Do you use em dashes? Do you know what an em dash is? If you answered yes to both, you’re in good company. Lots of writers use em dashes—a lot. I definitely do—sometimes more than I should. And since too many em dashes detract from effectiveness—plus look sloppy and unprofessional—if I have more than one … Read more
Sex scenes can be challenging for any writer. Aspiring novelists, especially, struggle with how much to tell and how to tell it. Even a “sweet” or mildly sensual scene isn’t easy, and unabashed writers with no qualms about “open door” encounters find blazing-hot situations just as challenging. Writing intimacy scenes takes skill, practice, and knowing … Read more
I want to tell you a secret. You know how sometimes you should be writing, but you’re not? You might even feel guilty, and It’s always there, nagging, in the back of your head. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fiction or nonfiction writer, a poet, or a wanna-be-big-time blogger. What matters is that you … Read more
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