Writing Information

Think of writing like karate...it's about DISCIPLINE.

Ever wonder why we refer to convincing an editor a story is worthy by ?pitching a story?? I have. I'm a baseball enthusiast, and it makes a lot of sense to me. When the editor is at bat with you, he or she has a few swings to make before making a connection — through the story idea (ball) that could end up being a base hit or a home run. Naturally, everyone wants to hit a home run when they go to

If your writing muscle isn't in shape, writing a novel may seem like a sheer, unscalable cliff. ("Gee, I don't think I can write today. I left my climbing shoes in my other backpack...")

Writing is a muscle that needs exercise to stay in shape.

Open up your favorite calendar and circle today's date.

Being a great writer is no longer enough if you plan to score a big publishing deal, especially as a nonfiction author.

The Big Idea

What am I supposed to give Anthony as a wedding gift? I asked Kristin, my bridesmaid and person-who-was-married. I mean, what kinds of things do brides give their grooms? I was thinking of hiring someone to clean the house before we left for the honeymoon so wed come back to a spotless house. Is that a good wedding gift?

Sometimes I can be dense when it comes to realizing the potential of my own life experiences as essays for magazines. I, of course, fully believe that everything in my life is newsworthy, but sometimes have trouble figuring out which experiences will hit home with other people.

There are many ways you can generate ideas you can use for your stories, articles and other creative pieces. Start with the three ways given below:

Reading through a writer's notebook or journal is like discovering pearls, rubies and diamonds amidst a pile of rubble.

Nothing is more daunting for any writer than having to stare at a blank sheet of paper.

We writers are a powerful lot. We control time. We dictate actions. We control destinies.

Or do you?

You have a new website, or a new business, or both — or your site isn't getting the kind of traffic you want and need. How are you going to tell the world about what you have to offer and where to find it?