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Two common types of fixed expressions we use in writing are idioms and clichés. Idioms can help with variety by expressing ideas in a figurative way instead of a long-winded literal explanation. Clichés, although similar, are phrases that we see repeated so often that they risk showing a lack of thought in writing. While both…
Idioms And Clichés Explained (And More Figures Of Speech) Read More »
If you’re a debut author about to publish for the first time, one decision you might want to think about is whether to use your real name or choose a pen name. It’s a choice that can affect your privacy, your author branding, and the way readers connect with your books. That’s why many debut…
You always want to give your writing more punch, and finding ways to end a sentence is one of the best. Strong sentence endings can be more memorable, or create a rhythm to your writing to help keep your readers’ interest. You can leave them hanging in suspense, create emphasis, bring closure, or use a…
15 Strong Ways To End A Sentence For More Impact Read More »
Don’t panic if you notice an error or typo, because it’s easy to fix mistakes in your self-published book. It’s rare to find a book that is perfect without an occasional typo or misspelling. So, you are not alone by any means if you spot an error after publishing your ebook or book. The most…
In a world where sharing documents is commonplace, do you give a thought to how to safeguard your manuscript before you publish your book? Unlike a report or an article draft, your book manuscript is months, or even years, in the making. You are probably careful to protect your manuscript by making regular backups and…
How To Safeguard Your Manuscript Before You Publish Read More »
Your thesaurus is a writer’s go-to tool for finding uncommon words that you hope will give a sentence a lift. Very often, you might have ten or even twenty options to replace a single word. But do you simply want to avoid repetition or impress a reader with your vocabulary? Using an extended vocabulary is…
How To Use Uncommon Words Without Confusing Readers Read More »
When talking about language and vocabulary evolution, we usually say that new words are coined, not invented or created. The phrase sounds a little odd because people invent machines, create stories, and discover new cures, so why do we treat new words differently? In part, the answer lies in the history of the word coin,…
When you want to describe smells in writing, it’s easy to feel lost for words. You can skip over it by saying something smelled good or bad, but shortcuts like that won’t connect with readers. Imagine describing arriving rain after a period of drought. It’s a delicate, sweet, earthy scent. Fortunately, there’s a word for…
How To Describe Smells In Writing Readers Can Sense Read More »
You’re not alone if comma usage rules drive you up the wall. It seems like there are more rules and disagreements for this tiny little punctuation mark than for any other part of grammar and writing. I’m sure you know the basic comma rules. But worrying about them when you write is an unnecessary distraction.…
Painful Comma Usage Rules Don’t Have To Stress You Out Read More »
I was very surprised to discover that Gen Z writers are reading my writing and publishing advice articles. Not only that, but they also represent the largest percentage of my readers. When I started writing, typewriters, notebooks, and pencils were the only writing tools, and telephones were rotary dial. Dial-up Internet modems came a long…
Why Gen Z Writers Are Reading Old-School Writing Advice Read More »
