One of the biggest reasons why writers give up on their craft is a lack of confidence. Something as simple as a single piece of negative feedback, or even a lack of response altogether, can make writers wonder, “What’s the point?” I’ve been there. I’m probably going back there at some point in the future. However, before we all slump our shoulders and throw in the towel, let’s pause to think about some ways in which we can build confidence in ourselves.
All too often, people divide writers and editors into separate categories. It’s true that not all editors are writers, but all writers must be editors. Writers who throw together a rough draft and do a quick spell-check, then expect an editor to do all the hard work, are making a big mistake for several reasons:
In this post, I’ll share some useful tips for revising and editing your own work. First, though, I’m going to answer two important questions.
Email has become one of the primary methods of communication for business professionals. If you’re anything like me, you would rather send an email than make a phone call any day. Since email is so important to professional life, it only makes sense that you should be aware of email best practices. Here are some tips to help you elevate your emails, polish your professionalism, and become emperor (or empress) of your inbox.
Ah, commas. This cute little punctuation mark is essential to writing understandable prose. Unfortunately, it is also among the most misused punctuation marks. I’ve seen countless examples of extra commas, missing commas, and commas that seem to be hanging out just because the writer wanted to put one there (or made a typo).
How can you conquer comma usage and take your writing to the next level? Here is your guide to navigating some of the most common comma conundrums. And don’t worry — I’m not a fan of high-falootin’ language, so this article should be digestible even for folks who shudder when they hear the word “grammar.”