Writing Tips
Write using your 5 senses — Ruth L. Snyder
A phrase we hear often as writers is “Show, don’t tell.” One way we can do this more effectively is to include descriptions using all five senses. “Sensory words paint vivid pictures that relate to the five senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste. In fiction, non-fiction and poetry, they serve as a type of shorthand… Read more »
On Writer’s Block: Help for writers who need it — Carolyn Wilker
Have you ever had a day that you couldn’t write? When the blank computer screen seems to taunt you? You’re not alone. Books and articles have been written on the topic, telling writers how to break free of it and what to do when it hits.
Write what you know — Nikki Rosen
I’ve heard it said many times….’write what you know.’ Writing what we know can be a good springboard for developing stories that have impact. It’s what Harper Lee did. She penned one book – one book only – but that one book, To Kill a Mockingbird, has been read and reread and even made into… Read more »
Stay in the Cave: Extended Metaphors — Pam Mytroen
We drove past many huge billboards for caves in the Black Hills, South Dakota, but until we explored one, I would have never known how cool and tingly my skin felt at 48 degrees in the cave when it was a scorching 96 degrees outside. That’s what writing an extended metaphor is like.
The Value of a Dictionary — Carolyn Wilker
When did you last open a dictionary? Was it to make sure you`ve spelled a word correctly? To check the meaning of a word you didn’t know? Or to make sure it was the right word for the context. If you didn’t have a dictionary on your desk, did you search an online dictionary
3 Sweet Tips for Creating Delicious Headlines — Pam Mytroen
Cherry on top or the whole sundae? Jeff Goins, writer, weighs in heavily on the power of a headline: “So often, the headline is the most neglected part of writing an article. People (writers) just gloss over it without taking much time to consider it. In their minds, it’s the cherry on top. No, Friends…. Read more »
3 Editing Tips to Eliminate Extra Words — Carolyn Wilker
You’ve looked through the guidelines and editor’s notes a second time after researching, outlining and writing the article, and you realize there’s one thing you missed, or forgotten. There are at least a hundred more words than the editor wants.
Success After 600 Rejection Slips — Nikki Rosen
I read the book in school and loved it. It was a story set in nature….of a wolf….and seeing things from the animal’s perspective. But the story wasn’t only about an animal…it was about human nature…and violence, decency and redemption.
How to Write a Cozy Mystery Novel — Brenda Wood
So you want to write a mystery novel? There is a really simple formula making the rounds now. Betsy, the heroine (yes it is always a she) just moved to a small town from the big city, leaving her jilted lover behind. He will harass her at some future point by interrupting her new love… Read more »
Writers and Idioms — Carolyn Wilker
You might recognize this saying, a feather in your cap, or you may have never heard the term. Meaning of the Idiom According to the Oxford Dictionary of Idioms, a “feather in your cap” came from the late 17th century and originally meant a sign of foolishness