Most of us tend to overuse certain words and phrases. Sometimes we recognize the problem. I often reply to comments with “I’m glad you found the post helpful/useful/valuable.” I know I’m repeating myself, but few blog visitors read comments and those that do probably read the comments on a single post rather than on multiple posts. So … Read more
Do you love to write? So do I, and today is our day, I Love to Write Day. According to the official Web site: November 15, 2008 will mark the seventh I Love To Write Day, a grassroots effort to have people of all ages practice their writing skills. Created by Delaware author John Riddle, … Read more
Emma Bird and Joanna Young at Absorbing Writing: Writing Workshops In Italy are soliciting input in planning their next writing workshop. Tell us about the ingredients of your ideal writing weekend. That might be a weekend you’ve already enjoyed, one that you’ve got planned, or one that you’re hoping to take part in, some day. … Read more
I’m out in the country – far from civilization – but I left this post to let you know today is National Grammar Day. The Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar says: Speak well! Write well! And on March 4, march forth and spread the word. If you see a sign with a catastrophic … Read more
In the last post, I talked about magical thinkers, people with a sense of entitlement who believe because they want something, they should have it and who expect someone or something else (God, the government, society …) to provide what they feel they deserve. Now, I’m going to bring the subject back to writing. My … Read more
In this series, I am going to answer specific questions posed by a reader in a comment to The Value of Writers Groups. Although the questions are specific to one writer, many other writers probably have similar questions. Patti McQuillen wrote: I am the webmaster of Gaslight Writers, a writing group for adults in the … Read more
Theda at Crayon Writer started an interesting conversation with If you can write, you can copyedit. She defined mechanical and substantive copyediting and asked the question: What do you prefer? Writing for yourself, mechanical copyediting, or substantive copyediting? I answered the question in comments but thought it would be interesting to my readers to carry … Read more
Maybe you’re an employee or a freelance writer assigned to write a company policy manual. Your employer says, “This is so confusing I don’t understand my own policies!” Or you’re a multi-published author with a new book out. A major reviewer writes, “Don’t waste your money or your time on this disappointing effort.” Or you’re … Read more
Professional — and aspiring — writers often hear the advice, “Write what you know.” After all, an avid mystery reader is more likely to write a believable mystery novel than someone who reads only science-fiction, the resident of a small town in a Southern state will probably describe the lifestyle of Small Town, Southern US … Read more
A young writer wrote to me recently as part of a language arts career project. He’s interested in becoming a writer and asked me some specific questions. Here are the questions and my answers: 1. Where do you get most of your ideas on a book? Ideas come from everywhere. My novel Stroke of Luck … Read more