Some writers think that the only consideration they owe editors is the money they’ll pay. Not so. Sure, you’re paying them, but that doesn’t mean you can treat them unprofessionally. You owe your editor these courtesies:
Be realistic in balancing time, money, and quality
It’s said there...
I had a gay time at the party.
I felt so gay.
A hundred years ago, and even as late as the 1960s, the definition of gay was happy. It was also used to describe having fun, enjoying oneself. Today, however, if you want to express these...
The concept of “fair use” isn’t often addressed, but it’s important. That’s because if you violate fair use constraints you might end up on the wrong end of a lawsuit and accused of plagiarism. Besides the legal hassle, accusations of plagiarism damage a writer’s reputation....
Generally, writers need to follow the rules. Thanks to rules, writers write clearly, editors edit consistently, and readers read with comprehension.
Some rules are, of course, strict and non-breakable. But others are breakable, and violating them permits us to write with clarity and power. Here are...
I am a student of history and a writer of historical fiction novels. My stories take place in a certain era and I include people from history to help tell a fictional tale. In my third novel, “A Darker Shade of Greed,” the story takes...
And the final sentence is: “She held out her trembling hand to K. and had him sit down beside her, she spoke with great difficulty, it was difficult to understand her, but what she said”
Okay, so Franz Kafka had an excuse for ending his novel,...
Writing is an art, not a science, so good writers differ on many matters. The Oxford Comma is one example.
For those who may not be aware, the Oxford Comma is used after the next-to-last item in a series of three or more. In the following...
Good writing is concise. It doesn't waste words.
To see the value of concise (sometimes called tight) writing, consider this proverb:
"In the absence of the feline race, certain small rodents will give themselves up to various pleasures."
What does that mean?
"When the cat's away, the mice will...
Being accused of libel might be a writer’s worst nightmare. It can cost you your reputation and a ton of money. Even if you write fiction, or you’re scrupulous in telling the truth, you may be sued. This is not to frighten you into not...
I have attended and participated in my share of book fairs. It’s interesting meeting and talking with fellow authors. It’s also amazing to realize that you learn more about the author and his/her writing by talking with them than actually reading their books? Why? Because the...
