Megan Sharma – The Write Life https://thewritelife.com Helping writers create, connect and earn Thu, 27 Oct 2022 17:04:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 12 Traits Bad Writers and Toddlers Have in Common https://thewritelife.com/toddlers-and-writers/ Tue, 13 Feb 2018 11:00:00 +0000 https://thewritelife.com/?p=11582 So, I have a two-year-old daughter.

(Are you also a busy parent? Check out these tips for making time to write.)

I absolutely adore her. Don’t get me wrong.

But sometimes she drives me so bonkers that I just want to scream, “Why God, why?” while eating raw cookie dough in a closet.

Ahem.

After one such episode, I got to thinking about the things that toddlers and bad writers have in common.

It’s not that much of a stretch, really.

Toddler = not yet a fully-formed human.

Bad writer = not yet a fully-developed writer.

Here are 12 traits shared by 2-year-olds and immature writers.

1. Both are completely self-absorbed

Toddlers: I want ice cream NOW! (while waking up entire household at 6 a.m.)

Bad writers: I write for myself, not for my readers.

I don’t bother to provide entertainment or value to my readers.

It’s all about me.

2. Toddlers and bad writers have a limited worldview

Toddlers: I don’t like that kind.

I only like this kind.

I don’t want it.

Yuck!

Bad writers: I assume everyone shares my opinions and experiences.

I don’t consider other cultures or perspectives when I write.

If they don’t like it, they don’t have to read it.

3. They insist on immediate gratification

Toddlers: Me want to go swimming at the waterpark! (In the dead of winter, of course)

Bad writers: I want a perfect manuscript without the need to edit, a six-figure publishing deal for my first novel and a byline in The New York Times, even though I just graduated from journalism school.

Practice makes perfect? What a joke.

4. Neither can handle constructive criticism

Toddlers: On hearing that clothing might help keep their body warm, run screaming and naked through the house.

Bad writers: There is no such thing as constructive criticism, only haters.

I know my writing best.

artists and toddlers5. Babies and bad writers make messes that they expect others to clean up

Toddlers: (Purposely empties boots full of sand in the car)

Mommy, there is sand in the car!

Get it out!

Bad writers: (Leaves their copy riddled with mistakes)

Ehh, my editor will spruce it up.

It doesn’t need to be perfect.

6. No matter the age, they just won’t listen

Toddlers: Sings “Let it Go” at the top of his lungs while dad tries to ask if he needs to go potty.

Bad writers: I’m an artist, okay?

They wouldn’t understand.

I’ll just keep doing me.

7. They throw a fit at the drop of a hat

Toddlers: I said I want “Moana” radio not “Beauty and the Beast” radio!

Wahhhhhhh!

Bad writers: My life is over! Woe is me! I am a broken man!

(After receiving just one negative book review, online comment or rejection email)

8. Immature writers and toddlers aren’t careful what they wish for

Toddlers: I want goldfish.

No, I don’t want goldfish!

Get it away!

No goldfish!

Bad writers: Man, if only I had more time to write, more freelance work and more social media followers.

(All of this comes true)

Oh, no! I am soooooo busy. I wish I had less on my plate.

9. Ummm…focus? What focus?

Toddlers: Look, a butterfly!

Mommy, I’m hungry.

Where is my blanket?

Bad writers: I only write when I feel inspired.

I jump around from project to project.

There’s no need to finish anything.

All in good time.

10. Both resist changes like the plague

Toddlers: Dad to toddler: would you like a different color crayon?

Noooooooo!

I only want this blue crayon!

Bad writers: Whoever said, ‘change is good’ was seriously delusional.

I abhor change.

New technology, clients, writing style, editorial guidelines, whatever it may be: I fight it tooth and keyboard.

11. Neither do what they’re supposed to do

Toddlers: Throws clothes down the stairs after being asked to get dressed.

Bad writers: So what if I occasionally skip deadlines, ignore emails and don’t follow through?

Nobody will notice, anyway.

12. They never say “thank you”

Toddlers: They just never say it.

No matter how many millions of times you politely encourage it.

Bad writers: Okay, so I’ve had a little help in my writing journey.

But my mentors don’t really need to be acknowledged, do they?

They live for this stuff.

I guess we all may have some growing up to do, eh? A writer’s work is never done.

Are you guilty of any of these “baby writer” tendencies? Leave a comment and fess up!

