Writing is everywhere. And there are different styles of writing in different formats – how to know when to use what? Let’s start with journalism.
Continue readingCategory: Writing How to be a good writer
Research: How to keep track of sources and references
Whatever kind of writing you do, there are going to be online links you need to keep track of. Here’s a simple and quick way to get your research done…
I’m currently working on a big thought leadership piece for a client. Many research papers have been looked at, many websites visited. At this point, I don’t know what information I’m going to use, or which links I’m going to use. So I need to keep all of them, just in case.
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How to pitch an article or idea to a publication
You have an idea for an article. You want to pitch it to the editor of a publication. But how do you do that?
The secret to getting a person at a publication to take note of your idea (or something you have already written) is to think like a journalist
And the first step to that is understanding that a journalist will always want to know what the “angle” is. If you can’t answer that question quickly and clearly, your story idea is dead in the water.
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How to find your writing voice
One of the more mysterious concepts in writing and editing is that of “voice”. Here’s how to find your writing voice (it can take a long time, but you’ll get there!).
The author biography in the front of Terry Pratchett novels says that he started work as a journalist one day in 1965 and saw his first corpse three hours later, work experience meaning something in those days. The bio continues:
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How to conquer writing procrastination
I had a bad bout of flu in the week running up to the writing of this post – but by Friday, I was feeling human again. Not human enough to actually sit down and start writing, though.
I dithered and told myself I needed a nap, or a cup of tea, or that there were more important things I could be doing.
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Writing, the Stephen King way
I write a blog post once a week, and an article almost every week for a corporate client. Plus fund-raising proposals and press releases and social media posts and newsletters. What I don’t do is write like Stephen King.
I’m starting to think though that I should give that a try. (I don’t mean write like Stephen King as in be a best-selling author of 64 books; I just mean I should write more than I do now, or differently from the way I do it now).
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What do proofreaders and editors do, exactly?
It’s said that everyone has a book in them. That may be true, but not everyone has the time or the courage to sit down and write it.
So if you are writing a book, all strength to you!
As you write, you might be wondering if you will ever get it published, and if you do what that will involve.
The truth? Getting something published is complicated.
Continue reading
How to be a good writer
Research: How to keep track of sources and references
Whatever kind of writing you do, there are going to be online links you need to keep track of. Here’s a simple and quick way to get your research done…
I’m currently working on a big thought leadership piece for a client. Many research papers have been looked at, many websites visited. At this point, I don’t know what information I’m going to use, or which links I’m going to use. So I need to keep all of them, just in case.
Continue readingHow to pitch an article or idea to a publication
You have an idea for an article. You want to pitch it to the editor of a publication. But how do you do that?
The secret to getting a person at a publication to take note of your idea (or something you have already written) is to think like a journalist
And the first step to that is understanding that a journalist will always want to know what the “angle” is. If you can’t answer that question quickly and clearly, your story idea is dead in the water.
Continue readingHow to find your writing voice
One of the more mysterious concepts in writing and editing is that of “voice”. Here’s how to find your writing voice (it can take a long time, but you’ll get there!).
The author biography in the front of Terry Pratchett novels says that he started work as a journalist one day in 1965 and saw his first corpse three hours later, work experience meaning something in those days. The bio continues:
Continue readingHow to conquer writing procrastination
I had a bad bout of flu in the week running up to the writing of this post – but by Friday, I was feeling human again. Not human enough to actually sit down and start writing, though.
I dithered and told myself I needed a nap, or a cup of tea, or that there were more important things I could be doing.
Continue readingWriting, the Stephen King way
I write a blog post once a week, and an article almost every week for a corporate client. Plus fund-raising proposals and press releases and social media posts and newsletters. What I don’t do is write like Stephen King.
I’m starting to think though that I should give that a try. (I don’t mean write like Stephen King as in be a best-selling author of 64 books; I just mean I should write more than I do now, or differently from the way I do it now).
Continue readingWhat do proofreaders and editors do, exactly?
It’s said that everyone has a book in them. That may be true, but not everyone has the time or the courage to sit down and write it.
So if you are writing a book, all strength to you!
As you write, you might be wondering if you will ever get it published, and if you do what that will involve.
The truth? Getting something published is complicated.
Continue reading