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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
You’re writing a book! It’s describes your great new idea, and it’s intended for the popular press. That is, for regular folks, not experts. So – what style of writing should youRead More…