]]> 18 Ways to Support an Author (Besides Buying Their Book) https://thewritelife.com/support-an-author/ Thu, 18 Jan 2018 11:00:00 +0000 https://thewritelife.com/?p=11579 If you are an avid reader, then there are authors in your life. Lots of them. You may not know them personally, but you know the genius of their words.

As an author, my friends and family often ask how they can support me in my writing journey.

I mean, everyone knows that you can support an author by buying their books. That’s a no-brainer.

But what if their book isn’t yet published? What if books aren’t in your current budget? What if the author already enjoys fame and fortune and you simply want to show some appreciation for their incredible work?

Easy.

Here are 18 ways to support an author without spending a penny.

1. Follow them on social media

Authors are constantly looking to grow their readership, and social media is one of the primary channels for doing so.

2. Engage with them on social media

Go beyond liking or following and share, comment on, and retweet their content.

3. Sign up for their email list

Bonus for this good deed: you’ll often be the first to hear about giveaways and new book launches.

4. Read their blog

If they have a blog, check it out. The more eyes, the better.

5. Engage with their blog

Comment on posts and share your favorites with your friends. There’s nothing worse than writing a blog that feels like an echo chamber.

support an author6. Thoughtfully review their books

Book reviews influence buying decisions, for better or for worse. If you enjoyed a book, leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads or Barnes and Noble.

7. Spotlight them on your blog

Offer to interview your favorite author on your blog. This is especially helpful for debut or self-published authors.

8. Review their book on your blog

Do you review books on your blog? Go ahead and slot their book(s) in.

9. Add their book(s) to your Goodreads lists

Let your fellow bookworms know the author’s book is on your ‘to read’ or ‘currently reading’ list.

10. Name-drop in conversation

If people ask about your new favorite books or authors, don’t hesitate to mention them.

11. Do the book club bump

Recommend your new favorite books and authors to your book club.

12. Go straight to the source

If you’re friend or a fan, why not drop the author an email or social post with compliments? It will absolutely make their day.

13. Don’t forget the library

You know, home of all the books? Check out their book from the local library.

14. Plug the book locally

If your hometown library or bookstore isn’t already carrying the book, suggest it to them.

15. Take a selfless selfie

Share a photo of you with the book or the book against an exciting backdrop on social media and tag the author.

16. Show up when it matters

If the author lives nearby or is stopping in your area on a book tour, check out their release party or book signing and bring a couple of friends with you.

17. Get that book noticed

Read your hard copy in public (at the coffee shop, on the bus, at the airport), where other nosy readers will take note.

18. Pay it forward

Lend or gift your copy of the book to a friend who will enjoy it and ask that they do the same.

Authors truly appreciate any effort you make to help spread the word and support them.

You may even make a new friend or pen pal in the process.

Do you have good author karma? How else can we support authors? Let us know in the comments!

]]> 17 Incredible Possibilities if Writers Ran The World https://thewritelife.com/if-writers-ran-the-world/ Tue, 11 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +0000 https://thewritelife.com/?p=10846 We writers are often dreamers.

So, today, I dream: of a splendid, magical world just for writers.

What does that world look like?

Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and imagine the possibilities…

1. Ideas captured instantly

No more relying on those spare notebooks scattered around your office, car, purse and bedside table.

We’re going beyond voice notes. Way more advanced than speech to text.

Introducing brain to text!

Your best ideas are automatically transferred from your mind to your laptop, smoothly and seamlessly.

2. Café au lait, oh yay!

Writers run on caffeine.

Free espresso, coffee and tea for all writers is the law of the land.

Not to mention the red-carpeted priority seating sections in all coffee shops designated solely for writers.

3. Your wish is my command

Every writer is paired with an experienced fairy godmother to help with pesky tasks like editing.

Not too shabby.

4. Just hit ‘send’

Mundane or tedious emails now write themselves, so writers can focus on their craft.

5. Relief for tired muscles

No more pinched nerves or aching back.

Simply text or call the mobile masseuse squad to work out those knots while you continue to write that masterpiece.

Plus, carpal tunnel syndrome no longer exists.

6. Wi-Fi wherever you roam

Free and reliable Wi-Fi follows you to every corner of the globe, so you can always meet your deadlines.

7. Phone a famous author

Have you seen the show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”?

Remember how you can phone a friend for help with a challenging question?

Well, phone a famous author is now available to help you with the perfect word choice or story structure.

J.K. Rowling on speed dial? Sign me up!

8. Goodbye Stalin, hello Sylvia Plath

Any statues of dictators out there have been replaced by the likenesses of great writers, from Dickens to Dostoyevsky.

