William Zinsser on Adjectives
The adjective that exists solely as decoration is a self-indulgence for the writer and a burden for the reader. … make your adjectives do work that needs to be done. —William Zinsser, On Writing Well
The adjective that exists solely as decoration is a self-indulgence for the writer and a burden for the reader. … make your adjectives do work that needs to be done. —William Zinsser, On Writing Well
Are you feeling stuck or frustrated in reaching your writing goals? Like you’re hitting the same brick wall, but you can’t seem to identify what that brick wall is? Today I’m going to look at 2 things many people don’t stop to think about, yet have a profound impact on reaching your goals. Your mind…
As I write this, I’m sitting in my son’s living room, located in beautiful Colorado Springs. This past weekend, I attended PenCon, a conference for editors. Yes, editors need conferences just like writers. I can’t say enough good things about this conference organized by Kathy Ide and members of The Christian Pen. I heard terrific…
I’m blogging over at the Palmetto Christian Writers Network today. Come join me for 5 Steps to Capture and Keep the Editor’s Interest.
We’ve all met them: Miss Sunshine, Mr. Easy Going, Mrs. Bossy, and Ms. Perfectionist. We often chalk it up to “that’s just who they are,” but these titles describe specific temperaments. If you’re not careful, they can become stereotypes. The Merriam-Webster Unabridged Collegiate Dictionary defines temperament as “characteristic or habitual inclination or mode of emotional…
All great novels contain a strong story premise. Briefly, let’s review novel essentials: Strong premise Conflict Protagonist Antagonist Goals Stakes The premise is your story idea stated in 2-3 sentences. Can you refine it into an elevator pitch? It often becomes a part of
Last week I posted the submission guidelines to 6 magazines. I do this on a regular basis. Why? Because writing for periodicals is one of the best ways to hone your writing skills. Today’s guest, multi-published author Ava Pennington, has a great deal of expertise in this area and is here today to discuss 6…