...a goldmine of writing help
When you say you have writers’ block, is that really what it is? Or is it thinkers’ block?
How do we get rid of thinker’s block when we’re writing?
Apart from a few partial exceptions (e.g. literary fiction perhaps) writing is not the be-all and end-all of the artsy-fartsy world. It is not even an art form like painting or drawing or sculpture.
Writing is a vehicle: a means of communicating your thoughts to your audience. And they need to be the right thoughts.
Now that many of our children are going back to school after the summer break, it reminded me that when my son was at high school I had to suppress my screams when reading through his English assignments every time I saw a spelling or grammar mistake.
As with so many things, acting as a coach for your child to help them write better and enjoy it, will go a long way towards achieving that goal.
Despite being utterly ignorant of the “right” way to handle this my instincts told me not to threaten him with castration if I ever saw another “it’s” when it should be “its,” but to move on to the big picture – the content of his writing and how it worked – and go back to the details later. [Read more…]
Suzan St Maur
Here on How To Write Better, you'll learn how to improve your writing of...
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... in more than 1,500 articles and tutorials by some of the English language's top writing experts. Find what you need in the SEARCH box top right.
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Potty-mouthed "adult" poems to have you laughing your head off - preferably in the downstairs toilet or bathroom...by yours truly Suzan St Maur.
Amazon bestseller every Holiday Season since 2001! This little book is a firm favourite with horsey families and makes the ideal gift for anyone who loves riding. Compiled by Suzan St Maur.
---------------------------------------------------------The no-bullsh*t guide to writing blogs that boost your brand, business and customer loyalty..."At long last, some common sense writing about how businesses can use blogging effectively." Written by Suzan St Maur.
---------------------------------------------------------"This book is by no means all encompassing, but in it author Suzan St Maur has researched and shared several hundred of the most commonly used terms. Not only do we now know what they all mean but, where appropriate, we also learn their origins – some of which are fascinating and very surprising."
---------------------------------------------------------Great little book for anyone who enjoys dining out and wants to learn the right issues to write about in reviews for Trip Advisor etc. Written by the late Sam Worthington, superb chef, restaurant critic and bon viveur...
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OK, Josh Bernoff -- we take your point ...
The em dash is a bit of a jerk — replace it whenever possible - without bullshit
withoutbullshit.com
Unless — and I admit this is possible — you’re trying to annoy the reader, try not to fall in love — or even in like — with the em dash. So many manuscripts I edit suffer from inflammation of the em dash — it’s rampant — as if these little buggers multiply like cockroaches. … Conti...Good advice, particularly if you work in professional services or the more formal end of general business.
Business Email - First Contact; First Impression - Business Email Etiquette
businessemailetiquette.com
Never squander your first contact by email with a potential employer, contact or vendor! First contact = first impressions! You have one chance to impress!
Follow!