Blog Entries tagged 'Writing'

Five rules for effective writing

stevenl

If you want to be clear, if you want to be quoted, using effective language must be your top priority.In today's business and politics this is hardly ever the case. In many instances, imprecise language is used intentionally to avoid taking a stance. This is hardly a recent problem, and as George Orwell wrote in his 1946 essay, Politics and the English Language, the condition is curable. By following Orwell's five rules for writing, you'll distinguish yourself from competitor [...]

Ways to kick start your writing sessions

scififan

Hey all — a few tips, for blog writing in particular, but I thought they'd be applicable to writing of all kinds — here you go!

Blogging can bring your business exposure, credibility, and whole lot more revenue - so it's in your best interest to deliver a steady stream of powerful writing. But for a lot of us, that's a tall order. If you're finding your creative juices running a little dry, this list of quick and easy tips is sure to get them flowing again. < [...]

How to Write a Book�The Short Honest Truth

scififan

Every author I know gets asked the same question: How do you write a book? Scott provides simple, basic information about writing and book and links to more practical advice.

It's a simple question, but it causes unexpected problems. On the one hand, it's nice to have people interested in something I do. If I told people I fixed toasters for a living, I doubt I'd get many inquires. People are curious about writing and that's cool and flattering. Rock on.

But on the [...]

50 great tools/tutorials to improve your writing

stevenl

Here's a fantastic selection of tools for writers of any style. This is a list of tips aimed at improving your writing skills that I cribbed from another site here. Before you start firing off submissions to publishers or you embark on that eBook writing project, do yourself a favor and review.

Writing Tool #1: Branch to the Right
Writing Tool #2: Use Strong Verbs
Writing Tool #3: Beware of Adverbs
Writing Tool #4: Period As a Stop Sign
Writing Tool #5: Observe Word [...]

The joys of (not) being published

dsendecki

Via Ron Silliman comes this opinion piece from the Guardian:

Self-publication of a neatly produced, high quality (the paper is never less than 100 gram, preferably 120 gram) booklet with a smart Photoshop cover professionally folded and stapled makes a great gift, or maybe a summary of a good year at the writing group, a fundraiser for a school, or a memorial for a special person.

Why bother to go through all the heartache and hassle of fighting to get your precious memories [...]

Stopping in to say hello!

scififan

I've pretty much not had internet access the last couple of weeks. Obviously I haven't posted much, though there seems to be interesting things happening.

I am still here though, and following goings-on as best I can. In some ways I'm really enjoying being unplugged for a couple of weeks.

I'm taking a little vacation right now, in the last six months, I've started a job, resigned, been unemployed, started another job, moved into a new apartment an [...]

My Writing Group

scififan

On Monday night, I went to a book launch. One of the members of my group, published her second book of short stories. Short fiction is a tough market to get into because it's so small.

There's something satisfying about seeing a project go from conception to published book, to hear the drafts, and to make suggestions, however small, along the way. That's one thing I like about creative writing groups-hearing someone suggest something and seeing the possibilities. I also lik [...]

Writer's block

scififan

Well, I beleive I am suffering from writer's block. And that has resulted in very little posting online, or any desire to post to my weblog. Nothing interesting to post. While it lasts at least, when I am on the Internet, I'm catching up on my favorite weblogs. So I imagine it isn't time wasted anyway.

So, summer is here! The last few days around here have been amazing. Sunday it was like 65! I'm so happy to be finally be able to throw open the shutters and let breeze ro [...]

A quick exercise

scififan

When marathoner Roger Bannister (now knighted!) crossed an Oxford finish line on a windy day in 1954, he was certain he had achieved a four-minute mile.

The rest of the world, however, was amazed. The previous record had stood for nine years and writers of the time had created a myth around the four-minute mile. They had made their readership believe it was an unreachable and possibly even dangerous goal.

So what does this have to do with my writing? Just as the media in the fifties ha [...]

My dirty secret: Multiple submissions

scififan

I have a confession to make. When I am planning to submit a story for publication, I always submit to five publications at a time. I could tell you again and again how slowly some magazines respond, so I ignore (sorry editors!) the request to avoid multiple submissions. When an editor holds and then later rejects, a submission after 3 years, one learns quickly that one must look out for themselves. I have been told that they are lost, won't be retuned (after keeping my SASE), that they [...]

Writer's Group

scififan

I should probably start thinking about joining a writer's group to keep me disciplined during the summer months. Early on, colleagues had invited me to join groups, but I always declined because I didn't feel that I was at that stage yet. I wanted to focus on my own writing, and not have to devote time to reading other people's work-aside from the novels I was already reading.

I was considering a group based near my home. In addition to its regular monthly meeting, it splits [...]

In the mailbox...

scififan

I always get a really deep sinking feeling when I get my SASE's back—my gut drops out. Today I got two, one from a spec fiction magazine, and another from a speculative literature agent. But, to my surprise, both were requests—not acceptances, of course, but requests to see more work! The latter is actually from the literary agent's assistant, who passed the query along to another agent who wants the full ms. No more sinking feelings after all!

On an unrelated n [...]

Finally making some great progress ...

scififan

Finally making some great progress on several projects. I suspected this might happen; I got a lot of writing done today.

One of strongest points as a writer is that I can write excellent action sequences-coupled with the software I blogged about before, this has mean I can concentrate on the action of the scene, rather than the plot or character (I've loosely plotted beforehand). I can see thse scenes played out in my head, and when I get down to writing, it's like I am transcr [...]

Writing Software

scififan

No, not that kind of software; I mean the kind of software that will help you with your writing. One that helps you get � and stay � organized.

For someone who writes, any little thing that may help has got to be a good thing. And this is greater than your average little thing. I can't rememebr where I found this piece of [...]

Forgetting how to do my job

scififan

Imagine going to work one day only to forget how to do your job.

I have determined that I'm suffering from writer's block. I have a lot to say, but I just don't have the energy to struggle for the words that normally come easily. So, that's cool. I'll take a break from any real writing, and just surf the net and/or do nothing at all.

Do you know the longest word that can be spelt on the top row of a QWERTY keyboard?

It's 'typewriter'. The keyb [...]

Getting organized!

scififan

I took Thursday off from work. I needed a day where I didn't have to sit at the computer, answer the phone or any questions.

Usually after a day like that I rush home, scarf some food down and try to get a couple hours of writing in.

Instead of doing that, I slept in until 8am (when I was younger I never would have thought that one day I would consider waking up at 8am, [...]

Writing Goals

scififan

So I'm trying to write more. And that brings me to the point of this blog, if not the point of this particular entry. I'm going to start setting, and tracking goals for my work and my writing -- and post them to this blog.

I remember reading once that most writers will use any excuse they can find to not write. I'm prone to this, I can't write when my girlfriend is home. Even when she is occupied with other activities, the possibility that she could interrupt keeps me fr [...]