Writing is an Art & As Such, Deserves Respect
Have you ever considered whether writing as a trade should be considered an art or craft? I know I have. Sometimes, when orders are bland and mundane, I can’t seem to find the artistic element, or at least it’s hidden among the SEO demands and the practical purpose of the ordered content. However, when it […]
Grammar Apps for Adults
When is the last time you flipped through a grammar guide as a writer? Not in years? Well, shame on you! Just kidding. For most professional writers grammar wordbooks and paperback guides are long gone with the wind. Sure we all have “The Elements of Style” on the shelves, but considering you write wherever and […]
How to Edit Your Own Writing – It’s as Easy as Cutting Your Own Hair
Editing your own writing is a lot like cutting your own hair – do it right, and the results look like you trimmed each strand with care. Do it wrong, though, and it will look like you made the cuts with hedge trimmers. Editing Your Own Writing in 11 Easy Steps 1. Wait a darn […]
Deep-Seated or Deep-Seeded? Which is the Way to Write
Sometimes there is a turn of phrase that twists itself on your tongue. You aren’t quite sure which way it’s really spelled but it sounds the same however you say it. But when it comes to writing it, well, that’s where you want to get it right. Check out the deeply seated metaphor that is […]
How to Crush Writer’s Block
Why won’t the words come? I’ve been sitting at the computer for an hour, with the cursor and I just blinking at each other. I splatter a few awful phrases onto the page, and then delete them before spewing out a bit more garbage. I have writer’s block. I’m not alone. Writer’s block is the […]
Content Strategy: How in the World Do You Make Words Work for You?
Everybody knows you need content to make the world go ’round these days. But it’s not just about putting any content out into the world; it’s about putting great content into cyberspace—the kind of words that’ll show your audience that you’re an authority figure in your industry. You need the kind of words that will not only attract audiences […]
How Many Is “A Lot?”
A lot of us are still stuck in this early web 2.0 mentality of trying to reach everyone. Fifteen years ago we all had our minds blown by the fact that you could make a video in your living room, throw it up onto the internet, and get millions of views. Why not try and compete for […]
Horace Henry Hart’s Handy Rules for Writers
When I was on the mad dash to find out who was the guilty Brit responsible for the Oxford comma, I came across an interesting character. Horace Henry Hart, with his impressively alliterative name, was the son of a shoemaker and the author of “Hart’s Rules for Compositors and Readers.” No, this isn’t your “The […]
Miranyms and Moses Illusions, My, Oh, My!
I have to make a confession. My name is Miranda, and my son’s name is Moses. Now, do you see how amazing it was when I stumbled across the literary concepts of miranyms and Moses illusions? Of course, you do! So here we have two of the most interesting literary terms you’ll read about today. […]
Writer Tools for Success: Proofreading
In a perfect world, you would never have to proofread your own work. You could pass each assignment to an editor to receive insightful feedback and ideas for improvement. Your brain would delight in this arrangement as it is notoriously difficult to see your own spelling, grammar, and style mistakes. While proofreading, your brain focuses […]
From Comma Butterflies to Bracketing Bros: Commas of Modern Times
Have you ever witnessed a comma butterfly in flight? Oh yes, Reader, there is indeed a comma butterfly, and it may well be the coolest comma of them all. If you have seen this butterfly, you will recall the ragged, irregular edge of its wings—beneath which silverish commas are hiding. The comma butterfly, of the […]
Opening the Lines of Communication: How to Encourage a Long-Term Relationship with the Right Freelancers
Freelancers can be a powerful resource for today’s business professional or startup founder. With the use of the right freelancer, it’s possible to free up more of your time, improve the finished product you provide to your customer and do it all on a tight schedule. However, the only way for you to get the […]