9. Stay in the flow

When you’re writing and in ‘the zone’ you can’t be bothered by trifles such as food and drink.

Enter a team of friendly robots to serve your favorite snacks and goodies.

Keep on writing while your new robot bestie stuffs your face.

writing world

10. Grammar girls and boys

Teachers find an engaging and memorable way to impart their knowledge of spelling, grammar and usage to children everywhere.

The masses finally understand the difference between your and you’re; and they’re, their, and there.

[The crowd goes wild!]

11. Keep trim while typing

Presenting the incredible, the one-and-only calorie burning keyboard!

Each word you type corresponds to the number of calories you burn.

You can go ahead and cancel that pricey gym membership, folks.

12. Books aplenty

Indulge your insatiable literary appetite with a lifetime supply of free books in every format and genre, in addition to no-wait library books, videos and audiobooks.

Pair it with ever-expanding bookshelf space, so you never run out of room for your collection.

13. Education for all

All people, regardless of gender or socioeconomic status, are given the opportunity to learn to read and write.

Bonus: those who wish to pursue a writing career attend college, all-expenses paid.

14. Recharge and rejuvenate in style

Need to take a few moments away from that manuscript or blog?

Jump on your neighborhood party bus, exclusively for writers.

Door-to-door service and a thumping dance party all in one.

15. No more boring speeches

Since writers run the world, only the most engaging and touching of speeches will be given.

Abraham Lincoln would be proud.

16. Love your laptop

Tired of searching in vain for a place to plug in your laptop while out and about?

Cheer up.

The new Writer 2.0 laptops use the energy of your writing to charge themselves.

17. Curated cozy corners

Every major city houses numerous nooks for writing or reading — decked out with plush chairs, self-refilling coffee mugs, and a live string quartet (for ambiance).

Ahhh…this is the life. Doesn’t this writer’s utopia sound utterly fabulous?

Well, it’s not going to build itself, people!

Let’s get to work.

What would you add to this writer’s paradise?  

Share your ideas in the comments!

]]> Get Inspired! 20 Writers to Follow on Twitter https://thewritelife.com/20-writers-on-twitter/ Wed, 21 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +0000 https://thewritelife.com/?p=10871 We writers all need community. We all need inspiration.

And, for better or for worse, we need smart strategies for making money, whether through freelance work, books, speaking engagements or by helping others improve their writing.

Twitter is bursting with like-minded writers, authors and entrepreneurs who want to connect and help one another out.

It’s completely worth the time investment to find your tribe on Twitter.

I’ve made it even easier for you: I scoured Twitter to find writers who post the most interesting, helpful, and motivational content in the Twittersphere.

Bonus: I’ve highlighted FREE resources available from each oh-so-generous writer. You can also easily follow all 20 writers included on this handy Twitter list.

1. Jane Friedman (@JaneFriedman) nonfiction author, publishing industry expert

Jane is an expert with 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. She blogs several times a week about topics relevant to authors and writers.

Jane’s personal passion is to help authors and publishers “make smart decisions in the digital age”.

Follow Jane if you have any interest in publishing, from traditional to self-publishing to hybrid models.

Quick tip: I highly recommend signing up for Jane’s email newsletter

2. Stephanie Chandler (@Steph_Chandler) nonfiction author, marketing and entrepreneurship expert

Stephanie is the founder and CEO of the Nonfiction Authors Association, author of eight books on marketing and on writing nonfiction, blogger and frequent guest speaker.

Stephanie tweets about ways to help authors promote themselves, business strategies for entrepreneurs, publishing and more.

Follow Stephanie if you’re looking for marketing techniques you haven’t already read a million times.

Quick tip: Download Stephanie’s free report “35 Ways to Increase Website Traffic for Authors”

3. Dan Blank (@DanBlank) nonfiction author, book marketing expert

Dan is the author of Be the Gateway: A Practical Guide to Sharing Your Creative Work and Engaging an Audience, geared toward helping creative types connect with an audience.

Dan blogs weekly about book marketing and tweets useful tidbits from his blog and podcast.

Follow Dan if you want to learn how to connect with a broader, business-minded writing community.

Quick tip: Sign up for Dan’s weekly email updates

4. Tim Grahl (@timgrahl) nonfiction author, expert on bestselling book launches

Tim helps authors build their platform, connect with fans and sell more books.

He has worked with more than 100 authors and has helped many become New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post best sellers.

Tim provides practical, actionable book launch advice.

Follow Tim if you’re ready to launch your book the right way.

