Category Writing Tips

The 10 Most Common Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

November 10, 2012 Learn the Craft, Writing Tips  No comments

When you are a writer, you are in control of your own business, your own workload and your own money. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you know how to properly manage all of these aspects. It can be difficult to manage the business side of your career as well as the quality of your actual writing. Mistakes are bound to happen.

Here are some of the most common mistakes writers make, so you can learn from them without having to make them yourself.

1. Procrastination – When you give in to procrastination, you just place more stress on yourself later. You’ll end up writing lower-quality work and missing opportunities. Instead, set up a work schedule you can stick to so you’re not tempted put assignments off.
2. Editing While You Write – As you are writing, you may feel like you needRead More

Interview with Author Matthew Farrer

November 8, 2012 Writing Tips  4 comments

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently had the distinct pleasure of being able to interview the fantastic science fiction author Matthew Farrer.

Matt is reknowned author who is noted for his works within the Warhammer 40,000 universe, published by Black Library.

Be sure to check out his works at www.blacklibrary.com and his latest work Strange Flesh set in the Android universe.

1. can you please tell us a bit about yourself in your own words, who are you?

Canberra-born, Canberra-raised, middle-class public service drone who stays up too late and procrastinates too much. I think that gets the basics out of the way.

2. When did you first start writing and what attracted you to it?

I’ve been storytelling for as long as I can remember. I used to act out all manner of multi-part, cast-of-thousandsRead More

What is News?

November 1, 2012 Writing Tips  No comments

In today’s media news-based market the definition of which events, people and stories qualify as news has become as murky as a muddy river.

What am I talking about? I’m talking about news: what it is, what it has become and what is should be.

Most magazines, newspapers, broadcast and cable news channels cover a wide variety of what each of the establishment considers “news” for the 21^st century market place.

The truth is most of it isn’t news. Most of what is being reported in the magazines and on news channels, and to a certain extent in newspapers, isn’t news. What is it? Well, its pop culture.

Here’s a hint for budding journalists, the following items SHOULD not be considered news:

• Anything having to do with celebrities (unless a celebrity is running for politicalRead More

Ghostwriting: more tips for you

November 1, 2012 Writing Tips  2 comments

Hi! Where have I been? Fighting with an unresponsive ghostwriting client, who is currently in breach of our contract. I’ve got new advice for you, though!

1. Express your needs, as the writer, up front, in writing, as part of the contractual agreement. Just as an example: make sure you have client feedback written into your contract. Why? If you’re writing autobiographical material, you’re telling the story of someone else’s life. They can’t abdicate involvement in telling their personal story.
2. Do not start work until you have the down payment check in your hand. Get a down payment on your work; I can’t emphasize this enough.
3. Have payment schedules/and a list of who has access to what sensitive information set up before you begin work.
4. If I haven’t said this before, I’ll do it now. Do notRead More

How to Schedule Your Day for Freelance Writing

October 31, 2012 Writing Tips  2 comments

Ah, freelance writing. Such a wonderful career because you get to create your own schedule and be your own boss. But sometimes, the freedom can harm your career. How many times a day do you surf the internet when you should be writing. How many TV breaks do you take, or naps? How are you supposed to get any work done? It takes hard work, dedication and scheduling.

Why You Need a Schedule

People with 9-to-5 jobs  work because they have to. They have a set time to come in, to take breaks, to eat and to leave. Work days are scheduled like this to ensure maximum productivity. Why should writing be any different?

To get the most out of your day, you need to decide how much you should get done every day and when you should do it. Otherwise, you’re bound to get sucked into the rabbit hole ofRead More

Reel in the Right Blog Fans

October 24, 2012 Goals for Writers, Writing Tips  No comments

So, you’ve decided to take your passion (and expertise) to the next level. It might seem easy enough to throw up a blog and sit back and wait for the fans to roll in. After all, there are plenty of free blogging sites out there, or maybe you even subscribe to a few favorites yourself. How hard could it be?

Plenty difficult, it turns out. The point is, there are a lot of blogs out there. So how do you get yours to stand out? Maybe you’ve just dabbled in writing and this is more about sheer passion than building a following or making an income. No matter what your goal, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.

Building Your Brand

Blogs are mean to be easily digestible, fun to read and catchy. Would you read a blog, no matter how helpful, if it were dry or rambling? Probably not.Read More

The Secrets of Highly Successful Bloggers

October 23, 2012 Learn the Craft, Writing Tips  4 comments

The best bloggers aren’t necessarily the best writers. They’re the ones who connect best with their audiences.

All highly successful bloggers have this trait in common. They write posts that inspire impassioned responses, whether the reader loves the ideas being espoused or hates them.

If you want your blog to join this upper echelon of hugely popular blogs, pay close attention to these tips.

Take Chances with Your Topics

There are millions of blogs out there. What makes someone want to read yours? To grab a reader’s attention, you have to have something interesting to say. Don’t repeat the same stuff over and over again; that bores the reader.

Instead, take a few risks with your content. Write about a controversial topic. Write a counterpoint to an opinion you saw on another blog.Read More

Journalism Ethics

October 21, 2012 Writing Tips  One comment

Given my last post, I thought it would be a good idea to talk journalistic ethics.

Let’s begin, shall we? What does this mean?

There are a lot of definitions out there and they get pretty lengthy. Here is what the Society of Professional Journalists has to say about ethics. It’s a pretty interesting read, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Well, journalists are more than writers. They are gatekeepers. They have people’s personal, professional information and they have the power to expose some of the darkest secrets in the world. This position of power that some journalists find themselves in (depending on the subject of their writing) can be good and can be bad.

On the one hand journalists have a responsibility to expose and report the truth and the news to eager citizens. A greatRead More

Just the Facts

October 11, 2012 Writing Tips  No comments

Warning: This blog post isn’t really about advice. This time the topic is about journalism ethics. I’m starting a very important conversation (hopefully you all will be compelled to contribute—think about it) about the HBO show The Newsroom.

Have you seen it? (You should.)

Here’s a basic run down of the essential plot: A nightly cable news show (think any prime time program on CNN, MSNBC or FOX) receives a major overhaul with a new EP (executive producer). The new EP (executive producer), with the help of her transplant team and the eventual corporation of the anchor/star/managing editor of the show, transforms the hour of news this team commands. The EP produces a news show that is a throwback to those times when an American family gathered around the ole’ black and white tubRead More

Being an Editorial Intern

October 8, 2012 Writing Tips  No comments

This lovely Sunday afternoon, at least I hope it’s lovely for you, I will be broaching the topic of what it’s like to be an editorial intern for a magazine.

I’ve had numerous journalism-based internships and I have loved them all, equally. Why? Mostly because I love journalism and everything it entails—interviewing, researching, writing and working on a deadline. Journalism is a passion of mine.

Much like other writers live for developing an intricate story with the plot twists to entertain the masses, I live for the news and deadlines.

One of my most recent journalism internships was with Green Living AZ Magazine. I was an editorial intern and as such worked directly with the magazine’s editor-in-chief.

During my semester long internship I did a lot, well it felt like a lot. IRead More