150 Resources to Help You Write Better, Faster, and More Persuasively It doesn't matter if you're a student or a professional writer: there's always something new to learn and ways to make your writing more refined, better researched, and more effective. Writing is essential for students who want to succeed, whether they're enrolled in one of the top online colleges or an Ivy League university. As essential as it is, learning to write well isn't easy. The best practices for writing and research can sometimes be subjective, and the finer points of syntax and style often take a backseat to looming deadlines and strict citation guidelines. Luckily, there are many helpful resources that make it easier to build on your existing skills while learning new ones. Blogs These blogs can help you learn more about the profession of writing, brush up your skills, and even see what it takes to get a book published. Copyblogger: On Copyblogger, Brian Clark offers tips on how to improve the content, marketing, and business of a blog. Business and Legal Matters Genres Rhetoric
The Age of Innovation - Innovation blog art by Alan M Webber When this period we're in right now passes and whatever comes next arrives, we'll look back fondly on this current time and call it, quite rightly The Age of Innovation. Beset as we are by serious and pressing problems, we run the risk of failing to appreciate one of the most incredible periods of creative output in world history. It's been almost a decade since "innovation" became a business buzz word. Instead, innovation has become a sustained business element. Why? Here's a partial list - feel free to add to it or make your own! Global competition. What are the shapes, forms, and practices that tell you we're living through the Age of Innovation? What are you doing to be part of it? One thing's sure: You don't want to miss it - you don't want to fail to appreciate it or fail to participate.
50 Free Resources That Will Improve Your Writing Skills - Smashing Magazine Advertisement Today, too many websites are still inaccessible. In our new book Inclusive Design Patterns, we explore how to craft flexible front-end design patterns and make future-proof and accessible interfaces without extra effort. Hardcover, 312 pages. Effective writing skills are to a writer what petrol is to a car. Of course, effective writing requires a good command of the language in which you write or want to write. Further Reading on SmashingMag: Link We collected over 50 useful and practical tools and resources that will help you to improve your writing skills. 1. Use English Punctuation Correctly6 A quick and useful crash course in English punctuation. HyperGrammar7 An extensive electronic grammar course at the University of Ottawa’s Writing Centre. Grammar Girl8 Mignon Fogarty’s quick and dirty tips for better writing. English Style Guide – Economist16 This guide is based on the style book which is given to all journalists at The Economist. 2. Dr. 3. 4. Practical tips Link 5.
Ad-free eBooks for your iPad, smartphone, or eBook reader 10 Writing Tips from the Masters As the world becomes increasingly digital, writing becomes more important. This is especially true for non-writers. If you work in an office, the majority of your communications are made with text by email or IM.Whether you like it or not, your ability to exchange ideas, collaborate with others, and ultimately succeed, hinges on the ability to write effectively.Earlier this week, K. Stone laid out a process to help you write faster, better, and easier. 1. I try to leave out the parts that people skip. Unless you’re writing for personal reasons alone, you need to consider the attention of your readers. 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. I used to feel that using words like “really”, “actually”, or “extremely” made writing more forceful. Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. It’s not hard to realize that unless you’re excited about your writing no one else will be.4. 9.
The Write Stuff: Solid writing skills are a job requirement | br Text messaging, IM'ing and blogging are now the popular kids in the grammar world, leaving the little old English language stuck home alone waiting for a phone call. Grammar, punctuation and spelling have been disregarded in favor of speed and convenience. It's understandable if you're just firing off a quick note or text to a friend, but when it comes to writing in the workplace, extra effort is required. From resumes and reports to emails and memos, writing skills are something you'll use whether trying to land a job or function in one. Resume rules As a potential hire, you're more than a simple resume. It's a good idea to edit your resume down to one page while still allowing for enough white space to make it easy-to-read. Working stiff Once you land a job with your polished resume, you'll likely have to communicate with co-workers, clients, and others via email in a professional style that's different from writing your friends and family. Cover your bases The Bottom Line Sources:
Plotting Your Novel by Lee Masterson "By failing to plan, you are planning to fail." A good story is made up of a logical beginning, a bumpy middle and a satisfying end. But a good plot is made up of more than just these three basics. Plotting an entire novel is a complex task, best summed up by saying it is the author's way of showing the reader the events as they are unfolding. A successful plot depends largely on how the author chooses to display those events as they unfold. A carefully crafted plot-line, interwoven with clever characterizations, tightly written dialogue and enough action to hold a reader's attention are only some of the factors which determine whether a book is a memorable journey, or merely a story moving through the motions from start to finish. Let's look at some of the ingredients you will need to include into a successful plot-line. The Hook You must lure the reader into wanting to continue deeper into your fictional world by introducing some form of action at the outset. Characters
10 Steps to Finding Your Writing Voice Bonus: Need help finding your writing voice? Click here for free tips. I write only because / There is a voice within me / That will not be still.–Sylvia Plath Awhile ago, I wrote an article called, “Finding Your Blog’s Unique Voice.” Photo credit: Dan Foy (Creative Commons) But here, I want to share a little bit more about how to find your overall writing voice. Spending some time deliberating over voice is worth your attention and focus. If you struggle with getting people to read your writing or with staying consistent in your craft, you need to stop chasing numbers and productivity and reboot. An exercise for finding your voice Not sure where to start? Describe yourself in three adjectives. Why do you need a writing voice? Finding your voice is the key to getting dedicated followers and fans and that it’s the only sustainable way to write. Once you’ve found your voice, make sure you continue to develop it. The bottom line is that there’s a lot of noise out there in the world.