The ingredients that make up a great writer are all quite different. What’s more important to consider is where a writer comes from, since what molds a writer to be great goes far beyond what stuff with which they are actually made.  Mind you, I never dreamed of being the greatest writer ever; just that…

My essay writing process often begins with a barrage of run-on sentences. Sometimes when I’m drafting my thoughts, at least on the first pass, it seems to take many words to complete a sentence. It often needs an abundance of punctuation, as well, most specifically a multitude of commas; the idea being that the mind…

Once, I was accused of a horrible crime: thinking in complete sentences. Perhaps it’s not, in fact, a crime. But, it’s apparently quite an unusual trait to possess.  I admit that I do have a rather peculiar way of processing information. But, does that mean that most people think in sentence fragments instead? That would…

While I’ve been writing professionally for more than a decade, I have written mostly as what is known as a ghostwriter. That is, someone who has ghostwritten articles and website copy. When you think about writers—or just about anyone who creates something from scratch—it’s natural to expect their process to start with an idea and…

In school, most of us were taught about the thesis statement. This statement is supposed to be the anchor of any written work, providing direction and focus to the entire piece. It typically shows up at the end of your introduction, stating the main idea you want to get across with the words to come.…

“Soup” is one of my favorite words in the English language. It’s such a pleasant word. When you think of soup, it’s comforting. However, the actual meaning of ‘soup’ is pretty cut and dry. This is the Oxford Dictionary’s definition of soup:  “a liquid dish, typically made by boiling meat, fish, or vegetables, etc., in…

Confessing that I have a mind producing ideas at the rate most of us produce carbon dioxide might sound like humblebrag. But, no, for those like me who truly experience such a plethora of notions, it’s more akin to a peculiar curse. As an Ancient Greek philosopher might have put it, I’m blessed with excessive…

Many times during my freelance digital marketing career, I felt it necessary to write a business proposal to send a prospective client. Not only are they not fun to write up, but in my experience, writing business proposals is usually a trap for yourself.  Why is writing a business proposal often a waste of time…

As a former English major in university, I’m well acquainted with the supposedly noble art of literary criticism. It’s a realm where words are dissected, meanings are invented, and authors are turned into unwitting co-conspirators in the critics’ elaborate game of “Guess What I Think You Meant.” If you’ve ever had the pleasure of reading…

There are many tricks we as writers use to defeat writer’s block. Of course, some may work wonders for an individual writer, but leave you utterly frustrated. There’s one tip, however, that’s considered “the ultimate secret for overcoming writer’s block.” It’s a tip that can work for pretty much any writer, whether you’re writing professionally…