Punctuation Marks: Commas and Clauses
There’s a fine art to using commas. Today we’ll look at how commas work with clauses — both dependent clauses and independent clauses. And don’t worry if you’re not sure which clause is which. Everything will be explained. Independent Clauses and Commas An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence: I watch movies. Two…Read More
Creative Writing: Reflective Journaling
A journal is a chronological log, and you can use a journal to log anything you want. Many professionals keep journals, including scientists and ship captains. Their journals are strictly for tracking their professional progress. Fitness enthusiasts keep diet and exercise journals. Artists use journals to chronicle their artistic expressions. A writer’s journal can hold…Read More
Are You Writing Effective Sentences?
Nothing ruins a great piece of writing like weak words and poorly structured sentences. We’ve all been there. You’re working through your first draft or perhaps making your way through revisions. The scene plays out in your mind like a movie. But when you try to put it into words, it just doesn’t flow right. In…Read More
Thought-Provoking Creative Writing Prompts
Today’s post includes prompts from my book, 1200 Creative Writing Prompts. Enjoy! Writing is a tool we can use to express ourselves or share our ideas. But it can also be used to help us think. Writing forces us to articulate our thoughts and ideas, which in turn forces us to scrutinize our thinking. Tackling…Read More
Homophones: Accept vs. Except
The English language is fraught with sound-alike words that look nothing alike on the page (or screen). These homophones have given many writers headaches as they agonize over word choice while composing poems, articles, essays, and stories. Accept vs. except is one such pair of words. Though not among the most commonly confused homophones, these…Read More
Unusual Writing Activities That Will Boost Your Creativity
Writing usually involves sitting in a chair and hammering away at a keyboard. It can get repetitive and mundane. I have often found that when I need a boost of creativity, removing myself from my normal writing environment is a good way to get ideas flowing. If you’re feeling stuck, try positioning your body differently….Read More
Five Grammar Habits Every Writer Should Adopt
Can you imagine a nutritionist who eats exclusively at fast food restaurants? A personal trainer who never exercises? A writer who can’t be bothered with grammar, spelling, and punctuation? In most professions, best practices and tools of the trade are mandatory. If you want to be a lawyer, you must pass the Bar exam. If…Read More
Philosophy-Inspired Writing Prompts
Writing provides a way to express one’s thoughts, feelings, or ideas. It’s a communication tool. But writing can also be a tool for self-discovery and critical thinking. Many authors have stated that they write stories so they can find out what happens to the characters they’ve created. Essayists explain that writing helps them organize their…Read More
Grammar Rules: Split Infinitives
It’s important that we, as writers, know the tools of our trade. Part of our job is to understand the mechanics of language, which includes grammar rules. Yet many writers find themselves asking… What are split infinitives? It’s a term that grammarians and linguists throw around a lot, yet few people, including writers, seem to…Read More
A Guide to Journaling for Writers
The world of journaling is fascinating and expansive. There are people who make their own notebooks and fill them with stunning artwork and gorgeous lettering. Others spend months writing in a journal and then burn it when they get to the end, only to start another one. Some people use cheap spiral-bound notebooks for journal…Read More
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