From the category archives:

Writing Tips

Let “Clarity” Prevail over “Convoluted” in Your Writing

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By Patrice Rhoades-Baum (used by permission) During the week of our family reunion, my brothers tuned in the animated TV show South Park. I hate to admit it, but this disreputable show makes me laugh. One episode, “Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow,” spoofs the movie of a similar name. Isn’t that title amazingly [...]

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Whack Wordiness Part 3: Keep Your Writing Motor Running

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by Barbara McNichol “Writings are useless unless they are read, and they cannot be read unless they are readable.” – Theodore Roosevelt After encouraging writers to quit rambling when crafting their paragraphs and chapters, I want to make sure you don’t stall out. What techniques can keep your motor running smoothly? Take these four tips [...]

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Whack Wordiness Part 2: How to Stop Rambling

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 By Barbara McNichol  This is the second part of a 3-part series on how to Whack Wordiness. Your comments and questions are greatly appreciated.  “Make every word work like a galley slave.” – William Zinsser Rambling in your writing often stems from muddy thinking—that is, not having a clear idea of what you want to [...]

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11 Ways to Sound Brilliant in Your Writing

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11 Smart Tips for Brilliant Writing by Dean Rieck (used with permission) Do you sound smarter when you use big words? According to a study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology , the answer is no. In fact, complex writing makes you sound small-minded. Just consider the title of the study: Consequences of erudite vernacular utilized [...]

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What Should Go into Your Story?

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I love reading Jerry’s insightful ezine, Media Minute, every Monday morning and thought his advice March 15 has something important – and somwhat contrary – to say to nonfiction writers. Leave your comments. Don’t Let Facts Get in the Way of Good Story By Jerry Brown, APR (used with permission) One of the first lessons I [...]

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Whack Wordiness Part 1

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by Barbara McNichol As you revise, proofread, and finalize what you’ve written, whack all the extra words you can to sharpen your message in compelling ways. Eliminate extraneous phrases such as: “there is” and “there will be” e.g., There will be many candidates who are already planning to move. Better: Many candidates may be already [...]

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How to Write With a Knife

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by Michelle Russell (used with permission) Think it’s impossible to write with a knife? Not at all. You might even say it’s essential. Well, to be more precise, no one actually writes with a knife. But good writers do edit with one. For them, writing involves two separate but closely intertwined mindsets: crafting their message [...]

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How to Copyedit and Proofread Your Own Writing

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Copyediting and proofreading are terms used to describe the process of examining written work for errors. While professional editors recognize some differences between the two activities, this article focuses on their similarities. To make the process accessible to beginners, the activities involved in proofreading and correcting basic errors are referred to as “copyediting.” After reading [...]

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