The initial outline is like a marked map, and writing the first draft is like hiking. Sometimes it’s the detours that yield the best view.
Writing Articles
Descriptive Powers: Similes, Metaphors, and Associations, Oh My!
Similes and metaphors are important tools for descriptive writing, and help writers add style to their prose.
Beyond the Dashboard—By the Numbers, By the Words
A “bestseller” isn’t the only successful book. There’s another definition of success, and it can’t be captured in numbers.
Writer or Organized Squirrel?
False starts are part of my creative process, and they sometimes generate material I wish I could use. The trick is keeping track of where I saved those unused possibilities.
The Dreaded Blank Page
Not knowing how to begin is no excuse for writerly procrastination. Here are two of my favorite ways to get myself unstuck.
Writing, Weeding, and Artificial Intelligence
Writing takes effort, but that’s a big part of the satisfaction. Even if we can automate all the hard work, should we?
Character-Driven Fiction: Perspective & Empathy
Character-driven fiction can change the way we see the world by helping us practice looking from a different perspective. It’s possible in any genre.
The Technical Edit: Five Tips for Finding & Fixing Tiny Flaws
In the final installment of this mini-series on self-editing for authors, learn how to catch the little mistakes in your writing.
The Style Edit (continued): Word Search
Part 4 of the self-editing for authors mini-series continues with some ways writers can use the search function to improve style.
The Style Edit: The Sound of Style
Part 4 of self-editing for authors touches on how listening to your work can help you refine your writing style.
The Structural Edit: Following the Thread
Part 3 in the series on how to self-edit is about refining a work’s structure to make sure the story holds together.
The Content Edit | Editing for Coherence
Part 2 of the self-editing mini-series is all about why a reader’s questions are the most valuable tool for content editing.