edit and in publications I read.

Use a comma and a conjunction (and, but, or …) to join two complete clauses into a compound sentence: We went to the store, and we bought bread.
Do not use a comma to separate two verbs that are the predicate of a single subject: We went to the store and bought bread, NOT We went to the store, and bought bread.
Do not insert a comma between the subject and the predicate of a sentence: The lady of the house answered the door, NOT The lady of the house, answered the door.
Be consistent in the use of the serial (also known as the Oxford) comma. I prefer using the serial comma, both because it is recommended by the Chicago Manual of Style and other style guides I use most often and because it avoids confusion. However, some styles do not use the Oxford comma, and if you are following such a style, do not use it at all (unless it is absolutely necessary to make the meaning clear): She served steak, peas, and macaroni and cheese, NOT She served steak, peas and macaroni and cheese. Since macaroni and cheese is one food, the serial comma goes after peas. Otherwise, the reader might think the peas were part of the macaroni and cheese dish.
Use a comma to set off introductory elements at the beginning of the sentence: Arriving at the church late for the service, she entered the building quietly.
Set off parenthetical expressions (added information that can be eliminated without changing the meaning of the sentence) with commas: The teacher, who wore a purple dress, wrote the formula on the blackboard.

Using commas correctly in the six instances described above would go a long way toward eliminating comma abuse. For more information about the correct use of commas, visit the Guide to Grammar and Writing.

Categories Writing and Publishing Advice

10 Reasons Why Organized Home Space Can Boost Your Writing Creativity: Guest Post from Helen Bradford

by Lillie

August 9th, 2017

Writing is more than just sitting at your computer and typing; that much is clear to all. But what many people don’t know and is hard for writers to explain is that it requires special conditions just like any other creative job. Even though creative mess is a term we all use when trying to explain the clutter around our house or desk, sooner or later it eats our ideas and spreads to our minds. Let’s try to change that with these ten reasons why organizing your space will help your writing.

1. Fix what’s broken
Imagine you are locked in the idea. You’ve been going over it in your mind, figuring out the best way to approach it, and every time you start writing, the desk wobbles. It’s been doing that for a while and you’ve been planning to fix it but just never got the time. And there, at that moment, you start being annoyed with the desk and yourself, and that thought you wanted to write down is either lost or clouded by your annoyance. So don’t wait any longer to call a repairman. There’s writing to be done!

2. Clothes belong in closets
You look around and notice that your home is hijacked by your clothes. Clean or dirty, they are everywhere, and you start feeling suffocated, as though all those clothes are covering your ideas. So get up, take that laundry basket in one hand and start shoving in dirty clothes with the other. Every piece you clear out is one idea set free in your mind.

3. Gather your notes
Writers often scribble something. Of course computers replace that writing process, but some habits die hard and writing down on paper what pops into your head, at least for most, remains. After a while, your notes are all over your desk, and you can’t even tell which one is which. Searching through stacks of paper for the idea you need is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Take some time to review and organize those notes—it will be like reviewing and organizing your thoughts.

4. Dust and vacuum
Dust and dirt are on this list because they’re just bad. Crumbs here, a handprint there—those are all the signs that your living conditions have turned from messy to unhealthy. So, the minute you hit a wall, start vacuuming and dusting. Soon enough that wall is going to crumble one writer’s block at a time, and it’ll be as if you’ve just dusted your mind.

5. Change the curtains and covers
One of the perfect ways to refresh a space is by changing the curtains and covers on the sitting furniture. Choose bright colours, but not too vivacious or in a shade you’re not that fond of. Reviving the appearance of your writing space will broaden your perception and it will be as though your brain has taken a breath of fresh, mountain air.

6. Let the sunshine in
Sunlight is considered to be the cure for many troubles of the mind, and it’s the same when it comes to writing. It will certainly broaden the space and set a brighter mood, not only for writing but also for just sitting there and thinking.

7. Take a look at your furniture
After a while, your home is overpacked with furniture, and you only really notice it when lost in thought about something you’re writing and you start stumbling on your furniture just like in silent black and white comedies. One of the solutions for decluttering your furniture is by placing it in storage until you finish your writing. If you have more time on your hands, select the ones you need and the rest either donate or sell. Walking around the room and thinking is proven to be good for creativity, and now you’ll have enough space to stretch out your back and thoughts.

