Looking for the Best Word? Tip #25

A series offering writers help to make their work more accessible, interesting, varied, accurate and effective by exploring similar and dissimilar words. It also gives language learners insights into some peculiarities of English. A good thesaurus provides substitutes for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context is vital. Placing …

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Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

The new book progresses well, now standing at 53,185, which is an additional 12,594 words since the last post here. As often happens when pantster writing, I was suddenly taken on a diversion by a couple of characters the day before yesterday. The developing plot has taken a slightly unexpected turn, but the story is …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #24

A series offering writers help to make their work more accessible, interesting, varied, accurate and effective by exploring similar and dissimilar words. It also gives language learners insights into some peculiarities of English. A good thesaurus provides substitutes for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context is vital. Placing …

Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip #24

Looking for the Best Word? Tip #22

One day late: sorry! This series offers writers help to make their work more accessible, interesting, varied, accurate and effective by exploring similar and dissimilar words. It also gives language learners some insights into the peculiarities of English. A good thesaurus provides substitutes for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true …

Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip #22

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

A short progress report. The week has gone well, with some new research done (there’s a lot happening regarding Mars at the moment!). I’ve added 13,345 words to last week’s start, making the total word count 18,145 to date. The story continues to flow and the characters are developing. I wake up at night sometimes …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #21

Considering the date, perhaps I should look at usage for triskaidekaphobia? But I suspect everyone now knows it simply means a morbid fear of the number 13. This series offers writers help to make their work more accessible, interesting, varied, accurate and effective by exploring similar and dissimilar words. It also gives language learners some …

Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip #21

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

You really should have had this update yesterday, as I do them on Wednesdays. But I was actually writing (and, tell the truth, the heavy cold that had me in its clutches throughout Xmas and the New Year celebrations had returned to turn my brain to mush for most of the waking hours). Today, I …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #20

A series offering writers help to make their work more accessible, interesting, varied, accurate and effective by exploring similar and dissimilar words. Also giving language learners some insights into the peculiarities of English. A good thesaurus provides substitutes for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context is vital. Placing …

Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip #20

Submit, Publish, Repeat, by Emily Harstone, Reviewed.

This little eBook is worth its modest price for the links alone. It’s a basic journal setting out the process, pitfalls, opportunities and rewards relating to writing for literary journals. With chapters on Why You Should Submit…, How To Know When Your Work is Ready…, Basics of Submitting, and many others, it provides useful information …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #19

A series offering help for writers to make their work more accessible, interesting, varied, accurate and effective by exploring similar and dissimilar words. Also for language learners. A good thesaurus gives substitutes for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context is vital. Placing alternative words in the same sentence …

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Silent Plight, by Jill Province, Reviewed.

A fun story, this. The writer’s dilemma: freedom of expression and the associated poverty of writing what you want, or fame and the shackles the publisher will attach to your imagination? Required to write a formulaic tale to a strict deadline, the hapless author finds life gets in the way of creativity as family vies …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #18

This series offers help for writers to make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective by exploring similar and dissimilar words. It also helps language learners understand some of the finer points of English usage. A good thesaurus gives substitutes for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context …

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Author Interview on Unplag.com.

Today, I’m delighted to be interviewed on the unplag.com/blog, and given a chance to share information, motivation and writing advice. The piece is titled, 'Stuart Aken reveals a secret of his writing craft in his interview to unplag'. I consider this a real honour and I’m pleased to share it with you. Here’s the link …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #17

Today’s Google search for ‘Writers Help’ brought up 58,000,000 results. One post from this series was 4th in the list and a second was 6th! So, you’re in good company if you read this post. The series offers help for writers to make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective by exploring similar …

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

Many readers followed my progress on Blood Red Dust, so I've decided to run a similar series of short blogs for the second book in the series. The new book is underway. I have a small core of characters, some of whom readers met in Blood Red Dust, and others new to the series. The …

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