What’s your favorite excuse for not doing something you really want to do? Like writing, for example. No matter what kind of writer you are—blogger, freelancer, creative writer or novelist—you’re probably prone to making excuses when you don’t feel like sitting at your desk or table and tapping out letters and words. Or on your … Read more
Do you follow a style guide? Do you know which one you should use? Lots of writers have questions about grammar and punctuation or, if you’re like me, sometimes you forget the rule for unusual situations you rarely see or use. Or you know the rule changed, but you need to make sure. Just a … Read more
Writing blog posts is a breeze. You smile as you add the final touches and lean back. There. All done. Confident that this post is The Post That Makes You Famous, you look it over one more time. And fear takes over. You shrug it off—you’ve been writing blog posts for a while now. This … Read more
If you’re a blogger, especially if you’re new, you might struggle to generate ideas for blog posts. Or you’re worried you don’t know enough about your subject. That you’re not expert enough. That people won’t believe you if you challenge popular beliefs. Maybe it’s a lack of confidence or that nagging negative voice. But sometimes … Read more
We are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for. Most things are not as impossible as we think. The only way to find out is to try. —Scott Dinsmore Someone I didn’t know died in a freak accident a few days ago. I got the news from someone else I don’t … Read more
You’re in shock. The blog post you thought was brilliant just…flopped. Sometimes it’s a busy time of year, and people don’t have time to read. And then it gets some fairly good search engine traffic later on, but it never becomes uber-popular. Or maybe—sometimes you’ll have to admit it—the post just plain old sucks rocks. … Read more
Need to kick-start a writing session or break through writer’s block? Photo prompts are a great way to go. If you’re a creative writer, you’ve probably heard of them and might have used them. If you’re a non-fiction writer or a blogger, especially if you’re just getting started, it might be a new thing. But … Read more
Many writers would rather communicate by email than phone if given a choice. It’s writing, after all, and email gives you a chance to think about what you’ll say and how you’ll say it. Plus, you can check email and respond when you’re ready. Who wants an interruption just when you’re getting in the flow? … Read more
The blank page stares back at you. Suddenly, smacking your head against a wall sounds like a good idea. You rock back and forth. You rub your chin and start picking at cuticles. Maybe you crack your knuckles. And the minutes tick by as you ponder the meaning of writer’s block. How do I start … Read more
Avoiding gender bias in your writing might be the last thing you’re worried about. You’re not biased about anything, right? Wrong. We’re all biased, and sometimes we’re not even aware of it. “Bias” isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. It can simply mean having a preference for one thing over another—a leaning, an outlook, an … Read more