Quick tip: Tim has several free resources, including a book launch assessment and free book marketing courses and articles

5. Joel Friedlander (@JFbookman) nonfiction author, book design and self-publishing expert

Joel’s background in book design, advertising and graphic design has informed his collection of 700+ authoritative and easy-to-follow articles.

Joel offers real-world advice to build better books, especially for self-published authors. He urges writers to get their work out into the world.

Follow Joel if you’re totally into self-publishing or if you want to geek out on book design.

Quick tip: Get Joel’s free guide: “10 Things You Need to Know About Self-Publishing”

6. Mridu Khullar Relph (@mridukhullar) international freelance journalist, nonfiction author and entrepreneur

Mridu is a journalist and author with 700+ bylines who helps writers “find the work, do the work, run the business and live the life”.

Mridu’s blogs and articles describe her personal experiences getting off the ground as a journalist in a way that engages and informs other writers.

Follow Mridu for motivation and go-to advice on building a successful writing career as a journalist, magazine writer or freelancer.

Quick tip: Mridu compiled a list of 70+ publications that pay $1 or more per word, so use it to start your target list today

See Mridu’s writing for The Write Life here

7. Jennie Nash (@jennienash) writer, book coach, author of seven books

Jennie is an author of four novels and three memoirs with 30 years of experience in the world of books.

She is adept at getting “into writers’ heads” and “inspiring them to write something that matters.”

Follow Jennie for advice on book marketing, navigating the publishing industry, success stories and craft.

Quick tip: Check out Jennie’s free resource library. When you sign up for her email list, you’ll receive a free 40-page ebook on how to edit.

See Jennie’s writing for The Write Life here

8. Rachel Bale (@deptofwandering) travel writer, blogger and creator of The Department of Wandering

Rachel was drudging through her 9-5 job while living abroad in Berlin in 2014 when she made the leap to blogging and freelancing.

Rachel’s tweets are primarily for the travel-hungry, but also serve up tips for bloggers.

Follow Rachel for travel inspiration, blogging quick tips and fodder to pursue your writing dreams.

Quick tip: Email subscribers can access the Department of Wandering free library of blogging resources here, including 50+ killer blog title ideas

9. Mignon Fogarty, AKA Grammar Girl (@GrammarGirl) New York Times bestselling author, podcaster and writing/grammar authority

Mignon Fogarty, AKA Grammar Girl, is the founder and managing director of Quick and Dirty Tips and the author of eight books on the art of grammar and writing.

Grammar Girl focuses on short, friendly tips to improve your writing.

Follow Grammar Girl if you still don’t know how to use a hyphen or the difference between active and passive voice.

Quick tip: Sign up for Grammar Girl’s free weekly newsletter

10. Michael Hyatt (@MichaelHyatt) New York Times bestselling author, blogger and podcaster focused on intentional leadership

Michael is the former CEO of a publishing company and author of eight books, including the New York Times bestseller, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World.

On Twitter, Michael is a “virtual mentor” helping “overwhelmed, high achievers get the clarity, confidence, and tools they need to win at work and succeed at life.”

Follow Michael on Twitter for productivity advice and motivation to kick butt in your career.

Quick tip: As an email subscriber, you will get Michael’s free e-book: “Shave 10 Hours Off Your Workweek”. Click here and see the “Free ebook” sidebar on the right.

11. Joanna Penn (@thecreativepenn) New York Times bestselling thriller author, podcaster, speaker

Joanna has written 21 books and sold over 500,000 copies in 84 countries and five languages.

Her mission is to save writers “time, money and heartache” by sharing content about “writing and creativity, publishing options, book marketing and being a creative entrepreneur.”

Follow Joanna if you want advice from a super successful author.

Quick tip: Get Joanna’s free Author 2.0 blueprint with tips on writing fiction and nonfiction, self-publishing, book marketing and how to make a living with your writing.

12. Mary Kole (@Kid_Lit) author, kidlit expert and former literary agent

Mary is a former literary agent, freelance editor and author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Fiction for Young Adult and Middle Grade Readers.

Mary tweets helpful hints to guide writers on the art of writing for children and young adults.

Follow Mary if kidlit is your jam.

Quick tip: Check out Mary’s curated list of resources for writers

13. Jenny Blake (@jenny_blake) author, speaker, career coach and business strategist

Jenny is an author, coach and speaker who is “fiercely committed to helping people come alive through the pursuit of big ideas”.

Jenny tweets about best practices to move forward with your life and career.

Follow Jenny if you need a kick in the career pants.

