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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Social Account Suspended

Is Your X (Twitter) Or Facebook Account Suspended Or Locked?

It’s a shock if you find your Facebook account suspended. A blocked or suspended social media account can happen at any time. Suddenly, you find that one of your social network accounts has been blocked for no logical reason. You feel upset, of course, because you lose contact with your friends. But you also lose…

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Self-Publishing

Self-Publishing: The Expectations vs Reality For New Authors

What are the expectations vs. reality for new authors? Are you dreaming of becoming the next bestselling author? Are you looking for self-publishing advice? For anyone who writes, it is natural to want your hard work to reap the rewards you believe it deserves. Today, self-publishing allows all authors to publish for (almost) free and have a book…

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Best Free Grammar Checkers

The Best Free Grammar Checkers And Correction Apps (All Tested)

Nothing has changed more than how writers check and correct their writing with free grammar checkers. For many years, I’ve maintained this archive of free grammar apps, and it’s required constant updating. The primary reason is that artificial intelligence (AI) is being adopted by so many of these apps. But that’s not to say that…

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Google Reverse Image Search Secrets

Google Reverse Image Search: 10 Secret Uses For Writers & Authors

Why most people miss the best uses for Google Reverse Image Search. When you see that small frame icon in the Google search bar, you probably think of it as a simple way to find an image or photo. But for writers, bloggers, and authors, Google Lens (formerly Reverse Image Search) is actually a powerful…

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Relaxing with the schwa

The Schwa Sound Can Trick You Into Grammar Mistakes

The schwa is the mid-central vowel sound and the most common vowel sound in English. It occurs in many words, unstressed syllables, or to contract auxiliary verbs and prepositions. The schwa sounds like “uh” in umbrella or under, and in phonetics, it is represented by the schwa symbol of an upside-down /ə/. If you look up a word in an English dictionary,…

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Leaving More Than Footprints in the Sand

More Than Footprints In The Sand With Self-Publishing

The figurative expression, footprints in the sand, can mean different things to different people. For some, it has a religious and spiritual insight, while for others, it has a more pragmatic sense of something temporary and passing. For writers and authors, it means leaving a temporary record of thoughts and feelings. But it can mean…

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