Which word is it? Today’s writing tip comes as a result of a reader’s request. English has many words that sound the same, and yet they are spelled differently. This can be very difficult to handle if you are not careful. Today we are talking about the words their, there, and they’re.  These words are often interchanged mistakenly. So how do you remember the difference between these pesky...

This has been one of my favorite writing tips since I was a child. Consider the following sentence, and ask yourself which sentence you would use on a day to day basis: You and me should go to the movie tonight. or You and I should go to the movie tonight. I know this is intense. This is the type of grammar discussion that comes up at the dinner table over Mac & Cheese. Which one of these sentences is written...

To its or not to its, that is the question This is another one of those writing tips that is often ignored. One of the most common grammar mistakes made is that of it’s versus its. Do you put that stinking little apostrophe in there or not? That is the question. How often have you either second-guessed your own writing, or read someone else’s where this error just stuck out painfully? Well, the...

One of the most powerful writing tips you can apply relates to adverbs. Adverbs are the words that you use to describe verbs when the verb itself isn’t descriptive enough for you. You probably know adverbs as the words that end in -ly. When used properly, an adverb adds value to the sentence (specifically to the word it modifies). When it isn’t used properly, it sounds like poor writing. Here is...

We all need writing tips, no matter how experienced you are. If anything, they serve as a reminder to not over indulge. In most cases, its important that you understand the basics before you can really move on to advanced techniques anyway. As a matter of fact, when you find yourself stuck or hard pressed to write something, it might just be because you are trying to do too much. So, here is a suggestion. When...

Use the active voice in your writing. This means that the subject of your sentence is doing the action, and the action isn’t being done to it. This means that the subject of your sentence is what is doing what the verb says. Some writers write in the passive voice, meaning that the subject of the sentence is not performing the verb. This creates a weak and a vague sentence. This kind of sentence is less...

One of the most common grammar errors a writer can make is mistaking the word “a” for “an,” or vice versa. This is also one of the most painful blunders a reader can endure. Remember, if your writing leaves the reader distracted, or makes him pause to consider your grammar, he isn’t reading, and he isn’t thinking about your story. So when do you use “a” versus...

Writing a novel? Writing Science Fiction or Fantasy? Here are some useful websites to help you submit your work properly: Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America:  www.sfwa.org SFWA Bulletin Professional journal:   www.sfwa.org/bulletin Writer Beware Anti-scam site:   www.sfwa.org/beware Yog’s Law:   www.sff.net/people/yog Asimov’s guidelines:   www.asimovs.com/info/guidelines.shtml Analog’s...

As a writer, new ideas are critical for your success. Everyday I wake up at six am and try to come up with something that I can write for this blog, for example. But how do you keep the ideas coming? Here is a quick list of sources of inspiration for your writing: Scan the newspaper for current events Watch TV or advertisements (too much of this has the opposite effect) Take a walk (don’t take anything...

Writer’s “Cheat Sheets” I recently found an awesome writing tip over at inkalicious. Read below for the content, and a link. For those of you who are analytical and need a pattern or formula to help get you going, inkalicious has come up with some great writing tips that I have relsited below. PLOTTING: Polti’s 36 Dramatic Situations •01. Supplication: Persecutor, Suppliant, Authority...