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14 Metaphors and Similes That Expertly Describe the Writing Process

Steve Gamel

Mar 31, 2022
3 min

14 Metaphors and Similes That Expertly Describe the Writing Process

Metaphors and similes are constantly being used in writing, on television, in poetry, in the media, and in everyday conversations to compare one thing to another. And the examples are endless. Such as ... Life is like a box of chocolates. My life is an open book. She is as sharp as a tack. Steve is as cool as the other side of the pillow. But how many metaphors and similes exist when talking about the writing process? Well, being the nosey writer that I am, I decided to check

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How to Honor Your Writing Time When Family Is in Town

Steve Gamel

Mar 17, 2022
4 min

How to Honor Your Writing Time When Family Is in Town

Everybody craves being with family, especially as we attempt to make up for lost time from the pandemic. I'm certainly no exception. My parents are in town from Houston, marking only the third time in two years that we've been together, and we're enjoying every minute of being with them, too. But I must admit that their visit is definitely cutting into my writing time. Perhaps this has happened to you? You've got family in town that you've been dying to spend time with, but y

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Thank You for A Great Year as Your Friendly Neighborhood Writer, Editor, and Author

Steve Gamel

Dec 30, 2021
2 min

Thank You for A Great Year as Your Friendly Neighborhood Writer, Editor, and Author

With just a couple of days left in 2021, I wanted to take a quick second to thank everyone. I'm not here to share any writing and grammar knowledge or convince you to buy my new book, Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word. All I want to do is share a special thank you for a great year as your friendly neighborhood writer, editor, and author! Thank you for allowing me to chase my passion – to do something I truly enjoy. Many people don't get that

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Need the Inspiration to Write a Book? Here Are 25 Quotes From Famous Authors

Steve Gamel

Aug 12, 2021
4 min

Need the Inspiration to Write a Book? Here Are 25 Quotes From Famous Authors

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,

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Steve Gamel

Jul 15, 2021
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Gray vs. Grey

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

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Vain, Vein, and Vane

Steve Gamel

Jul 8, 2021
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Vain, Vein, and Vane

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

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Hilarious Grammar and Spelling Fails You Need to See

Steve Gamel

Jul 1, 2021
1 min

Hilarious Grammar and Spelling Fails You Need to See

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

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Steve Gamel

Jun 24, 2021
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Feat vs. Feet

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

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Edit This Mailbag: Questions on Writing and Editing

Steve Gamel

Jun 3, 2021
4 min

Edit This Mailbag: Questions on Writing and Editing

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

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Capital vs. Capitol

Steve Gamel

May 27, 2021
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Capital vs. Capitol

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog, let's discuss the difference between Capital vs. Capitol. Do you know when to use each one? Capital vs. Capitol 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? Capital with an "al" at the end has several meanings. It can be used when talking about uppercase letters or when referring to

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Steve Gamel

May 20, 2021
2 min

20 Qualities of Good Editors

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

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Discuss vs. Discus

Steve Gamel

May 13, 2021
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Discuss vs. Discus

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

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Mother's Day Is Sunday. Write Her Something From Your Heart

Steve Gamel

May 6, 2021
2 min

Mother's Day Is Sunday. Write Her Something From Your Heart

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

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Top 5 Reasons Why People Visit Your Website

Steve Gamel

Apr 22, 2021
4 min

Top 5 Reasons Why People Visit Your Website

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

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Dessert vs. Desert

Steve Gamel

Apr 15, 2021
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Dessert vs. Desert

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

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Happy Edit This Day: It's Our 7th Anniversary

Steve Gamel

Apr 1, 2021
1 min

Happy Edit This Day: It's Our 7th Anniversary

Edit This®, your friendly neighborhood writing and editing service, is another year older! That's right. Today, we celebrate our 7th anniversary! IT'S EDIT THIS DAY!!! I can't say thank you enough to every family member, friend, client, business partner, and everyone in between for the love and support as I continue to live and breathe my dream job! I've been in the writing and editing industry for 24 years, but when I went off on my own seven years ago – on April Fools' Day,

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Stationary vs. Stationery

Steve Gamel

Mar 25, 2021
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Stationary vs. Stationery

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog, let's discuss the difference between Stationary vs. Stationery. Do you know when to use each one? Stationary vs. Stationery 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? Stationary with an "ary" refers to something that isn't supposed to move. It's fixed in place, unchanging, and imm

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20 Reason Why Starting A Company Blog Was The Best Thing I Ever Did

Steve Gamel

Mar 18, 2021
2 min

20 Reason Why Starting A Company Blog Was The Best Thing I Ever Did

Starting a blog was the best thing I could have done for my writing and editing business. Not only has it kept me top of mind with clients, but it's being shared more as time goes by – putting me in front of potential clients, other writers, and people who enjoy good content. If you're a business owner, it's time to overcome any weird hangups you might have about starting a blog and jump on the bandwagon. When done right, the benefits are immeasurable. Here are 20 reasons why

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Write Something Heartfelt For Valentine's Day

Steve Gamel

Feb 11, 2021
2 min

Write Something Heartfelt For Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is Sunday! If you're looking for something a little different than chocolates and fun candy hearts to give your loved one, write something heartfelt like a poem or love letter. People write heartfelt messages to their loved ones all the time for a variety of reasons and special occasions. But some shy away because they aren't sure the words will come out right. If this is you, don't hold back this Valentine's Day. Write whatever comes from the heart because it

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Premier vs. Premiere

Steve Gamel

Jan 28, 2021
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Premier vs. Premiere

Today, we have an Edit This® grammar lesson based on a specific question from one of our loyal readers! This reader would like to know the difference between Premier vs. Premiere. Do you know when to use each one? Premier and Premiere 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, here is the quick answer: Premier refers to someone or something that is the best or first in posi

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