Derek Haines

Derek is an experienced English teacher, writer, and author with a passion for grammar, creative writing, and all forms of publishing. He also enjoys experimenting with technology and tools for writers.

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The One Drawback Of Self-Publishing

The Drawback Of Self-Publishing No One Warns You About

For many new authors, the biggest drawback of self-publishing isn’t about writing and editing. It’s something that is much more challenging. In one word, it’s marketing. You can find plenty of articles and ideas to help you promote or advertise your new book online, but marketing is much more than that. In a nutshell, marketing…

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What Are Grammatical Moods

Grammatical Moods In Writing And How To Use Them

Grammatical moods indicate the purpose of a sentence by using specific verb forms. Contrary to what you might think, a mood in grammar has nothing to do with emotions, feelings, or sentiments. Moods define a phrase’s intent, including functions such as facts, commands, doubts, uncertainties, or conditions. Understanding how to use these choices can help…

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Self-Publish Very Short Books

How To Self-Publish Very Short Books In Print And Ebook

Self-publishing very short books of fiction, such as pamphlets, novelettes, flash fiction, or short stories, can be challenging. With nonfiction, it would include essays, academic texts, or guides and manuals. Many of these generally have a word count of between 1,000 words and 5,000 words. However, this can cause problems when you try to self-publish…

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They As The Third-Person Singular Pronoun

How To Use They As A Third-Person Singular Pronoun

Using THEY as an alternative third-person singular pronoun is very common now because English doesn’t have a gender-neutral equivalent. Of the three singular pronouns, both HE and SHE are gender-specific. However, IT is only suitable for objects, things, and perhaps animals. That’s why they is a far better alternative because it is inclusive and avoids making…

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Morning Suit And Mourning Suit

Morning Suit And Mourning Suit – Which One To Wear?

What’s the difference between a morning suit and mourning suit? A morning suit is formal attire worn for daytime events like weddings or horse races. A mourning suit (with a “u” for unhappy) is black clothing worn to show grief at a funeral. While they sound exactly the same, they serve completely different purposes. Origins…

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