Category Archives: Essayists

Results are In: Your Favorite Writers

I’ve always believed that in order to be good writers, most people can’t limit themselves to one genre of writing. The more you practice diverse genres, the better you become at writing your favorite one. You pick up so many … Continue reading

Posted in Author, Authors, comics, dramatists, Essayists, Fiction, Genres, Haiku, mysteries, Non-Fiction, Novelists, Poets, romances, Short Story Writers, translators, writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Writers: Find Creativity or Let It Find You

Sometimes it’s better not to talk to a relative or close friend about your goal to pursue creativity. They’ll talk you out of it or they’ll say creativity can wait until you’re retired. They’ll talk about how it’s impractical to … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Artists, Authors, Creative non-fiction, Creativity, Essayists, Fiction, Haiku, Japanese Style Poetry, Language Arts, Memoirs, Novelists, Poetry, Poets, Short Poetry, Short Story Writers, storyteller, Writer's Block, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Learn These Easy Steps to Become a Great Wordsmith!

You can be a great wordsmith! You don’t have to be naturally creative to become one. All you need is Selma Glasser’s classic book The Analogy Book of Related Words: Your Secret Shortcut to Power Writing. I don’t usually review … Continue reading

Posted in ad copywriter, Authors, Books, Columnists, contester, Creative non-fiction, Creativity, entertainer, Essayists, Feature Writing, Fiction, Freelancing, Informational Writing, Language Arts, Magazine Writers, Newspaper Writers, Non-Fiction, Novelists, Poets, Public Relations Writing, publicist, Publicity, Publishing, Short Story Writers, speaker, speech writer, storyteller, teacher, wordsmith, Writer's Block, Writing, Writing Books | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Gifted Writer Draws Inspiration From Intriguing Background

Alicia Hilton doesn’t have a problem finding things to write about. With an intriguing and accomplished background as an FBI Special Agent, an attorney and law professor, and a fine art consultant, ideas that she can formulate into expressive writing … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Articles, attorney-writer, Creative non-fiction, Creativity, crime novel, Crime Writing, Essayists, Feature Writing, Fiction, Freelancing, Haiku, Informational Writing, Interview, Japanese Style Poetry, Journalism, Magazine Writers, Memoirs, Novelists, Poetry, Poets, Short Poetry, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

On Language Patrol: Avoid These Expressions

I’ve been keeping track again of stale language I’ve read in newspapers and magazines these past few weeks. Feature writers and columnists shouldn’t resort to using these hackneyed terms and phrases: 1) pork barrel 2) acid test 3) bone of … Continue reading

Posted in Articles, Authors, Books, Column Writing, Columnists, Creativity, Essayists, Feature Writing, Freelancing, Informational Writing, Journalism, Journalists, Magazine Writers, News Writing, Newspaper Writers, Non-Fiction, Public Relations Writing, Publishing, Reading, Trade Publications, Writing, Writing Books | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Writers: Get Whimsical

Since today is Friday the 13th, I’ve been having some strange thoughts. During my coffee break, I thought about some zany things I’d like to experience and write about. Every room in my home has a small notepad and pen, … Continue reading

Posted in Artists, Authors, Creativity, Essayists, Fiction, Poets, Short Story Writers, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Consider Your Future as a Successful Writer

Like any other goal in life, if you want to be a successful writer, you have to define where you are now and where you want to go. If you define your writing goals, you can achieve them. They must … Continue reading

Posted in Authors, Autobiography, Books, Children's Books, Columnists, Creativity, Essayists, Feature Writing, Fiction, Freelancing, Informational Writing, Journalism, Journalists, Magazine Writers, News Writing, Newspaper Writers, Non-Fiction, Novelists, Poetry, Poets, Public Relations Writing, Publishing, Reading, Short Story Writers, Trade Publications, Writer's Block, Writing, Writing Books | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Feature Writers: Consider Your Description

When I taught  journalism, I harped on students to be more descriptive in writing features for publication. Below are some descriptive sentences that I’ve pulled from some of their papers: 1)  Soft drinks shoot out of a gun that looks … Continue reading

Posted in Articles, Beginners' Guide to Writing & Selling Quality Features, Creativity, Essayists, Feature Writing, Freelancing, Informational Writing, Journalism, Journalists, Magazine Writers, Newspaper Writers, Non-Fiction, Publishing, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Writers of All Genres: Get Back to Basics and Get a Reality Check

No matter what genre we write in,  most of us struggle at certain points with motivating ourselves through writer’s block and the revision process. When we find ourselves languishing, often it’s time to start considering the basics again. Even an … Continue reading

Posted in Articles, Authors, Autobiography, Books, Column Writing, Columnists, Creativity, Essayists, Feature Writing, Freelancing, Informational Writing, Journalism, Journalists, Magazine Writers, News Writing, Newspaper Writers, Non-Fiction, Publishing, Writer's Block, Writing, Writing Books | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Feature Writers: Avoid Stale Language

When writers resort to using stale expressions and words, that signals that they are getting lazy. Below are some stale expressions that I’ve run across in newspapers and magazines, that have no place in writing: 1) better half 2) better … Continue reading

Posted in Articles, Authors, Beginners' Guide to Writing & Selling Quality Features, Column Writing, Columnists, Essayists, Feature Writing, Freelancing, Informational Writing, Journalism, Journalists, Magazine Writers, News Writing, Newspaper Writers, Non-Fiction, Public Relations Writing, Publishing, Trade Publications, Writing, Writing Books | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments