Beware of Pestimists

Pestimists are those pesty, pessimistic voices that make us question our actions and dreams. They play in the background of our lives, like Muzak—barely noticeable yet incredibly potent. The messages they deliver vary from person to person; however, the words they use often go something like this: •You can’t write.•No one cares about what you […]

Better Writing: Power Sentences

(These notes have been taken from the writing of Peter Roy Clark, Senior Scholar and Writer at the Poynter Institute for Journalism, with kind permission.) RULE NUMBER 1 Begin sentences with subjects and verbs, letting subordinate elements branch to the right. Even long sentences can be powerful when abiding by this rule. In English, a […]

Becoming the Total Package

Being a great writer is no longer enough if you plan to score a big publishing deal, especially as a nonfiction author. Particularly if your book idea falls into the “how-to” or “self-help” categories, you not only have to sell your terrific writing, but you also have to sell yourself as the book’s conduit to […]