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Ten Quick Tips for Inexperienced WritersV. Berba Velasco Jr., Ph.D. One of the biggest problems that inexperienced writers have is simply knowing how to get started. If you’ve unsure of your writing skills, then here are some quick tips to help you get started. 1. Get yourself a thesaurus—or better yet, two of them. These can be tremendously helpful tools when you’re struggling to find the right word. A thesaurus is no substitute for a solid vocabulary, but it is still helpful in a pinch. 2. Avoid using the same word too frequently. This can make one’s work sound repetitive. Again, a good thesaurus can be helpful in this regard. 3. Keep your sentences fairly short, since longer sentences can sound unwieldy. I’ve found that 17 words or fewer is a good guideline. Do remember that this is just a guideline, though. 4. Even as you keep the sentences short, make sure that they flow together well. Sometimes, unskilled writers will simply chop longer sentences up into shorter segments that don’t blend together smoothly. If in doubt, try rephrasing the sentences or adding the proper connective phrases e.g. “then,” “so,” “as a result”. 5. Get a copy of “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White. It’s a short book, but incredibly helpful. There is no better reference for aspiring writers. 6. Don’t rely too much on your word processor’s grammar checking features. They can be quite impressive, but their capabilities are still quite limited. Spelling checkers are also limited in their capabilities, since they cannot recognize a lot of proper names and technical terms. In addition, spell checkers cannot detect situations wherein the user has entered the wrong word in place of the proper one. 7. Proofread, proofread and proofread… over and over. When you’re done, have a friend proofread your work as well. 8. Remember your target audience. Ask yourself, “What information will my audience require in order to understand what I’m saying” 9. Avoid clever wordplay unless you’re sure that it will work. In most cases, it is best to gain more writing experience before trying something witty. 10. Remember the artists adage, “Practice, practice, practice” If you want to become good at writing, then write, write and write!
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In theory, the more articles you write, the more traffic youll receive, the more credibility youll have, the more sales youll make. Titles and Subtitles Sell Books! Does a title really sell a book The short answer is, yes. If a book does not attract a reader initially, it will be overlooked and not purchased. The book title is the element that creates the initial attraction to the book. Top Ten Tools for Writing Humor Ever want to write a funny book or a humor columnOr add spice to your newsletter editor or web page so that people read beyond the typical drivel that sends otherwise eager-to-spend customers into a boredom-induced coma How To Build A Successful Freelance Editorial Career In the current job market, many editorial freelancers have turned to freelance work as a matter of survival. I receive many queries from applicants regarding this part of the market. Addressed here are the key building blocks necessary for a successful freelance career. Defy the Myths, Get Your Book Written--Fast! - Part 1 Why dont you write a book Who Says You Are Not A Writer The other day, a client told me, “I’ve been talking to a lot of other aspiring writers and I can’t believe how unsupportive they are. I had an editor interested in something I’d written and two other writers were unbelievably negative. One said my writing wasn’t good enough for publication. Another told me that this particular magazine never publishes new writers. I was so depressed after I heard these remarks that I haven’t had the heart to send the editor anything.” Chaucers The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales Criticism of the portraits in Chaucers General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales has taken various directions : some critics have praised the portraits especially for their realism, sharp individuality, adroit psychology and vividness of felt life; others, working in the genetic direction have pointed out actual historical persons who might have sat for portraits; others appealing to the light of medieval sciences, have shown the portraits to be filled with the lore of Chaucers days and to have some typical identities like case histories. |
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