You would think that it would be a words game, but it’s not. It’s all about numbers. We’ve all seen different definitions of the writing process. One thing they all have in common, though, is that they begin with ideas…

You have a story that everybody wants to hear, but how do you get people to your blog? The perfect blog post is about more than just great content. In fact, the way you format your post is almost paramount…

Those of us with Italian backgrounds will know that you don’t make an authentic pasta sauce in an hour. It should be cooked slowly, the ingredients added one by one, at the right time. First the meats must be browned,…

As the founder of a speech writing firm, Inkwell Strategies, I’ve gotten used to drawing a certain amount of interest from new friends and acquaintances when asked what Ido for a living. After working in this somewhat niche profession for…

Whenever students asked me why I became a journalist, I told them that I always wanted to be a writer ever since I was in high school. I loved to read (I’m a mystery buff so I bought Nancy Drew…

The proper response to the exclamation “All hail the Interrobang!” is “What the?!” That should be followed, of course, by an “Oh yeah, that thing…” as soon as you’re reminded of what heck an interrobang is. The interrobang is a…

Anyone can come up with a list of palindromes. The real challenge is to use them intelligently in published writing. Can a writer incorporate palindromes (words or phrases that read the same backwards and forwards) in any meaningful and credible…

This is a guest post by Ian Greaves. If you dream of working for yourself and being able to generate an income from your writing, you will need to learn how to make the most of the time and resources…

Freelance writing online is often touted as a dream job. It certainly has its benefits, but it has its downfalls as well. In fact, the drawbacks to freelance writing are often the flip side to the positives of the profession.…

As a copywriter, I have access to two of the greatest writing improvement tools in existence: practice and feedback. I spend 40 hours a week pumping out words that will be tweaked, replaced, moved, cut, checked, rechecked, and rejected or…

If most people’s employment of the word “literally” doesn’t drive you mad, you’re probably guilty of a few misuses yourself. It’s one of the most common complaints of the grammar-savvy. Responding to our post on “Blackboard Moments” – those usages…

So you want to be politically correct, you want to be inclusive, and you would never assume that every nurse and every teacher in the world is a “she.” Right? Right. But sometimes this worthy thought leads us to perform…

Although the words afflict and inflict have similar meanings and are often used in similar ways, they are far from interchangeable in modern English usage. The OED offers the following definitions of afflict: Afflict: 1. trans. To dash down,…

The saying “too many cooks spoil the broth” is spot on in the case of English language. Today, even native speakers make blunders in written and spoken English, being influenced by current trends. One such trend we are talking about…

Recently I was walking and talking with my co-worker, who happens to be a freelance writer and aspiring journalist. We were talking about the fact that our employers were providing us with a Thanksgiving lunch the day after Thanksgiving, and…

This is a guest post by Letia Graening. An abbreviation is defined as a shortened version of a word or phrase. But did you know that there are many different types of abbreviations? Here is a list of abbreviation types:…

This is a guest post by Eva R. Marienchild. I just sent a colleague back his “Away” e-mail—you know, the ones you post when you’ll be out of your office for a while. It had a comma where a semicolon…

“I before E except after C…” “Eliminate passive voice…” “Start in the middle of the story…” There are hundreds of writing mantras we’ve all heard, and they always come back to haunt us as we pull out that ugly first…

Isn’t it ironic that I’m having a hard time focusing on this list of tips to help people focus? As I struggle to keep deadlines, I realize that my work environment is filled with distractions – whether it’s other people’s…

This is a guest post by Jennifer Moline. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. Often in the writing world it pays to be on top of current events – to be the first…

This is a guest post by Idrees Patel. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. Creative writers are divided into two camps: those who outline and those who don’t: the ones who write straight…

This is a guest post by Yvonne Canchola. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. A fast food restaurant, I heard recently on the radio, now has “scratch-made” biscuits. I’m suspicious, but what bothers…

Do you want to make a living as a writer? Perhaps it’s a dream you’ve always dismissed as impossible, and you’ve got a “sensible” day job, or a busy family life. But you’ve never given up your love of words.…

This is a guest post by Cristy Rodriguez. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. A grant is a simple request for funds that entails a description of a specific need and the proposed…

This is a guest post by Julie Link. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. “I love France,” my friend sighed, and I nodded my agreement. “I miss not being there,” she added. Huh?…

This is a guest post by Shelley DuPont. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here.   Did you ever think you knew the lyrics to a song, only to find out later they were…

This is a guest post by Julie Link. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here.   The Indianapolis Star recently reported that Bristol Palin “is bringing her experience as a teen mom to bear…

This is a guest post by Yvonne Canchola. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. The tiny word “if” sets many, many language traps for the hasty. Consider this note: “If you happen to…

This is a guest post by Kevin Craner. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. What’s the scariest thing about Halloween II?  The chilling music?  The gore?  The sight of Michael Myers raising…

This is a guest post by David Bowman. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. One of the expressions that grates on my nerves is “My sister is always there for you.” Another is…

This is a guest post by Debra Wheatman. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. W. Fowler coined the term “elegant variation” to denote the unnecessary use of synonyms to denote a single thing. …