Category Archives: Writing Tips
A prescription for better communication
Seek first to understand. Stephen Covey (and others) said that, and I adopted it as my first rule of reporting. I hear from a lot of people — even politicians (hey y’all) — I write about, who tell me they respect my reporting, even when they feel stung by it. That means a lot, because […]
Successful SouthShore Author Meet ‘n Greet!
Thanks to everyone who came out to meet Spencer and me at the SouthShore Library Local Author event on June 12. It was a great success. We sold lots of books, signed even more and had a great time hanging out with other authors, readers and fans. Check out these pictures from the event:
3 Internet trends writers cannot ignore
In this post we are going to look at 3 Internet trends that are already having a substantial impact on your bottom line…and you may not even realize it. These trends specifically target North America, but if you want to look elsewhere, you will see that these trends are (largely) only moving at a faster […]
Spell Check 2-Step
One of my boys’ favorite shows is a PBS program called Super Why. The four main characters in the show, the “Super Readers,” are storybook characters with reading-based super-hero alter egos. One of the characters in the show is Princess Pea. Her super power is, essentially, being magically OCD about spelling. She loves to spell, […]
Help! I’m a Creative Writer
“I want to be a creative writer, but I need creative writing help.” I hear some version of that phrase at least once a week—always spoken as a whispered lament, as if asking for creative writing help was somehow shameful. When I indicate, however noncommittally, a willingness to at least listen, one or more of […]
Writer & Editor: The Perfect Team
I work with some terrific editors. And not just because they keep feeding me work (which, in turn, allows me to keep feeding my family). That’s huge, of course, but the best benefit of working with these particular folks is that they understand the difference between directing a writer and correcting a writer. Both are […]
Research is a terrific creative writing prompt
Research allows you to learn things you did not previously know. It also introduces you to worlds, ecosystems and social networks that you have little or no previous firsthand experience in. You certainly do not want to do this with your central location or story setting. But it can prove a significant writing prompt when, […]