Quick tip: Sign up for Jenny’s weekly newsletter or take this quiz to see how flexible/pivot-savvy you really are

14. Carrie S. Nicholson (@carefulcents) blogger who helps freelancers earn money on their terms

Carrie is a blogger who has walked the walk: in 2012, she quit her full-time accounting job to pursue her own business helping freelancers stress less and earn money on their own terms.

Carrie tweets about the latest productivity tools and strategies for freelancers.

Follow Carrie if you are ready to make your freelance dreams a reality.

Quick tip: Sign up for Carrie’s email newsletter and get her free guide to her top 10 productivity tools, and more

See Carrie’s writing for The Write Life here

15. Chuck Sambuchino (@ChuckSambuchino) humor and nonfiction author, former editor for Writers Digest Books

Chuck served for many years as an editor for Writers Digest Books and established himself as an authority on writing and book publishing.

He also has firsthand experience, having written three nonfiction books for writers and two humor books.

Chuck’s tweets help writers get published and market their books.

Follow Chuck if you’re looking for the inside track to book publishing.

Quick tip: see where Chuck will be speaking next

See Chuck’s writing for The Write Life here

16. Amy Porterfield (@AmyPorterfield) marketer and entrepreneur who can help you build your email list, and more

Amy is a marketer, podcaster and creator of bestselling marketing courses.

Amy seeks to help people build an engaged email list and grow their businesses.

Follow Amy if you want to know what’s working now on social media.

Quick tip: choose your free marketing cheat sheet from Amy

17. Joanna Wiebe (@copyhackers) writer and co-creator of Copy Hackers, a site focused on marketing, copywriting and freelancing content

Joanna is a marketer, conversion copywriter and cofounder of Copy Hackers who was recently named one of Forbes’ 17 online marketing influencers to watch.

Joanna tweets resources for marketers, copywriters and freelancers.

Follow Joanna to up your copywriting game.

Quick tip:  Copyhackers offers two free e-books:

The Conversion Marketer’s Guide to Landing Page Copywriting

How to Write Newsletters That Get Opened, Read and Clicked

18. Leah Kalamakis (@theftfp) designer, developer and blogger passionate about helping freelancers and entrepreneurs

Leah is a blogger, developer, designer and entrepreneur who created the Freelance to Freedom Project.

On her blog and on Twitter, Leah shares actionable advice for freelancers and wannabe freelancers who seek control of their careers.

Follow Leah if you’re ready to dive into this whole freelancing thing.

Quick tip: Get Leah’s free freelancer’s toolkit or download Leah’s free effortless website planning toolkit

See Leah’s writing for The Write Life here

19. Sarah Kathleen Peck (@sarahkpeck) writer, blogger, teacher and first-time author

Sarah is a writer whose work has been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, and The Huffington Post.

Sarah publishes weekly essays and teaches digital workshops on yoga, content strategy, thought leadership, marketing and more.

Follow Sarah if you’d relish connecting with another writer and first-time author.

Quick tip: Visit Sarah’s web site for free downloads or subscribe to her personal growth newsletter

20. Jeff Goins (@JeffGoins) bestselling author and creativity expert

Jeff is a full-time writer and creativity expert who has authored You Are a Writer, Real Artists Don’t Starve, and three additional nonfiction books.

Jeff focuses on what it takes to become a bestselling author and how to make a living with your writing.

Follow Jeff for the perfect mashup of writing advice and business sense.

Quick tip: Get Jeff’s free guide to becoming a bestselling author  

Who are your favorite writers on Twitter? Add to the list in the comments!


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]]> Think Like a Journalist to Improve Your Writing (Trench Coat Optional!) https://thewritelife.com/think-like-a-journalist/ Fri, 16 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +0000 https://thewritelife.com/?p=10770 As a teenager, I felt in the very core of my being that I was destined to be a newspaper reporter and probably a Pulitzer Prize winner.

I was already reporting for my middle school newspaper, “The Saghalie Skyhawk”, on crucial issues of the day like lunchtime panhandlers itching to satisfy a Cool Ranch Doritos craving, and writing horoscopes littered with alliteration.

What more could a girl want from a career?

I stuck with it, continuing to try on the journalism hat while writing for school newspapers in high school and in college.

I graduated with a degree in Journalism from Seattle Pacific University in 2005, around the time when prospects for career journalists were looking dire.

The digital age was taking hold, and the future was, at best, extremely uncertain for traditional media outlets. Even my professors were anxious.

