Although I have had many books published by traditional publishers, I like self-publishing. I like it because it is great for niche topics. However, it is most decidedly not an unequivocally good thing, and there are pros and cons of each approach. This video summarises the issues.
10 attributes of professional writers -- #6: Proofread properly
Last year a teenager sent me an article with a covering email saying:
Sorry, I didn’t have time to proofread it properly. Sure you can sort it out!
Tools For the Writer
To write, you need a couple of tools. On the low end of the scale, paper and pencil will do. Typewriters are good. Word processors are better.
Read More10 attributes of professional writers -- #5: Send professional emails
Email is a marvellous facility. especially for pitching editors or publishers, and for sending a covering “letter” with an article or story. However, there is an inherent danger of its tempting us into being too casual.
Here are “Terry’s Top Seven Tips for professional-looking emails”.
Using video for creative writing
I always carry a pocket camcorder with me. It enables me to take both photos and videos. I use the videos as a potential basis for creative writing.
I try to make the videos only about 30 seconds long, because I like the idea of being minimalist – as you may have gathered from my article about using Twitter.
10 attributes of professional writers -- #4: Make it readable
"This is on the level of an 11 year old." That was the verdict of an article I'd written as part of a writing course I'd been invited to attend by a magazine I was writing for at the time.
Read MoreReview of the Kodak Zx1 Pocket Camcorder
in Photography, Reviews, Video
The Kodak Zi8 pocket camcorder has a range of options for video, a still photo facility, and a really easy-to-use programme for importing your efforts into your computer and uploading to YouTube, Vimeo and other sites.
However, if you’re looking for something a little more rugged, an alternative is the Kodak Zx1. It’s not as pretty, but boy, is it robust!
Read MoreUsing Twitter for creative writing
We don’t need no rules of grammar
Back in April 2010 Steve Wheeler (@timbuckteeth) posted a useful article reminding students that when it comes to succeeding academically, accuracy in using the language still counts.He lists a set of rules which humorously make the point, such as "Avoid clichés like the plague." My question is: do the same rules apply to bloggers?
23 rules for writers
We’ve all heard of “laws” such as Murphy’s Law (If anything can go wrong it will go wrong), but how about laws which are especially pertinent for writers? I’ve been doing a spot of research, and have come up with these timeless gems. I’ve included the references in case you wish to delve further into any of them.
10 attributes of professional writers – #3: Meet the deadline
It seems to me that one crucial difference between a professional (in all senses of the word) writer and others is that the professional will always meet the deadline set by the editor.
Sometimes, of course, this isn’t possible. For example, I was recently commissioned to write some articles about
Read MoreA new Facebook page and a new newsletter
I’ve just set up a Facebook page for Writers’ Know-How, and a new newsletter.
Setting up the Facebook page was surprisingly easy, thanks to the wonderful video by
Read MoreMy blogging toolkit
in Handy hints, How to
What do you require in order to blog? Obviously, the list will be depend on what device you use, and its operating system, but here is the set of tools which I find invaluable.
10 attributes of professional writers – #2: Work to exact word count
In the first post in this series, I made it clear that by “professional” I was referring to the strict definition of the word, ie that payment is made for your services. But there is also, of course, another meaning of “professional”, which is to behave and conduct oneself in a particular way.
Read MoreHow to write an article in 30 minutes or less
in How to
I think a lot of people, myself included, work most efficiently when they’re up against a tight deadline. This phenomenon has been observed both by Aesop (the fable of the tortoise and the hare), and Parkinson (“Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”)
10 attributes of professional writers – #1: Get paid!
Image by Terry Freedman via Flickr
What makes a professional writer professional? I believe 10 characteristics to be essential. The most fundamental of these is pretty simple, and has nothing whatsoever to do with technology, writing style or how good a tan you have. It’s…
Photography and creative writing
The terms “technology” and “creative writing” may not often appear in the same sentence. But when it comes to digital photography, the world is your oyster.
Research Sites for Writers: Refdesk
Is randomness useful?
Yesterday I thought I’d explore the web to see if I could find a random blog post generator. Why? Because I was interested to see (a) if such things existed and (b), if so, what they were like. Could you, for example look at a randomly generated post and not know that it was created in that way?
Read MoreResearch Sites for Writers: Creative Commons
A good starting point for anyone wishing to find information, a picture, a recording or a video that they can reuse without falling foul of copyright law is the Creative Commons search site. As well as a good starting point, it’s a good one-stop shop, given that it covers such a range of media types.