Category: Writing Tips

Cyberbullies, Trolls, Mobs & Haters—How to Protect Yourself & Others in a Dangerous World

Cyberbullies (trolls) exhibit what is called The Dark Tetrad Personality—Machiavellianism, narcissism, sadism, and psychopathy. Yet, this is where we can get in BIG trouble. We often try to deal with trolls the way we would rational people who are not deeply disturbed. Trolls remind me of the Terminator, and the hero (Kyle Reese) has the best explanation of what an Internet troll truly is.

Generate Nerve-Shredding Story Tension—Power of the Secret-Keeper

We all have faces we show to certain people, roles we play. We are one person in the workplace, another with family, another with friends and another with strangers. This isn’t us being deceptive in a bad way, it’s self-protection and it’s us upholding societal norms.

Want to Successfully Publish? First, Are You a "Real" Writer?

My father had a genius IQ (was FAR smarter than me), yet died working minimum wage at a bike shop. He’d always longed to be a writer, but that was “foolishness.” It wasn’t a real job. Friends and family often offer the strongest resistance, partly because they love us and mean well. “Don’t you want to learn medical billing? The pay is GREAT!”

Kiss Your “As” Goodbye: A Simple Grammar Trick for Better Fiction

A good grade in a high school or college English class doesn’t necessarily translate into the ability to write great fiction, so it’s easy for us to mistakenly think understanding grammar isn’t important for fiction writing at all. Isn’t that what a copy editor is for? Won’t they fix all your mistakes?

5 Tips For Long-Term Writing Success

I’m an extremely loyal person. For years, I refused to let go of certain childhood friends even though they consistently made epically DUMB life decisions. I kept believing I could “help.” What happened? EPIC STUPIDITY rubbed off on ME. I had to break away. I wouldn’t change them, they were changing ME (and not for the better).