Ever the pragmatist, I decided to abandon my childhood dreams of whiling away the hours in a real live newsroom for a broader communications career, though I had little more than an inkling as to what that meant in the workplace.

Once I finally joined the ranks of ye olde working worlde, I discovered my journalism education had prepared me exceptionally well for a veritable cornucopia of writing styles and mediums, and, even more importantly, I knew how to communicate with people.

But you don’t need a journalism degree to apply the basic principles to your writing. When you think like a journalist, you will become a better writer.

Here’s how you can use 10 tenets of journalism to improve your writing, no matter your genre or industry.

1. Remember the 5 Ws

Journalists can never forget the 5 Ws: Who, What, When, Where, Why (plus the sixth unofficial W: Why should I care?).

These are not only the building blocks for a news article, they also serve as a baseline for a corporate communications plan, as a sketch for a customer profile and as a starting point for a novelist’s character chart.

2. Know your audience

Who are you writing for? What’s on their to-do list? What keeps them up at night? What television shows do they watch? What do they read? What are their political views? Do they have children? What do they want most out of life?

Imagine you are writing for one person. And don’t write a single word until you know who that person is, and why they will want to read what you have to say.

3. Refine your lead

Okay, okay: journalists would call it a lede.

It’s the same concept: your hook, your sizzle, your selling point. Your primary summary of what’s happening.

Figure out, first and foremost, what will engage your audience and motivate them to read more.

Human beings are wired for storytelling — so tell a story.

If you can add human conflict to the mix, all the better.

4. Show, don’t tell

Memoirists, novelists and journalists are equally familiar with the idea of showing, not telling.

It’s the art of painting a picture with words. It’s setting the scene. It’s using specific examples to engross the imagination.

For example: “She put on another pot of hot coffee” is rather generic.

However, “As she ran out the clock on the last 14 minutes of her 12-hour shift, the waitress reluctantly refilled the industrial coffee pot for perhaps the thousandth time that day” is not only more specific, it also conveys the mood of the scene.

Another trick is to weave in the five senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell — just don’t try to force all of them into the ultimate run-on sentence.

5. Trust, but verify

Whether you’re writing a competitive analysis for a business, doing research for your latest book or interviewing a subject for a magazine, you need to carefully evaluate your information sources.

Err on the side of the reliable, the reputable and the truthful. Stay away from drama and speculation.

Know the difference between an established news outlet or a qualified subject matter expert and a random online commentator.

Double-check your facts and vet your sources.

6. Strategically structure your writing

Imagine a pyramid.

Your most important, catchiest and most interesting content belongs at the very top of the pyramid.

Attention spans are shockingly short — you have mere seconds before your reader moves on.

Thus, it makes sense to arrange your writing from most important to least important, in case the reader jumps ship halfway through.

7. Mind the details

Details matter.

Names, titles, punctuation, dates, capitalization, citations and other minutiae (can anyone out there spell minutiae without the aid of Spell Check? I can’t.) can make or break your story.

If you demonstrate that you can handle the small details, you’re more likely to find more work, book deals and future clients.

Remember that accuracy, paired with consistency, lends credibility.

8. Aim to stir emotions

Writers write to connect with people. And people connect via their emotions and their shared experiences.

Read your writing out loud.

Does it feel flat and monotone? Try again until the words start coming to life.

Picture the scene playing out in a movie.

If you want your writing to have a lasting impact, make it your goal to evoke emotion: amusement, horror, nostalgia, anger, inspiration, or whatever is appropriate for your audience and your writing.

9. Trim it up

Throw out anything that doesn’t serve the primary purpose of your writing.

Sometimes diversions from the topic at hand can provide fodder for another blog, article, or book.

But if it doesn’t belong, or confuses the narrative, it’s got to go.

Take it from Mark Twain:

“Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very:’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.”

Extraneous information and commentary weaken your work rather than improve it.   

10. Focus on the human element

I love this technique for dealing with data.

Data byte: According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Americans consumed 140.43 billion gallons of gasoline in 2015.

So, what? Do a bit of math to bring the point home to your readers.

Try this: Americans consumed enough gasoline in 2015 to fill more than 212,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Now you’ve made an impact and created a visual for your reader.

Anyone can think and write like a journalist.

Journalism is essentially the pursuit of truth, and truth can be expressed in innumerable forms: poetry, fiction, art, music, investigatory journalism, cultural commentary, blogging, and children’s books, to name a few.

Start and end with the search for truth, pay attention to the world around you, and you’re on the right path.

Trench coat optional.

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