Writing

I use Apple Pages for all my writing, but I was cautious about using Pages with Apple Intelligence. Checking grammar, spelling, and punctuation is an important part of my workflow, but I’m usually reluctant to use AI tools for the task. However, I was curious to see if Apple’s built-in approach, like the Apple dictionary…

Pen name privacy is often seen as a digital mask, but a name alone isn’t enough to protect your true identity. Every article you publish can drop “invisible breadcrumbs,” from hidden image metadata to innocent anecdotes that can lead readers straight to your door. If you aren’t actively protecting your digital footprint, your professional firewall…

My number one tip for new writers is to think about using more sentence structure variations. If too many sentences look and sound the same or similar, the quick cure is to use more variety in how you write your sentences. The best part is that it’s a quick and easy fix for any form…

Every writer experiences invisible repetition in writing because it’s subtle and structural. It’s easy to spot repeated vocabulary or tic words during a quick edit using a simple “Find” search. However, at a deeper level, repetition can occur in your use of sentence structures or grammatical patterns, which are not as easy to find. If…

Are you using words by habit in your writing? If the answer is yes, you’re in good company, and you’re being honest. Almost every writer does it. I’m guilty of the crime and often catch myself using the word often way too often. I sometimes remember, but frequently forget to change or remove my pesky…

It’s more important than ever to make your writing stand out, with so much AI slop being published. Writing has always been a challenge for attention, but never before has automation been the main competitor. While it might still be true that cream rises to the top, the top of the mountain is much higher…

You might believe that using flowery, complicated, or pretentious words in writing makes you look smarter. But in many cases, the reverse is true because they can make your writing seem amateurish. Readers often notice words that seem forced, unnecessary, or awkwardly placed. It can also slow down your pacing, or even make readers doubt…

You’ve got just a few short seconds to hook a new reader and grab their attention, so make your first words really count. The first 30 seconds are critical and will make or break whether someone continues reading or clicks away. Every word, every sentence, and every choice you make matters in your first few…

Do you struggle when you try to describe things you can’t see or touch in your writing? It’s always easier with objects, things, and people you can see because you can use descriptive adjectives to paint a picture. But when it’s a feeling, an emotion, or an intangible abstract idea, your normal describing tools don’t…

If you are wondering whether it’s possible to write a book on your phone, the answer is yes, it’s technically possible. However, it’s far from being the most practical way of writing a book. The biggest challenge is, of course, the keyboard. Yes, some people are adept at using it, but even the best will…