8. Replace the light bulbs
Just like working on the computer is not good in the complete dark, neither is working in a bright room. That is easily solvable by replacing the light bulbs with full spectrum ones that emulate sunlight. If you can’t change the bulbs, consider turning the bright lights off and using lamps instead. It will not only reduce eyestrain but also provide a relaxing writing environment.

9. Open the windows
Letting the fresh air in from time to time will boost your energy and revive your spirit. Stale air inside your home can make you sleepy and tired due to the pollutants, like carbon dioxide that we all exhale while breathing.

10. Limit the distractions
Not all writers work at their desk; some feel more comfortable in the kitchen or living room, for example. Every space has its own distractions that can prevent you from thinking clearly when you look up from your computer. Whatever the obstacle may be, take care of it. If the dishes are dirty, wash them; if there are cup stains on the coffee table, clean them. Don’t let anything that can be taken care of in a few minutes be a distraction. Remember that you control your writing conditions, not the other way around.

Conclusion
Writing, like any other job, requires focus and dedication. If your mind wanders to the stack of magazines on the table, smiley faces you left to yourself in the dust, rain stains on your windows—sooner or later you’ll notice that you’re wasting time reminding yourself to declutter the mess. Until science comes up with a machine that writes our thoughts down directly into the word processor program, you’ll have to organize your home in order to clear the way for your writing.

Author Bio:
Helen Bradford is a business and interior design enthusiast who currently works part-time as a consultant for Supercheap Self Storage Solutions in Newcastle. She spends her spare time doing fitness, traveling, and writing.

Categories Writing and Publishing Advice

Writers Worth Month 2017

by Lillie

May 19th, 2017

Lori Widmer at Words on the Page has deemed May as Writers Worth Month. Lori is on a crusade for writers to recognize their own worth and to stop writing for content mills that pay little or nothing.

She started off the month with a listing of 101 (New) Free Freelance Writer Resources. Although some of the resources are writing-related, most will be useful for freelancers of all kinds.

I recommend you check out all the Writers Worth posts from both Lori and guest posters. You’ll find useful information and encouragement.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/DimaGavrish

Categories Writing and Publishing Advice

Infographic: How to Stay Productive When You’re Tired

by Lillie

April 19th, 2017

When you’re tired, the best thing you can do is to get some rest. However, when you’re a freelance writer and editor, sometimes you must keep working to meet a critical deadline. The infographic below from STL provides some helpful tips to stay productive even when you’re exhausted. Use these tips to get you through your deadline—then get some rest.

How to stay productive when you’re tired [Infographic] by the team at STL

Categories Writing and Publishing Advice

Increasing Productivity and Creativity Through Your Workspace: Guest Post from Adam Robertson

by Lillie

March 22nd, 2017

Studies have shown that the ability to focus and concentrate and the ability to think creatively as a writer has a lot to do with your physical surroundings.

Something as simple as seating yourself in a comfortable chair, such as an ergonomic office chair, can increase your overall performance.

Here we will discuss ways that can help you to increase levels of productivity and creativity through your workspace.

Improving Physical Ergonomics

Today, a large percentage of the population, including those who write for a living, is seated in a chair all day long.

A chair can be monitored to ultimately ensure that a writer’s body is positioned correctly in their workspace. If you as a writer choose to use a computer to write, then it is best to make sure that your screen is at eye level. Similarly, it is best to ensure that your feet are flat on the floor to improve your physical ergonomics when writing.

Eliminate Clutter in Your Writing Environment

Mentally, when you are surrounded by clutter in your writing environment, it can cause your mind to feel cluttered, and this can eliminate all aspects of creativity.

Keeping your writing environment clean and tidy is particularly important. Spending a few minutes every morning tidying your writing environment isn’t a lot to ask. However, it will provide you with a huge difference in levels of productivity.

Place Yourself in New Seating and Environments

When you are seated in the same writing environment every day, you might begin to lack creativity. Because of this, it is best to visit new places and environments to increase your overall creativity. This could be as little as visiting the park rather than sitting in your home where you are restricting your level of experience.

As well as seating yourself in different working environments, it is good to invest in a new and comfortable seat. This way you could eliminate the possibility of getting distracted from your writing due to back pains. Ergonomic office chairs are a great choice of seating as they help improve posture. This is especially good for writers who spend most of their time seated in a chair.

