A friendly writing tip
November 27, 2011
Commas and Other (Basic) Punctuation Rules
Punctuation marks, like words, help to communicate thoughts. Commas are used to insert pauses in speech, include an aside, or separate items in a list of three or more. Commas can also clarify the meaning of a statement.
See the difference in meaning just by the placement of a comma:
Woman, without her man, is nothing.
Woman, without her, man is nothing.
Use colons (:) to introduce a list or a series, such as: a list of states, a list of colors, a list of flowers, etc. Use a semi-colon (;) to join two independent but related clauses; you can also use an adverb to combine these clauses.
Periods, question marks and exclamation points are the only acceptable ways to end a sentence. Sometimes an ellipsis (…) is used at the end of a sentence to indicate an unfinished thought.
Learn the basics of punctuation. More importantly, be consistent in using punctuation in your writing.
A friendly writing tip
November 13, 2011
DO judge a book by its cover
No matter how good your story, or article, might be – if no one is interested enough to read it, it will just go to waste.
Think of catchy BUT APPROPRIATE titles or headlines, an attractive cover and an intriguing blurb to interest them. Your cover (title, etc) should say something about the content of your story in order to be attractive to the people you want to draw in.
Choose a SHORT 2-3 sentence blurb about your story. Similar to an “elevator pitch”, this blurb needs to be the quick sell. Most people will not waste time deliberating whether or not to buy your book, etc. In book form this blurb will go on the back cover so that when a potential reader takes a quick look, they will be inspired to read it.
A friendly writing tip
October 16, 2011
Beat writer’s block…
Set a timer for 30-minutes and write ANYTHING so long as you are writing. You can write about your day, your dreams, your plans for your next vacation, a special memory that you have… ANYTHING.
The idea is to get the creative juices flowing and once you have the momentum, you will find it easier to just write about a chosen subject.
Sometimes it takes a simple change in your writing environment to get those words coming, so experiment with where you write and the sounds you hear (TV, music, birds chirping, etc).
Happy writing!
A Friendly Writing Tip
October 2, 2011
Keywords…
Finding the best keywords will help get attention whether you are writing a press release, a web-site, or ad copy.
Study trending topics – current news events, popular gossip historically significant dates – and select the most common keywords or “tags”. For example, if the latest immigration legislation is hitting the headlines and your story is about an immigrant, then use the tag or keyword “immigration” to garner attention.
If you can tie your information into what is currently hot in the news or prominent in the public’s mind, then you will spark a natural interest in your topic. Get yourself noticed and then you can present your entire picture on your own terms.
A friendly writing tip…
September 18, 2011
Self-Editing your work can cause you lots of unnecessary angst…
It’s a good idea to just write your first draft without worrying about spelling or punctuation. Then just put the writing to the side and “rest your eyes”.
When you are ready to begin self-editing, read your words aloud – your ears may catch something your eyes miss. Edit in segments or even work backwards so that you don’t anticipate your words.
To hone your editing skills, try editing previous works – it will also be interesting to see how your style has changed. If any of your works were published, try comparing what you submitted to what was actually printed; it’s a good way to learn preferred styles and note which writing habits need to be modified.
A friendly writing tip
August 21, 2011
Write without shame. Do not edit, do not check spelling, do not worry how the story flows. Just write.
Let your words and feelings just fall out onto the paper (or keyboard). Write, or type, the words as they come to you, try to keep up. Like a car rolling downhill, you will gain momentum as you CONTINUE to roll. Do NOT stop, just write.
After you have written your story, put it down and walk away. Take a walk, watch an inane sitcom, read SOMEONE ELSE’S novel. Free your mind.
When you come back to your UNEDITED manuscript, you are ready to check your spelling, punctuation and grammar. Read through your story to make sure it flows and reads clearly. Verify that your characters’ names are consistent throughout the book, make sure that events are in chronological order – or if you are making use of flashbacks, make sure it is clear and not confusing.
When you finish editing your manuscript, edit it again.
a friendly writing tip
July 17, 2011
Try using a thesaurus when checking definitions of words you’ve used in an article.
Find the word you are checking, substitute it with a synonym and then read it aloud.
Does it make sense? Is the thought as strong as you meant it?
A thesaurus is also a great way to keep from repeating yourself over and over again in your writing.
