Jan 20, 2008 Posted by mike

Writing Powerful Endings

by Laura Backes The first few lines of any story are the most important — and often most difficult — words you’ll write. The next most challenging piece of writing is the ending. Once you draw your readers in and take them through your story, you need to leave them with a satisfying conclusion. Here, then, are some tips for writing powerful endings: Fiction picture books: The story in a... read more

Jan 20, 2008 Posted by mike

PROOFREADING 101

by Tanja Rosteck While proofreading isn’t the most enjoyable part of writing, it’s the most important. A document full of typos, grammatical glitches, and glaring errors reflects badly on your business and can create more problems than it solves. Don’t rely on the spell-checker, as it can’t catch certain types of errors. It’s best to proofread the document with your own eyes... read more

Jan 20, 2008 Posted by mike

Writing And Illustrating Fantasy Stories For Children

by Wendy Peterson Writing The Text Many popular children’s stories are really wish fulfillment for the reader. Escaping to a world where magical adventures and fantastic creatures are only a page away, appeals to the child in all of us. Enid Blyton wrote her series of Faraway Tree books decades ago, becoming one of the most popular children’s authors ever. J.K. Rowling’s world of wizards... read more

Jan 20, 2008 Posted by mike

When Did You Say That Was?

by Dr. Bob Rich Some people would be writers, if only they could use grammar. Others are able to produce near faultless English, but still have a blind spot or two. And the most common blind spot concerns that mysterious beast, the past participle. I don’t know where the name comes from. To me, it sounds icy and rigid. However, the concept it describes is essential. The correct use of the past... read more

Jan 20, 2008 Posted by mike

Plotting: The Basic Pattern

by Linda Hope Lee Plot may be defined as what happens in the story, the sequence of events that occurs as the character attempts to solve his problem or reach his goal. But plot is more than simply a recounting of events. A plot must have shape and form. It must have a beginning, a middle, and an end. It must have a purpose, a reason for being. At the end of the plot some change must have occurred, either... read more