Writing

Almost everyone is familiar now with AI (artificial intelligence) and its ability to provide answers, create images, and even videos. For writers, however, the ability of AI to produce text is the most worrisome. All it takes is a quick prompt, and it can output 1,000 words on any topic in seconds. Naturally, this creates…

The causative is an extremely useful tool for fiction writers. It lets you show the influence of one character over another, such as for control, persuasion, or cooperation, instead of telling your reader. The grammatical structure, sometimes called causative verbs, quickly shows what one character causes another to do without writing long, complex sentences. While…

The first draft of a short story, novel, or even an article or poem is only for you. Terry Pratchett once said, “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.” It doesn’t matter if you are a plotter and work with an outline or a panster (a writer who flies by the seat…

One of the most powerful tools a writer possesses is the ability to craft word order. Sure, you might think that grammar rules control most aspects, but this is not entirely true. Apart from some standard rules, such as subject-verb-object (SVO), as a writer, you have plenty of options to rearrange words to suit your…

What your characters say in fiction drives your story, but you have two ways to do it. You can use dialogue or reported speech. Active dialogue is the most common. “You never listen to me!” she shouted. However, you can also use reported speech to summarize a character’s words quickly. She told him he had…

When you need to describe pain in writing, relying on adjective phrases alone often isn’t enough. Pain is complex because it is more than just a feeling. It’s a mixture of emotional and physical sensations that lie unseen below the surface. That’s why metaphors can be useful in making pain more relatable for readers. They…

When someone says something was delivered in spades, they refer to an experience or service that exceeded expectations. It’s a phrase that suggests generosity or excellence far beyond the normal. But what are the origins of the expression? And how does it compare to other ways of describing excess or plenty? What does deliver in…

Writing rules are useful guides, but they are not fixed laws. In fact, many writing rules can be broken without damaging your style or your clarity. Knowing the rules of grammar and writing is important, but skilled writers also know when to bend or break them. When you use them well, this flexibility can make…

Free AI tools can help writers save time, organize ideas, and simplify routine writing tasks without changing the way they write. There are now hundreds of AI apps available, but most writers only need a few reliable tools that can help improve productivity and workflow. The key is learning how to use AI as an…