Whack Wordiness Part 3: Keep Your Writing Motor Running

May 23, 2010

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 [...]

Enjoy reading the full article →

Rules for Making Your Nonfiction Book Publishing Dreams Come True

May 16, 2010

Hopes, Dreams, and Reality  by Jerry D. Simmons Anything is possible in publishing; dream big but follow a few simple rules. First: Write your own story and never worry about a potentially hot category or bestselling style of another writer. Second: Seek professional editorial help, someone you are comfortable with who can challenge you to be [...]

Enjoy reading the full article →

Whack Wordiness Part 2: How to Stop Rambling

May 7, 2010

 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 [...]

Enjoy reading the full article →

Does What’s On Your Website Convey Trust?

May 1, 2010

By Barbara McNichol You never know when someone may contact people on your testimonial page. What are they saying about you? I eagerly detoured from my planned projects last week after receiving a “Barbara McNichol” Google Alert that commanded my attention. Lo and behold, I learned that my website made an elite list of 26 [...]

Enjoy reading the full article →

11 Ways to Sound Brilliant in Your Writing

April 22, 2010

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 [...]

Enjoy reading the full article →

Who’s This Book For, Anyway?

April 11, 2010

by Barbara McNichol Do you admire people who do what so many only dream of—write a definitive nonfiction book on a subject they care passionately about ? These experts also care enough to turn their manuscripts over to an editor for improving structure, tone, clarity, word choice, and more. Yet even with all these elements [...]

Enjoy reading the full article →

Polishing Your Manuscript

March 25, 2010

EDITING FOR SUCCESS! – by Lynnette Baum (used with permission)  Whether you are content editing or line editing, editing is the key to a polished manuscript. Content editing means reading for flow, evaluating the placement of ideas or events and ensuring that point of view is consistent, throughout. Action, stories and events should follow a [...]

Enjoy reading the full article →

What Should Go into Your Story?

March 22, 2010

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 [...]

Enjoy reading the full article →

Whack Wordiness Part 1

March 12, 2010

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 [...]

Enjoy reading the full article →

How to Write With a Knife

March 9, 2010

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 [...]

Enjoy reading the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →