Writing

When it comes time for serious editing, the two most popular choices are the Grammarly or Prowritingaid desktop editor. These two apps are the top choices for a writing checker and grammar corrector for most writers. There’s no doubt that if you have a premium version of either one, you know how helpful it can…

The mistakes new writers can make often occur because of not being aware of a problem. All writers, including the experienced, make mistakes, errors, and typos. But the key to good writing is knowing how to fix a problem. If you are a new writer, don’t worry. Once you understand the basics, you can improve…

The skills a writer needs can make for a long list. It includes mastering grammar, syntax, tone, and style, to name a few. New writers find the process challenging but rewarding as they discover how to use these elements to craft their own unique voices. No writer is ever truly finished, as writing is a…

What’s the novelty effect for writers? It’s a way of looking at your writing in a fresh, new, or different way. Writers tend to be creatures of habit. We do everything the same almost all the time. But changing your writing tools or routines can give you a new perspective on your writing. Simply making…

New writers face a learning curve for the many facets they need to master to write well. It takes time to understand the writing craft and learn how to structure a story, an essay, an article, or a poem. But the more you write, the better you become as you come to grips with grammar,…

Hyphens in writing are a useful punctuation tool, but they can sometimes confuse new writers. The key is understanding when they are needed and when they are not. Most of the confusion comes from compound adjectives, where you need to decide whether a hyphen is required to avoid ambiguity. Once you understand a few simple…

The origin of the idiom to vent your spleen dates back to Hippocrates in 400 BC. The belief endured until the nineteenth century that four bodily fluids controlled physical and mental qualities. Blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile were called humours. The word humour, or humor in US spelling, derives from Latin, meaning liquid…

The best writing apps for iPad are often the ones you already have installed, or free apps that help you sync with your laptop or desktop. For most writers and authors, you’re not going to replace your computer with your iPad. However, it’s a very handy backup solution when you’re traveling, on vacation, or even…

You can find so many writing rules that it can become a little confusing. I could probably list a hundred or more. But, as with all things, it’s always best to keep things as simple as possible. You can develop a routine if you have a short set of guidelines to remember and implement for…

With every sentence you write, you need to choose the correct verb. You can choose between a strong or weak verb or an active or static verb. Often it depends on collocation and an expectation of which verb will suit your sentence the best. As with all aspects of writing, you are the decision-maker. Can you…