The Importance of Storage

As a writer, it is important to keep yourself, as well as your workspace environment, tidy and organized. A great way to keep the workspace organized is the use of storage, such as filing cabinets. This way, you will find it particularly easy to access any of your resources and supplies such as reference books, which help you with your writing.

As a result, you won’t be wasting time trying to find your equipment, and in time this will help to improve your productivity level.

Finding the Right Lighting

Lighting is important while working, especially for a writer. The lighting in the workspace environment can ultimately help a writer’s ability to perform well.

Straining your eyes due to writing in the dark is bad, therefore it is always best to invest in a small lamp to help improve the lighting in the room.

Listening to Evocative Music

Furthermore, another way that a writer can spark their level of creativity is listening to evocative music. For writers, it is always great to listen to music before sitting down to write, or even before brainstorming ideas.

Writers often find listening to music a useful way of getting the creative juices flowing. However, don’t be shocked if you find that working in complete silence is better for you to concentrate and be more productive when writing.

Overall, increasing productivity and creativity through your workspace can ultimately help improve your level of writing. This can be something as little as purchasing a new office chair, changing working environments, or even eliminating the clutter in your workspace environment.

As well as the above, browsing through images could be a bright idea for writers to do in order to improve their creativity. Searching for images on Google can give you ideas to write about.

Author Bio: Adam Robertson is a professional in the office furnishings industry. He works for Allard Office Furniture, an office furniture company that has eighteen years of shared experience in office desks, chairs, supplies, and accessories.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/alexeys

Categories Writing and Publishing Advice

Choosing Your Niche: A Guide for Beginners—Guest Post from Kate Thora

by Lillie

February 22nd, 2017

Becoming a writer always starts with a bit of soul-searching. If you want to make it in the world of creative writing, you need to have something that will make you stand out from the pack. You can either focus on developing a distinctive style or write about controversial topics.

But first of all, you need to find your field of expertise that will best represent your skills and interests. If you are wondering how to get started in creative writing, read on and equip yourself with the most effective tips on finding the right niche and getting passionate about work as an author.

Study time
When you take a closer look at the history of literature, you may notice that world-famous authors are remembered for excellence in one field— Edgar Allan Poe is known for thrilling short stories, Charles Dickens for captivating bildungsromans, Robert Frost for honest poetry, and Susan Sontag for politically involved essays. In order to pick your niche, you need to know what particular fields you can choose from. It is, therefore, recommended to read on the subject of creative writing and learn the genres as well as subgenres of fiction and nonfiction.

Fiction vs. nonfiction
The next big decision you will have to make is to decide whether you are more passionate about fiction or nonfiction. Nowadays, both genres are very competitive, however if you are great at what you do and are able to grab the attention of your readers with unique style and captivating story or comprehensive knowledge and competent analysis, the fans will follow naturally. People are drawn to charismatic writers who are not afraid to voice their opinions through their fiction or nonfiction works.

Three is a crowd
While some people find success in writing about almost anything, most authors, bloggers, and freelance journalists decide to narrow down their field of expertise and focus on the topics they are most passionate about. If you have not written anything yet, you may want to start by listing the disciplines you like talking, reading, and listening about. If you already have a bit of experience in writing, go down memory lane and recall what topics lifted you up and gave you that natural flow most writers desire.

Write for yourself
After you have established the basics, it’s time to get cracking. The best way to find out if you’re good at what you do is to write for yourself and evaluate your work. Let go of your fear of failure, forget the worries and struggles of publishing process, don’t think about sales charts—just focus on writing. I’m aware that it’s easier said than done, but remember that the good things come straight from the heart. No one can pressure you to do things you don’t want to do or write stories that aren’t right up your alley. After all, you are your best and harshest critic, so write something that you would enjoy reading for years to come.

Write regularly
Many beginning writers struggle with a so-called writer’s block. This condition is associated with a lack of creativity followed by an inability to produce good content. If you feel like you have run out of ideas, it’s always good to go for a walk, exercise, or call a dear friend. Many writers also recommend to create some routines around writing. One of them is writing regularly, at similar times, in similar conditions. Choose the place that inspires you, but at the same time lets you summon your ideas.

Choosing the right niche can take some time, but finding your true field of expertise is a rewarding and freeing feeling that will give you a powerful dose of motivation to complete your work. Good luck!

