Category: Writing Tips
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10 Reasons Every Writer Should Keep an Idea Box
How many times have I heard a (professional) writer tell me, “I really need an idea box?” Let me count the ways … What is an idea box? Simply put: it’s a box you keep close to your favorite writing spot (for me, on my desk) where you stash all those great ideas scribbled on…
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4 Ways a Journalist Can Help Creative Writers
A creative writer once referred to me as a “writing scientist.” I laughed at the time. But the more I think of it, as a journalist, I am a writing scientist. My degree is a Bachelor of SCIENCE in Journalism. There is a science to being a reporter, but over the years, I’ve discovered there…
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Are You Writing in Passive Voice? 3 Ways to Know
“Mistakes were made.” Perhaps my all-time favorite politician quote, made famous by good ol’ Richard Nixon. Mistakes were made all right. Mistake number one, Nixon boy: DON’T COMMUNICATE IN PASSIVE VOICE. Passive voice is boring. It’s what we reporters call “politician talk.” It can avoid responsibility, it will hypnotize readers to sleep, and it confuses…
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5 Tips for Engaging Content–Captivate Your Audience!
I might be no Dan Brown, but I do work for a big company as a corporate communications writer, and have been published regionally as well as nationally. I’m also a former newspaper reporter who’s won two Associated Press awards. Therefore, here are my top 5 writing tips when drafting content for the general public.…