A friend retired not long ago. I knew I would “see her around” occasionally, but we both understood it was the end of an era for us. The days of …
101 Writing Tips
Write a great story. Write every day. Or maybe don’t. But if you want to get paid, write every day. Hone the craft. Start small—begin with articles, blogs, and community publications. …
When You Can Break the Grammar Rules
Pablo Picasso said, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” This principle of art applies to more than paint on a canvas—skillfully applied, …
Top 10 Tips for Writers
1. Write wow content. 2. Writing is your job: Write every day—something. Be productive. Write as long as it takes to develop something worth sharing. Write when you don’t feel …
The Apollo 13 Approach to Writing
Do you remember the scene in the movie Apollo 13 where the guys at mission control scramble to find a fix—and fast—for the astronauts caught in a crippled spacecraft about …
Subtitle Mysteries
In over two dozen years of writing, I’ve faced some challenges—from ghostwriting books about organ donation and childhood sexual abuse to speechwriting for a client with no experience in public …
Four Things Dr. Grammar Hates
I had a grammar professor in college who gave you an F on a paper if you had three or more misspelled words or if you had three or more …
Turn Scholarly Papers into Understandable Articles
You may be an expert in science, engineering, or a medical field, and you have great ideas to share. But the bottom line is communication —what good is it to …
Invite the Writing Community to Take a Look
We often think of writing as a solitary activity. And often, it is. However, the most experienced writers have learned along the way to invite trusted reviewers to provide feedback. …
10 Common Mistakes of Highly Educated Writers
Highly educated writers with multiple degrees at the graduate level have almost instant credibility with their audiences before they even write or speak. Communicating the fact that they are the …