Kate Thora is a Senior Content Specialist for Uphours, an online resource with information about businesses worldwide. Aside from her passion for writing, Kate’s artistic soul manifests itself also in her love for singing and dancing, especially to traditional Indian music. Follow her on Twitter @katethora1.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/feedough

Categories Writing and Publishing Advice

The Ubiquitous and Elusive Apostrophe

by Lillie

August 17th, 2016

After reading my last post about random capitalization, a friend asked me on Facebook to write about apostrophes. Since the apostrophe is such an abused punctuation mark, I agreed.

How can the apostrophe be both ubiquitous (everywhere) and elusive (hard to find)? The apostrophe, if not exactly ubiquitous, certainly shows up in many places it doesn’t belong. At the same time it is frequently missing from places it does belong.

There are two major uses for the apostrophe:

To show possession—Add ‘s to singular words and plural words not ending in s: Carolyn’s question, Jane’s purse, the dog’s bowl, children’s teacher, oxen’s yoke. Add an apostrophe only to plural words ending in s: students’ questions, the girls’ purses, the dogs’ bowls, twins’ bedroom.
To indicate missing letters or numerals as in contractions—can’t (cannot), shouldn’t (should not), ’tis (it is), she’d (she had). An apostrophe can also be used in other places where letters or numbers are missing—’98, dancin’.

An apostrophe is used to form a plural only in the rare case of making lowercase letters plural: x’s and y’s. Uppercase letters used as words do not require an apostrophe for their plural form: 3Rs.

The apostrophe and the single quotation mark look the same but have different uses. The single quotation mark is used primarily for quotations within quotations.

The most common apostrophe errors are using them when they aren’t needed, using them in the wrong place in the word, or not using them when they are needed.

Do not use an apostrophe to form plural except in the unusual situation mentioned above (making individual lower-case letters plural). The Johnson family is not the Johnson’s, more than one book is not book’s, and a bouquet of flowers is not flower’s.
Put the apostrophe either before the s or at the end of the word, depending on whether it the word is singular or plural: The secretary’s phone (not the secretarys’ phone), the student’s classes (one student) or the students’ classes (many students), the children’s toys.
Use apostrophes to show possession or to indicate missing letters or words: Tony’s hobby, neighbors’ pets, can’t, didn’t, singin’.

Have you sent other misuses of the apostrophe? Share on social media.

And let me know if you would like me to address special writing mistakes in future posts.

Categories Writing and Publishing Advice

The Plague of Random Capitalization

by Lillie

August 9th, 2016

As an editor, I encounter the same problems over and over again, regardless of the genre or the writer.

One persistent problem is random capitalization. Although this is common from writers of all kinds, I find it most often in business writing. I think it’s part of many corporate cultures, and the people who see and do this every day at work tend to make the same mistake in other kinds of writing as well.

When should you capitalize and when should put the whole word in lowercase?

Names of people and places are almost always capitalized: Jane Doe, San Antonio, Texas. Follow the lead of the individual who lowercases part of his or her name (John de Paul).
Titles are capitalized when they are used with the name—President Obama, but not when they are used generically—the president. Complete titles may be capitalized following the person’s name—John Smith, Chief Executive Officer, but not when used as a description—John Smith, the chief executive officer of the company.
Respectful forms of address—Your Honor, Mr. President, Your Excellency—are always capitalized.
Kinship names—mom, dad, aunt, grandmother—are lowercased unless they are used as part of or in place of a name: Mom, Uncle John, Grandma Sadie (when addressing or identifying the person by that name) but my mom, my uncle, and my grandma.
Names of ethnic or national groups (Americans, Hispanics, African Americans) are capitalized, but colors (white, black) are lowercased.
The names and titles of religious organizations, clergy, and books are capitalized, but generic descriptions are not: All Saints Anglican Church, the church, Pastor Joe, the pastor, The Holy Bible, holy book.
Words like nature, science, success are not capitalized unless they are part of a name or title.

Organizations (corporations, nonprofits, and military) often over-use capitals. They typically capitalize every title down to the lowliest position, perhaps to make the people in those positions feel important. If you are writing something for an organization that follows this practice, you should, of course, follow the company style. However, if you are writing something outside the company, follow the style of the publication or group for whom you are writing. When in doubt, don’t capitalize.

Organizations often capitalize the name of every department, every program, every process…. The best way to determine if capitalizing a word or phrase is appropriate is to determine whether it is an actual name or title of something or simply a description. The Department of Science and Technology is capitalized if that is its actual name, but the science and technology department is not. Zero Defects Quality Control Program is capitalized if that is its proper name, but the quality control program is not.

