Leah If you’ve ever wondered, “What’s the difference between editing and proofreading?” you’re not alone. Many writers and business owners are confused by the terminology. And what about copyediting? Then there’s (deep breath): developmental editing, substantive editing, structural editing, stylistic editing, line editing, project editing, technical editing, fact-checking… and yes, even proofreading is sometimes (incorrectly) called … Read more
Content writing isn’t just for big businesses and professional content writers—it’s for anyone who writes articles or blog posts. You might be a book author, an industry expert, a niche blogger, or someone who just wants more of an online presence for work or fun. High-quality content is interesting and useful. It grabs attention, … Read more
AI tools like ChatGPT can be intimidating and confusing. If you’re not already using AI for writing, you’ve probably wondered, What is ChatGPT? What’s it for? Should I check it out? Is it ethical? ChatGPT is a super-smart friendly robot that will help you with almost anything. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to understand … Read more
If you want everyone to know you’re a newbie blogger—or you don’t get out much—call a blog post a “blog.” I’m writing a blog today. I get paid to write blogs. How long should a blog be? I started seeing “blog” used like this 7-8 years ago, but it’s much more widespread now. It’s typically … Read more
Seems like everybody’s talking about writing schedules, writing habits, and writing challenges these days. Newsletters from the many blogs and podcasts I follow are cramming my inbox with topics like how to draft an outline in xx days, why you’ve fallen off the writing wagon, or how to fulfil your writing dream. And that’s exactly … Read more
Keeping up with the news keeps you informed. But you can also use it to improve your self-editing skills by intentionally looking for mistakes or confusing writing. I know, I know. You’re tired of the news. You don’t have time or it’s too distracting or upsetting. Or you watch it on TV. But reading the … Read more
What’s not to love about free writer tools? For starters, even if you prefer to write rough drafts in longhand—pen and paper—all writers eventually need word processing software of some kind. Sure, MS Word is the standard. But if a yearly subscription for Microsoft 365 puts a dent in your budget—or you just don’t like … Read more
Need some writing motivation but can’t seem to make it happen on your own? Well, there are all sorts of sneaky tricks you can use, like Camp NaNoWriMo which starts April 1. It’s the best way I know of to kick your fingers into motion. Do you know what it is? Most of you probably … Read more
Every writer knows focus is the name of the game. Some writers need absolute quiet and privacy. Others kick out the jams and let ‘er rip almost anywhere. You might need an entire day to write a few pages, while someone else pumps out 10,000 words in the same amount of time. Either way, you’re … Read more
The first few pages of a manuscript—even a paragraph or two of an article or blog post—make an announcement: This writer is a reader. Or not. It’s easy to see the difference. A non-reader’s opening pages often lack clarity or they’re a backstory info-dump. They might be muddled with too much description or head-hopping (mixed … Read more