19Jul/18
Ghostwriter, Developmental Editor, Book Coach, Editor – What’s the Difference?
If you sit down and try to come up with a definition of ghostwriter, you may find it trickier than you ever imagined.
06Mar/18
10 Habits of Successful Book Writers
As a professional writer with dozens of published books to my credit, I can tell you with absolute certainty that writing a book is not an easy, toss-off task.
07Jun/17
Copy Editor or Proofreader? Which to Use and When
Copyeditor or proofreader – which one do you need to polish your manuscript? What’s the difference between the two, and do you need them both?
31Aug/11
Readable Writing Review: Write in Regular Old English
When you’re in the process of putting words to paper, remember that writing is pretty much like speaking, only you do it with ink, not vocal cords. So follow these simple rules forRead More…
21Aug/11
Readable Writing Rule #12: Accentuate the Positive
Can you? Of course you can! What tone should you use when writing self-help books for the popular press? Upbeat and positive. Always. Readers want to know what works They want toRead More…
21Aug/11
Readable Writing Rule #11: Stick Your Neck Out
Speaking your mind can be frightening, but… Imagine that you are sitting at your desk, reading a new book on the benefits of exercise. Would you follow the exercise plan if theRead More…
25Mar/11
Readable Writing Rule #10: Organize Your Material Logically
It says here, “connect ‘Idea A’ with ‘Idea B,’ then… Describing your idea to your readers is kind of like putting together one of those “you assemble” computer desks that come in a box, completeRead More…
24Mar/11
Readable Writing Rule #9: Tell Us What You’re Talking About
Say What?! If you read this sentence, “He developed high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, something he had never had before,” would you know which ailment was new? The high blood pressure,Read More…
17Mar/11
Readable Writing Rule #8: Don’t Over-Love Yourself
Can you be too humble and modest in your writing? If such an inferior writer as myself may be permitted to offer an opinion, I would hesitantly venture to say yes, although I would immediatelyRead More…
14Mar/11
Readable Writing Rule #7: Skip The Jargon
Experts know all the buzz words and abbreviations, but most readers won’t. For example, foreign policy experts know “MAD” stands for the Mutual Assured Destruction,” which was long our nation’s for preventing nuclear war.Read More…
11Mar/11
Readable Writing Rule #6: Favor the Active Voice
Which is better, the active or passive voice? When writing a non-fiction book, should you write about the actor, or the action? In other words, should you use the active voice or theRead More…
09Mar/11
Readable Writing Rule #5: Combine For Clarity
Can sentences be too short? Yes. Too-tiny sentences can be annoying because they spread a modest amount of information across several sentences. Making your sentences too small forces you to add unnecessaryRead More…
07Mar/11
Readable Writing Rule #4: Toss Extra Words Overboard
How long should a sentence be? No longer than it needs to be. You don’t get brownie points for adding extra words. In fact, getting rid of extra words will help makeRead More…
05Mar/11
Readable Writing Rule #3: Short Sentences Are Sweet Sentences
How many words does it take to express an idea? The Lord’s Prayer is 66 words long. The 23rd Psalm is made up of 118 words. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address contains 226 words.Read More…
24Feb/11
Readable Writing Rule #2: Keep the Pomposity Factor Low
How “elevated” should your writing be? When was the last time you walked up to someone and said, “As per our conversation of the 10th, I wish to provide additional information whichRead More…