Have you ever been afraid of editors thinking you haven’t proofread your piece, even when you definitely have? Do you re-read your posts ad nauseam, only to still feel a sense of dread when sending your draft? Yeah, proofreading isn’t fun. Writing comes with a creative payoff. Editing gives you an authority edge. But proofreading? […]
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If writing a personal essay came with a step-by-step guide — and sadly, it doesn’t — the first step would be to read really good essays. Analyze what works and what doesn’t and determine why the author was able to catch an editor’s attention. Here are some reflection questions to consider when reading a personal […]
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You’re not someone who cares about tradition in your fiction, are you? You’re willing to explore. You’re striving for meaning, and you want interesting experiences. Well, that’s the second-person point of view (POV) for you: nontraditional, explorative, meaningful and interesting. It also sounds a bit like an ad for an exaggerated travel agent or a […]
Continue readingI’ll just come out and say it: As a professional writer, editor and content manager, I can’t work — no, I can’t live — without Google Docs. If you too are a fan, you get it. If not, here’s the quick elevator pitch: Google Docs makes writing, sharing and collaborating easy. It’s also free, and […]
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Is there a better feeling in the world than writing “The End” in your manuscript? It’s a moment to be celebrated: you’ve done it. You’ve written and completed an entire book. Not everyone can say they have. But you’re not finished. No, not even after you wrap up your self-edits. It’s time to pass your […]
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Whatever you write, you want to get your thoughts across in a clear and effective way — that’s the first thing you need to know about how to improve writing skills. If you’re a novelist, you don’t want awkward word choices or repetitive sentence structures to distract your readers from the story. As a freelancer, […]
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Do you do most of your writing in Google Docs? From collaboration to easily checking word count in Google docs to its Suggest Edits feature, many writers rave about this free word processing software. (Here at The Write Life, we’re big fans of Google docs!) Since its emergence in 2014, Google Docs’ Suggest Edits feature […]
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Because COVID-19 has drastically changed the world we live in, many of these conferences may be canceled, postponed, or moved partially or entirely online. Check with conference organizers for details. Ready to connect with literary agents, editors and fellow writers at a writers conference? If you’re tired of learning about interesting opportunities just a little […]
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Since COVID-19 has drastically changed the world we live in, these retreats may be canceled, postponed or moved online. Check with each individual retreat for details. Many people who identify as women feel their writing lives can be made all the more challenging due to their lives as women. Perhaps they are largely responsible for […]
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It’s time to find the perfect gift for the writer in your life…but the only idea you can come up with is a pretty notebook. As writers who have spent our whole lives getting notebooks under the tree, we’re here to tell you: you can do better! The gift ideas for writers below range from […]
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