Put Enthusiasm Into Your Writing

Writing without enthusiasm is dull.

First Time Authors - Clearing Publishing Hurdles

If you’ve started your search for a publisher and gotten bombarded with “Your work is great, but we’re not interested at this time,” don’t despair. There is hope and by looking closer at some of the things I suggest here, you will eventually reach your goal. Be patient, though, it takes time to go the traditional route.

Al Pacino Scarface - Story Structure Template for Screenwriting

An excellent remake, starring Al Pacino, of Scarface, the Shame of the Nation (1932. This story structure has 53 stages and is best understood by watching the film simultaneously. Using story structure templates like these helps the screenwriter to quickly expand an idea into a step outline and treatment and then rapidly reach a words-on-paper first draft from there.

Hero's Journey - Woman as Temptress

There are two simultaneous manifestations – the physical and the spiritual. Using the word “spiritual” can be dangerous as it is interpreted in many ways, but it must be remembered that the Hero’s Journey is primarily about the Hero’s path to another (not necessarily higher) level of consciousness.

Hero's Journey (complete, 106 stages)

Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero’s Journey. The Hero’s Journey is the most usable story structure consisting of at least 106 stages and the template for successful contemporary stories, from Star Wars to Al Pacino Scarface to The Incredibles to War of the Worlds to The Dirty Dozen to Midnight Cowboy.

Successful Documentation Projects - Part 2 of 3 - 'Specifying'

You know who your audience is, what they’re trying to achieve, how the product enables them to achieve it, and what the audience requires of the help. Now it’s time to spec out your intentions.

Sloppy Speech Habits Can Affect the Job Interview

Your speech may be holding you back. Before you go on the next job interview, do a check-up from the neck up.

Romance Readers' Pet Peeves

Avoiding over-used phrases in romance novels and short stories.

Author Spotlight: David Conlin McLeod

David Conlin McLeod reviewer Kristin Johnson talks to the horror writer about vampires, ballet, child abuse, and his love for strong female characters (finally, a guy who understand women).

Build Confidence & Credibility: First-person Pronouns Get Your Messages Heard

Irritating speech habits destroy our professional credibility. Examples of irritating speech habits are sentences that end with dangling prepositions (Where did you hang your coat at?) and conversati...

A Freelancer's Journey, Part Two

Don't give up on the journey of being a freelance writer. Learn from this year's Academy Awards.

How to Speak so Others Will Listen

There are those who command attention when speaking and others who barely get noticed. If you feel you??™re in the latter category, take heart! Communication skills are just that ??“ skills. They are teachable, learnable behaviors.

Writing the Autobiographic Voice

Today, is as good as any to give you a real B-I-G challenge. I know you can do it, but you will need to put some energy and your mind into this one. And, of course, your pen. Let’s go ahead and dive in...

Writing and the Pursuit of Knowledge

Writers and readers alike, hark! Democratic societies -- which are a direct offshoot of liberalism -- breed relativism and leave many of us at a loss to know what is true and what is right. So what is left for us to do? Well, you don't suppose I will give the entire article in the introduction, do you?

Storytelling - The Inherent Power of Success

Storytelling is the one skill, if developed properly, can bring you unimaginable success ...