Writing is like butter, it flavors any subject, but great writing is like herb butter. Herb butter is infused with the flavor of the basil, or other herb. Just as it enhances food, flavor enhances your writing. Flavor in writing, does not mean overly detailed language, or extreme use of adjectives or adverbs. It’s about accenting your subject, in a balanced way. It’s not about increasing your word count, it’s about increasing the weight of your words; making them count. Natural flow, is one of the tools to flavor your writing. Even when you introduce the unexpected, natural flow harmonizes details. It gives the elements of your story license to…

I heard a comedian say, at this point, I’ve got nothing left in my garage to sell. She meant merchandise of her specials, etc, but I guarantee you she has something in her mental garage. If you’re a writer, or content creator, keep an idea handy for the future. There are different categories of items in a real garage. Current items, projects in various stages, and things that haven’t been touched in years. The same should be true somewhat, of an idea garage. Current items are those things you’re excited about right now. Projects that you can’t wait to work on. These are the things that aren’t yet done, but…

Very soon you’ll have completed your first writing project, at least the rough draft. You may go through a number of drafts before the final, but here are some suggestions which may help in the process. First, unless on a deadline, I would suggest putting your rough draft in a drawer for a few days. Distance will help you to be more objective. Time will also work towards preventing writer’s doughnut. If not careful, as a writer, when you see gaps in your writing, your mind will patch right through them. You know what you wanted to say, and almost automatically, your brain fills in the gap. Stepping away will…

If you’ve been writing all month, you may be getting ready to start, or are already in the last chapter of your project. As you are nearing the end of your project, there are a few things to keep in mind. Did you say what you either set out to say, or told the reader you would? Fact or fiction, try to tie up any loose threads in your last chapter. You’re still not editing yet, that will be soon, but you want in your rough draft as much as possible, to craft a cohesive story. Prepare to end on a high note. Even if it’s a tragedy you are…

Some people are wonderful at journaling, it may or may not surprise you that I am not. If it’s a writing project, fact or fiction, that comes easier to me. Daily writing about my life does not. I’m sure one factor for this is the practice that journalists have cultivated, which ironically is the same practice that writers attempt in their books, writing daily. Writing daily though, when it comes to your writing project, can help you complete your book in a way other things can’t. Even if you feel that day’s attempts are not as good as others, it will give you a road to pave later. Roads don’t…

Great writers build. Some of the best writers I have ever read, praise others in their books. Whether it’s sharing another author, a quote, or a lesson taught them by someone else, they lift up others. Writing should not be all about us, it should be about others. The first other is the reader. Fact or fiction, the story you tell should enrich others. Giving them something that either empowers, encourages, or entertains them serves the reader. While this will in turn bless the writer, it should be done for the good of the reader. Focusing on others will always produce greater results. The second other are those who have…

Some began writing at the start of November for the novel writing challenge that is Nanowrimo. Others have been writing in some form for years. If you’ve been able to write everyday this month then that is wonderful, if you’ve missed some time, it happens to us all. The most important thing, is to keep writing. Those days you missed may have been days to our mind needed a break, or they may have just been life stuff. Either way, today is a new day. Writing can be as simple as putting words together until you make a sentence, matching them up to fill up a paragraph, and adding them…

One of my favorite stories I’ve ever written consists of 80 words, including the title. It was written for a site that I don’t believe is still in existence, but the challenge was could you write a story under a specific word count. I’ll post it at the end for example purposes, but it was exciting because of the limitations it presented. This is a great exercise to jump start a slow writing day, or deal with writer’s block. It’s also one of those tools to keep in your toolbox in the future. I would encourage you to try today to tell a story in 80 words. It will be…