Category Archives: Non-Fiction

Results are In: Your Favorite Writers

Posted on November 11, 2017 by Charlotte Digregorio

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

Born a Writer?

Posted on February 16, 2017 by Charlotte Digregorio

I often judge writing contests, both non-fiction and poetry. Recently, I judged the North Carolina Poetry Society’s annual contest in the haiku category. Although it was blind judging, and the winners’ names still haven’t been revealed, I’m sure the winners … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciating Poetry, Beginning Poets, Contests, creative writing, Experienced Poets, Haiku, Informational Writing, Judging Contests, Language Arts, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Uncategorized, Writing, Writing Craft, Writing Skills | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Learn These Easy Steps to Become a Great Wordsmith!

Posted on July 7, 2012 by Charlotte Digregorio

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

Feature Writers: Make Your Work Publishable and Praised by Readers

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Charlotte Digregorio

When you write for newspapers and magazines, you must always consider whether your article is not only likely to be published by editors, but if it will be praised by readers. Popularity of writers leads to more writing assignments for … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Feature Writing, Freelancing, Informational Writing, Interview, Journalism, Journalists, Magazine Writers, Newspaper Writers, Non-Fiction, Public Relations Writing, Publishing, Trade Publications, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On Language Patrol: Avoid These Expressions

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Charlotte Digregorio

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

Consider Your Future as a Successful Writer

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Charlotte Digregorio

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

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Charlotte Digregorio

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

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Charlotte Digregorio

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

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Charlotte Digregorio

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

Feature Article Ideas Abound!

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Charlotte Digregorio

If you are short of ideas for feature articles, let me give you 42 of them, based on articles I wrote and published in the past year. 1) a municipal band leader 2) a barbershop quartet 3) a genealogical society … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Beginners' Guide to Writing & Selling Quality Features, Feature Writing, Freelancing, Informational Writing, Interview, Journalism, Journalists, Magazine Writers, Newspaper Writers, Non-Fiction, Publishing, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment