Every writer faces similar questions when revising their words: How much revision does this need? How much time am I willing to put into it? When is the piece “good enough”? Can I hand it off to someone else to edit, clean up, and take care of? You only know when you’ve done enough if […]
Writing
Using ProWritingAid [A Software Review]
ProWritingAid Review: Short Version ProWritingAid bills itself as “a grammar guru, style editor, and writing mentor in one package.” Although it lacks the intelligence of a human editor, it’s darned good at finding weak spots and opportunities to strengthen your writing. It can certainly help you polish your prose. Long Version Software is a mixed blessing […]
Grit for Writers by Tamar Sloan [A Book Review]
Short Version Grit for Writers by Tamar Sloan is a guide to cultivating your most important attribute as a writer: grit. If you find yourself discouraged, flagging, or in doubt, you’ll find support and solid advice here. Long Version Success in writing is a long game. It takes time to build the skills, bulk up […]
Don’t Wait for an Original Idea to Write
Everyone wants to write something original. But that desire can keep us silent. Don’t let that happen to you. When talking with people who want to write a book, I sometimes hear the following worry: I have nothing compelling or original to say. This belief is based on two unfounded assumptions: There’s no point in […]
On National Book Lover’s Day, Learn to Be a Better Writer
What are you planning for National Book Lover’s Day this year? Wait, you mean it isn’t on your calendar? August 9th? Okay, I admit that I found National Book Lover’s Day through a Google search. In my family, every day is book lover’s day. We’re particularly entranced by great nonfiction books – histories, biographies, books […]
A Ten-Minute Exercise to Improve Your Writing
Do you want to be a better writer in the eyes of your readers? Consider investing ten minutes in a simple exercise. Although it may work for fiction, this one is designed for nonfiction writing. Try this for your next work-related or nonfiction writing project. Begin with a clear idea of a specific reader you […]
