At the Ottawa Writer’s Fest, I had the pleasure of hearing Cherie Dimaline speak. She restored my faith in fiction, saying that it can be transformational. I take that to mean that it really changes a person in a core way. It’s not like when you see photos of chocolate then you eat nothing but…
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Writing should be fun and inspirational, but how do you do it more often. I often think of writing like exercise: It’s something I want to do; It’s something I need to do; It’s something that will benefit me; If I build it into my routine it becomes easier; It’s something I don’t have time…
Read moreHere I am writing a blog post between sets on my phone. So what’s your excuse? Whatever your excuse, I understand, truly, no judgement. For the last twenty years, I’ve had more excuses than actual time writing. I did manage to squeak out a couple of novels, some poetry and short stories, but the real…
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Are any of the following true for you? You: Can’t sleep at night. Feel to sick to do anything. Are currently unemployed or not working enough hours. Are suddenly bored all the time or find yourself with a lot of free time. Have been injured and can’t do much. Is writing really the cure for…
Read moreIf a tear rolls down your cheek, write about it. If you clench your fist or grind your teeth, enraged at the world, write it down. Next time you smile, smile on paper. Capturing your real emotions is so much easier than trying to invent emotions for the piece you are writing. That moment, that…
Read moreA ninja is someone who is stealthy, patient, intelligent, and cunning. A good web writer is like a ninja, except we don’t usually wear cool costumes or intimidate people with sharp weapons. Here are five reasons to hire a content ninja: SEM Plan or Ninja Infiltration Scheme – a content ninja will start out with…
Read moreIf you are a writer, you have to open yourself up to criticism. You have to “put yourself out there.” Not all critics are worth listening to. Sometimes people will tell you something is good when it isn’t, and other people will tell you something is bad when it isn’t. The most important thing to…
Read moreI’m in the middle of applying to a few different writing sites. Although many will take your portfolio into account, most of them give simple writing tests. The great thing about a writing test is that if you actually write well but don’t have a great deal of experience, you can get some good paying…
Read moreOnce in a while you can watch TV or read a good book, and you’ll get some ideas about writing style. Most of the time though, the only way to write well is to go out and live your life.To stand out as a writer, you can’t be the next Stephen King. You have to…
Read moreIt makes the ears perk up a bit and the head turn to the side when I suggest that learning French, Spanish or any other language is going to help your English writing skills. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll understand that a second or even third language opens up a reality that wasn’t there…
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