The Power of Reverse Outlining

The Power of Reverse Outlining

In school, I remember a lot of time being devoted to teaching the skill of outlining. Teachers recommended it as the best way to form the foundation for an essay or term paper. The essay style I learned was highly structured. First came the Roman numerals, then the...
You Need More Than a Critique Group

You Need More Than a Critique Group

You’re probably familiar with the phrase, “I’m not an expert, but I know what I like.” This idea works fine for personal choices, but it can be a disaster in a writing critique group. If you’re a new writer who joins one for new writers, the odds are that no one will...

Is Your Writing Short Enough?

Know When To Stop No matter what you’re writing, if you get carried away by your own words, you’ll lose your audience. Mark Twain told a story about sitting in church one day. The preacher was giving an inspiring sermon on the subject of a worthy cause. He was asking...
How Good is Grammarly?

How Good is Grammarly?

You’ve probably heard of the editing tool, Grammarly. If you go to its web site, grammarly.com, you will read claims that the app ensures that what you write is easy to read, effective, and mistake-free. It presumably detects grammar, spelling, punctuation, word...
Create an Irresistible Hook

Create an Irresistible Hook

What is an irresistible hook? A hook is a compelling title or first sentence in an article or claim that pulls your ideal reader right in. Where are your irresistible hooks? Your hooks are in your stories. What is the story behind your business? What is the story...