Leah A common question fiction writers ask is, “What does show, don’t tell mean?” Writers have asked me in email or on Facebook, and I’ve heard it in local writing groups. Online writing forums. Twitter. Everywhere. Here’s an easy way to understand show, don’t tell. You’ve heard of online dating, right? Of course you have. Bumble, … Read more
You’ve probably heard of misplaced modifiers. But do you know what they are? A lot of writers have trouble understanding them because they’re confusing and difficult to spot. But if you take time to understand them—and avoid them in your writing—you’ll be less likely to confuse your readers. What is a modifier? A modifier is … Read more
That old scourge of many a writer: writer’s block. Is it really a thing? Or is it all in your head? I’ll give it to you straight: writer’s block is really a thing, and yes, it’s all in your head. Where else could it be? But “all in your head” doesn’t mean writer’s block is … Read more
Have you thought about paragraphs lately? If you’re a blogger or a copywriter, chances are good you think about them regularly. One, two, or three sentences—four is stretching it. And if you believe all blog post “paragraphs” should consist of one sentence only, you don’t have much to think about. If you’re an essayist or … Read more
Do you struggle to start a novel? You might have heard that the first line and paragraph of your novel are super important, which only piles on the pressure. I know the feeling, and I’ll bet most authors fret over those first few sentences and paragraphs. I wonder how long George Orwell thought about his … Read more
Freelancers, bloggers, fiction writers, non-fiction writers, novelists, creative writers… No matter what you call yourself, no writer wants to look like a beginner, even if you are. But here’s the thing. Regardless of your expertise or experience level, writing mistakes don’t look good. Readers expect certain rules and conventions in quality writing, and if you’re … Read more
Most writers, at some point or another, wonder whether to use that or which. You might try it one way and then another to see what sounds better, then you change it back, but something’s still wrong. So you add a comma or two, but that doesn’t sound right either. It’s enough to drive you … Read more
If you want to write better blog posts—as a hobby, for your own business, as an author, or as a freelance writer—you know keeping up with the ever-changing rules, apps, expectations, and algorithms in the blogosphere can feel almost impossible. But becoming the best blog post writer you can be is entirely within your control. … Read more
If you use the same kinds of sentences over and over, your writing will be as monotonous as the steady beat of a bass drum with no other percussion or instruments seen or heard. But if you jazz things up with a snare drum, tom-toms, hi-hats and cymbals and change up the beat for different … Read more
When it comes to creative ventures (or athletic pursuits!), here are a few things I’ve learned about my writing priorities. Output decreases in direct proportion to (unrelated) input. In other words, when your mind is cluttered with unrelated information coming in from the outside world, it’s hard to access your inner creative world. The latest … Read more