If you’re not sure about whether to capitalize a word or phrase, ask yourself, “Is this an actual name or title of something?” If so, capitalize. If the word or phrase is just a description, begin the word(s) with lowercase letters.

Categories Writing and Publishing Advice

Get to Know Yourself: Guest Post from David Grover

by Lillie

July 13th, 2016

Guest Post from David Grover—Get to Know Yourself: 5 Self-Discoveries You Make When Writing a Journal

One of the most powerful and efficient ways to get to know yourself is through keeping a journal. Writing down your deepest inner thoughts is incredibly therapeutic and allows you to gain control of your emotions and to set tasks to achieve your goals.

You might think that keeping a journal is a lot of work for no reward, but the truth is the number of self-discoveries you make while journaling is astounding. Here are five that are worth paying attention to.

1 The things you love
It sounds kind of simple, doesn’t it? Of course, you discover the things you love when you write a journal; you already know them. However, it isn’t as simple as that. One of the benefits of writing a journal is the knowledge that no one but yourself will ever read it, and with that knowledge comes security and the absence of deceit.

When you realize that your journal is just for you, the things that you write become increasingly personal and edge closer to the truth you either hide or play down. This happens because journal writing allows you to let go and permit your subconscious to have an audible voice. You then discover things, people, and places that you love but were unable to realize.

2 The things you hate
Just as you discover the things you love when you write a journal, you also discover the things that you hate. And again it sounds simple, but we tend to bury the things that truly bother us. Writing out your feelings, both positive and negative, allows you to assess and confront any problems you may have in a very positive and healthy way.

3 Your core values
Your core values are what make your personality unique to you, and while we might think we know how we feel or think about certain things, the fact is, until you examine your feelings and intuitions, you’ll never know for sure. That’s where journaling comes in. Keeping a journal and reviewing it from time to time will allow you to see inside of your soul, including your core values, in a way you haven’t before.

4 Your dreams
We all know what our dreams and aspirations are; from the ridiculous to the mundane, we have a good idea of our wants and wishes. When you keep a journal not only do you discover new ambitions, you also figure out a way to make them a lot more tangible.

A great benefit to keeping a journal is reviewing it and taking note of running themes and recurring events. Through doing this you will be able to see where you are going wrong and how to make it right. When you see the details of your life laid out in black and white, you automatically make a conscious effort to change it for the better, including chasing those dreams of yours.

5 Creative sparks
A great self-discovery that is made when keeping a journal is creativity. The act of writing every day tends to light an artistic fire in your belly, and you will discover a talent you never knew you had. Even if you are already quite inventive, the therapeutic nature of journaling relaxes your mind, leaving you free to tap into the creative side of your brain that you may have previously ignored.

Amazing self-discoveries aside, keeping a journal is a lot of fun. It’s a great way to spend your time. Your writing skills improve, and you learn so much more about yourself. So, if you were ever on the fence about keeping a journal, now might be the time to start!

David Grover is a Communications Manager at Timeo, a useful tool for businesses in the UK. He’s also a freelance career coach who’s always eager to share his experience. In his free time he enjoys traveling.

Categories Writing and Publishing Advice

Writers Worth Month

by Lillie

May 2nd, 2016

Lori Widmer at Words on the Page has declared May to be Writers Worth Month.

Not only is Lori successful as a freelance writer, but she is also generous in sharing advice with other writers on her blog. She advocates for writers to earn what they are worth and for writers to be worth what they want to earn.

All month Lori and other freelancers will share advice on how to deserve and earn more money. Whether you’re an established freelance writer seeking to advance in your career or a complete novice just learning the ropes, drop by Words on the Page every day of Writers Worth Month.

Here are a few posts I’ve written related to freelance writing and editing rates:

Categories Writing and Publishing Advice

Archive for Writing and Publishing Advice

Comma Abuse

10 Reasons Why Organized Home Space Can Boost Your Writing Creativity: Guest Post from Helen Bradford

Writers Worth Month 2017

Infographic: How to Stay Productive When You’re Tired

Increasing Productivity and Creativity Through Your Workspace: Guest Post from Adam Robertson

Choosing Your Niche: A Guide for Beginners—Guest Post from Kate Thora

The Ubiquitous and Elusive Apostrophe

The Plague of Random Capitalization

Get to Know Yourself: Guest Post from David Grover

Writers Worth Month

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