Most writers I know struggle with motivation when it comes to writing a new book. There are many questions that plague them when they start considering working on a new piece. From what to write about to the reception of the end product, many second...
Subject–Verb Agreement
Recently, I was asked to review a book for which the author supplied a press release. It included this sentence (I’ve adapted it to keep it anonymous):
‘As a retired counsellor, I know that relationships between one human being and another is a critical human...
Colons and Semicolons
Colons and semicolons are often confused, leaving readers confused as well. Here are the differences between the two.
Use a colon to:
• Introduce an idea (‘Here is my suggestion: follow the signal to Neptune immediately’).
• Introduce a list (‘The following three points are vital:...
More on Commas
(c) Introductory elements
Some sentences begin with a little introduction. Here’s an example:
‘After eating her dinner, the greyhound went to sleep.’
You’ll see that the introduction (After eating her dinner) is separated by a comma from the rest of the sentence. In general, use a...
Punctuation
We’ve already talked about over-using punctuation. Here, we’ll look at using routine punctuation: full stops, commas, colons and semicolons, hyphens and dashes.
Full Stops (Also Called Periods or Full Points)
Everyone knows where to put a full stop. Or do they? Obviously, full stops are used at...
The French Revolution was a turbulent time, filled with fiery passion, confusion, and grief. With the lower classes revolting against the aristocracy, and the guillotine solidifying its importance within that period, there’s no doubt that the lack of civilian rights and distribution of wealth played...
A lust for power and wealth has oftentimes been the driving force of some of the world’s most horrific individuals. From political pawns to poison to assassinations, humanity has certainly inspired many dark literary works, some of which have continued to haunt us to this...
Whenever people think of love, they think of family, friends, a special someone or so. They think of kisses and hearts, and even Valentine’s Day. But while it is a cherished emotion, it has also spawned the most tragic and often gruesome tales in literature. From...
Many people have a dream of writing a book but few succeed. They say there is a book in everyone, so why doesn’t everyone write a book? The truth is that writing a novel takes time, determination and, above all, commitment. The process can be...
We all know we’re going to die someday. Whether it be today, tomorrow, or even ten years from now, it’s an inevitability. Oftentimes however, we don’t like to think about our own mortality. Despite it being the most natural thing in the world, we try...
