Every writer confronts the dreaded fear of a blank page. It is white, stark, and for many writers and authors, it’s downright intimidating. You stare at a fresh blank sheet of paper or an empty word processor template in Google Docs. Perhaps Word with its infuriating little flashing cursor. There is nothing in front of…
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Did Ernest Hemingway ever advise, write drunk, edit sober? Probably not, but it has become one of the most popular fixed expressions for new writers. If you have just started writing or are attending writing classes, you must have heard the expression. On social media, writers have used the phrase thousands of times. Yet, the…
Write Drunk Edit Sober Is Sound Idiomatic Advice Read More »
You certainly use a lot of adjectives when you write. But do you know that there is a specific and correct order of adjectives? In its simplest forms, you add an adjective before a noun or plural nouns or after the verb to be. They can add descriptive properties quickly and easily to any noun. Sure, you…
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Choosing the right book cover fonts and colors is more important than many new authors realize. Readers might say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in reality, they do it in seconds. If your title isn’t clear and easy to read, especially at a small size, most people will simply scroll past.…
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Teaching can be hard work at times. But when I gave my advanced students the “27 Figures of Speech” puzzle, I could sit back and relax for 45 minutes. Sometimes it was even longer, as some of my students were so keen to brainstorm as a group to find every hidden metaphor, simile, and expression.…
The 27 Figures Of Speech Challenge: Can You Find All Of Them? Read More »
Can you start a sentence with but? I am sure you must recall your high school English teacher told you that beginning a sentence with a conjunction was wrong. It was one of the strict grammar rules my teachers drummed into my young head. “Never start a sentence with and or but!” Those were the…
Can You Start A Sentence With But, So, And Or Yet? Read More »
Obviously named after Ernest Hemingway, the Hemingway app is a popular free writing tool created by Adam and Ben Long. Compared to other grammar and spelling checkers and writing software, it is quick, easy, and a much simpler alternative. A desktop version of the Hemingway Editor is available for Mac and PC, which is quite cheap.…
Is The Hemingway App The Best Grammar Checker For You? Read More »
When I finish writing a manuscript, the next two steps are to copy edit and proofread the text. By separating these tasks, I can work methodically to correct mistakes, improve clarity, and polish the manuscript. If you are self-publishing, you might not be able to afford professional editing, so you’ll probably need to do much…
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You have a few story ideas in your head and want to know how to write a great story. Maybe you want to write romance stories, crime, detective, or science fiction. But if you are new to creative writing and fiction, you should try to avoid a few typical pitfalls. Let’s look at how you…
How To Write A Great Story – Plan And Organize Your Ideas Read More »
Every writer tries to write without making basic English grammar errors. However, readers are quick to notice common grammar mistakes in any form of writing. It doesn’t matter if you are writing a blog post, an article, a novel, or even a social media post. You want to make sure people understand, appreciate, and enjoy your…
20 Common Grammar Mistakes You Can Easily Correct Read More »
