Here be dragons!
Write a paragraph about something you did today. Make it at least 4 sentences. Now take out the first sentence and the last sentence. How necessary is the middle? Do those sentences say enough to stand on their own? Think about the construction of the paragraph. Why you chose to put one sentence first, then … Read more
Do you want a hot mug of coffee or do you want a mug of hot coffee? Do you watch your word placement as you write and edit? Make sure you are describing a hot coffee and not a hot mug. Something like “I’m an antique lover.” Works in conversation, spoken words have tone to … Read more
Being a writer is about using focus and angles. You keep your focus but you use up all the angles you can find. For instance, take a topic like Christmas. How over done is that? Could you find something new to say about Christmas (a new angle) without forgetting who you are writing for and … Read more
I’ve always found headlines fun, a kind of challenge but a freedom to be a bit daring, wild and just plain contrary. You can pick something a bit misleading, something humourous, something argumentative or whatever appeals to you at the time. The point is to catch the reader’s attention and draw them into the article. … Read more
Do you wake up in the morning with the plot for the world’s greatest novel formulating in your brain? Not every morning, but about once a week I do. Often when I’m in the middle of something else: driving, showering, putting away groceries, watching TV, talking on the phone, making dinner, plotting my greatest ever … Read more
You’ve got the greatest idea! It’s sure to be a billion dollar blockbuster, rivaling Stephen King and that other writer whose name you can’t quite remember though it’s on the tip of your tongue. But, is your idea a good one, really? Some of our ideas seem really super charged at the time, when we … Read more
We’re writers, we know the words, so why is it so tough to write a query letter? Why do we second guess every word on that page? Why do we agonize over the punctuation, the grammar and the spelling? Why do we “just die” when we realize a typo was missed in our proofreading of … Read more
The best quotes are those that dazzle and enlighten with one sentence. That quick one two punch that leaves you thinking. Quotes wandering along into two, three or more sentences loose their power. You have to read them and think as you’re reading. It spoils the effect. Condensing your sentences, your whole essay, story, whatever … Read more
Spelling is tricky all on it’s own. When you throw in different languages and cultures it gets down right complicated. First, consider English and American spelling. Then throw in Canadian spelling, which is some combination of the two. Same for other countries in the commonwealth. Have you seen words spelt with an s instead of … Read more
In the columnist message boards at BackWash, someone said “Don’t you just love the media.” They meant it sarcastically in reference to how an interview was handled. But, what they didn’t consider is that WE ARE the media. I think a lot of writers take shots at ‘the media’ and forget to count themselves among … Read more