Ask anyone what they think makes a good writer, and the answers will run the gamut. Is it their attention to detail? Absolutely. How about their strong vocabulary and command of the English language? Must-haves, every time! What about an undying passion for storytelling, a knack for hooking a reader, and making complex thoughts simple and easy to read? Yes! All of that – and so much more. The list of qualifications for what makes a good writer is long – and deservedly so. I t

It's not every day that you get the 5-star treatment from a publishing company that is equally as excited as you are about your first book! But that's exactly what I experienced on Tuesday when I visited my good friends at Brown Books Publishing Group in Dallas. They lured me there to "take a few pictures." In reality, it was to present me with the first copy of my book, Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word. After nearly two years of trying to g

Thankfully, I've been getting a ton of questions thrown my way about my upcoming book, Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word. I shared a few of them below, just in case you're wondering if you should buy it. Please buy my book. You won't be disappointed. Q: What was your “I’m going to do this” moment that led to Write Like You Mean It? A: I’d been thinking about writing a book for several years, but the tipping point came at the very beginning of

With just less than two weeks left until the official release of my debut book, Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word, I thought I'd explain what I mean by that unique title. To me, Write Like You Mean It means putting all your heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears into your passion for writing. As writers, our words are our stock in trade. We are craftsmen. We are artists. Our audience deserves to see and feel each word we put on a page. So rathe

Someone asked me during the final stages of the publishing process if my book, Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word, has any characteristics that set it apart from other books on writing. I mean, yes, it is definitely chock full of great stuff that every writer can benefit from. And I'd like to think that there isn't anything else like it out there on the market in terms of the unique content it offers. But I will stop short of saying that Write

It's only natural to read the title of my upcoming book, Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word, and assume it might only be for young writers who need helpful tips and tricks from someone who also has a passion for the written word. And in many ways, you're right. But my target audience is so much larger than that. Everyone should have the tools they need to write like they mean it – whatever that looks like for them. Therefore, my audience for t

When I sat down to write my book, one of the first things I did before writing each chapter was to look for inspiration from the amazing writers who came before me. Whether it be about writer's block, overcoming the fear of writing, or even thoughts on how to be a better storyteller, there are always valuable nuggets of information out there. And the best part was that I didn't have to scour the internet for long to find exactly what I needed. Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway,

There's a tremendous amount of excitement that comes with writing and publishing a book. It's an example of one of those "lofty life achievements" everyone shoots for – an item on the old bucket list – and I genuinely believe everyone should check this off their list! So why doesn't everyone do it? I can certainly speak from experience. As I've mentioned numerous times over the past few weeks, my book, Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word, is co

As I've been proudly screaming over the past week on social media: I did a thing! That "thing" is my debut book, Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word. My goal for this book, tentatively slated to release on September 14, 2021, is to have a down-to-earth conversation about writing. More importantly, I want to equip aspiring writers from all walks of life with trade secrets, versatile tools, actionable steps, and the inspiration they need to step

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. Today, we'll be talking about the difference between Gray and Grey. Do you find yourself getting tripped up on these? If you do, you're not alone. And why? Because they're both technically correct – depending on where you live and your audience, of course! The purpose of today's blog post is to explain the difference so that you can be a grammar pro moving forward. Gray and Grey are both correct spellings of the popular color, tho

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. Today, we'll be talking about the difference between Vain, Vein, and Vane. Do you find yourself getting tripped up on these? If you do, you're not alone. Vain, Vein, and Vane are homophones — words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. The purpose of today's blog post is to explain the difference so that you can be a grammar pro moving forward. Vain is used to refer to someone who arrogantly admires themse

Anyone who has seen our social media posts over the years has probably seen a few pictures of unfortunate grammar and spelling fails found in everyday life. Mind you; I'm not talking about minor flubs. I'm talking about the obvious ones that are so funny they end up going viral on the Internet. Over the years, we've captured a few of our own, had others shared with us, and found several more online. Below are some of our favorites. If you don't laugh, you should seriously che

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog post, let's discuss the difference between Feat vs. Feet. Do you know when to use each one? Feat vs. Feet are examples of homophones – words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings – and they trip more people up than you think. So, let's dive right in, shall we? Feat refers to an incredible and noteworthy achievement or act that is out of the ordinary and requires significant courage, strength

A student reached out to us recently asking if we'd be willing to answer a few basic questions about the world of writing and editing. A soon-to-be high school senior, this young lady shared that she wants to edit books someday and possibly work for a publishing company. Naturally, we were happy to help and tried our best to give some quick on-the-spot answers in e-mail form without getting too wordy. Below are three of the questions she asked. I'm sharing in case you've cons

I've been fortunate to work closely with some really good editors over the years. Sadly, not every writer can say the same. Maybe this has happened to you? You turn over your novel or magazine feature article to an editor for a thorough once-over, thinking the "extra set of eyes" will uncover all the things you can't because, well, you've been lookin' at the thing for way too long. * Spelling mistakes * Grammatical errors * Formatting issues * Plot holes and weak transitions

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog entry, let's discuss the difference between Discuss vs. Discus. Do you know when to use each one? Most people will say they do know the difference. And yet, I see this mistake repeatedly in written copy ranging from school papers and published articles to blogs and social media posts. So, let's talk about it a little bit. And maybe by the end of this, we'll all be less confused. Discuss (with the double "s") simply

Hey, guys and gals. Just in case you've been living under a rock, Mother's Day is Sunday. It can be difficult trying to find the perfect gift at the store, especially if you're looking to give her something different from the norm. So how about writing her a special love letter? Love letters, poems, and anything heartfelt go a long way in showing mom just how much she is loved and appreciated. Granted, I understand that what I'm suggesting isn't a unique concept. But while th

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog, let's discuss the difference between Rout vs. Route. Do you know when to use each one? Most people might be saying, "I know. I know!!" And that's great! But Rout vs. Route are examples of homophones – words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings – and they trip more people up than you think. So, let's dive right in, shall we? Rout without the "e" (pronounced ROWT) is typically used in sports

Why do you think the majority of people visit your website? Before you answer, let's rule out a few options: It looks really nice It's easy to navigate You have cool photos and graphics You've got a great sales pitch I'm not saying these aren't important. A website should stand out, have all the bells and whistles, be visually pleasing, help you get found, and highlight your products and services. In fact, hiring a website designer rather than doing it yourself ensures you ch

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog entry, let's discuss the difference between Dessert vs. Desert. Do you know when to use each one? Most people will say they do know the difference. And yet, I see this mistake time and again in written copy ranging from school papers and published articles to blogs and social media posts. It's OK. I'm not here to poke fun. I have to stop and think about this one, too! So, let's talk about it a little bit. And maybe