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Direct info: Firsthand vs. first-hand vs. first hand
Anyone who’s used the English language knows from direct experience that multiple spellings of many words exist. Such is the case with this set of words. Firsthand (all one word) is an adjective meaning that the information was obtained from personal experience or an original source; to wit: Thanks to the outdoor navigation course, we had firsthand experience…
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Five Great Quotations about Theme
“Often with good sentiments we produce bad literature.” – Andre Gide “In a good play, everyone is in the right.” – Fredrich Hebbel “A writer without interest or sympathy for the foibles of his fellow man is not conceivable as a writer.” – Joseph Conrad “Fundamentally, all writing is about the same thing; it’s about dying, about the…
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How to ‘get in the zone’ when writing
The time you’ve set aside time for writing has arrived at last. You’ve been looking forward to it all day; pen and paper are before you, a cup of tea is brewed. Nobody is around so you can concentrate. And yet you can’t. You just can’t focus on writing, for your mind is firing off a…
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Professional Book Editor of Thrillers, Suspense, Spy Novels, Crime Fiction
Affordable Book Editing | Thrillers | Suspense Novels | Crime Fiction
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When Solitary Activity of Writing is Too Isolating
Jessamyn West one said, “Writing is a solitary occupation. Family, friends, and society are the natural enemies of the writer. He must be alone, uninterrupted, and slightly savage if he is to sustain and complete an undertaking.” West makes some keen observations. Writing lends itself to solitary lifestyle. Writers must spend time in their own thoughts,…
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Why writers need to carry business cards
We’ve all experienced this before: You want to get hold of someone but don’t know how. You could look them up online and probably find their email and phone number, of course…if only you could remember their name. Every time you try typing in something that seems close, you come up nada. It’s in such a situation…
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How to Find a Good Editor or Proofreader
Having your story professionally proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In a publishing world where your story faces heavy competition, pieces need a second eye to make sure they are more marketable and to give them the edge. Even if your story is never published, having that second eye can provide insights that…
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Writing Prompt: Telling What ‘I Feel…’
Suffering from writer’s block or need to add some spunk to your writing? The problem may be that you need to change up your routine. To that end, try this tip: If undergoing a period of personal turmoil, write a page that continues with one of these writing prompts: “I feel…”; “I desire…”; “I need…” ______________…
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My ideas are a shapeless mass that my writing molds into beauty
The ancient Greeks believed the objects we created represented an idealized form of that thing. A sculptor chipped away at a block of marble to find the perfect representation of a body; the painter filling the blank canvas sought to create the perfect representation of a landscape. When writing, you are like a potter who takes…
