TakingDictation

Why “Be Patient” Is Crappy Advice for Writers
One of the quirks of being a writer is that you often have to wait weeks or even months to get a response back from editors or their assistants. This isn’t all their fault. Many...

Pay-to-Read Websites Stink. Here’s Why
I bet you’ve done it--click on a link to a site like The New York Times or Medium, only to have it tell you in a classic pay-to-read setup that you need to buy a subscription to keep...

How Writing Can Heal and Change You
Image created by Wanda Thibodeaux on Canva Most writers say that writing helps them manage anxiety, practice gratitude or thankfulness, and express themselves in a way they otherwise wouldn’t be able or know how to...

3 Things to Never Say to a Writer
I’ve been writing professionally now for more than 16 years. So trust me when I say you do need to hear some constructive criticism if you want to improve and be successful in this craft....

5 Unique Ways to Know You’re a Good Writer
Image created by Wanda Thibodeaux on Canva Writers always want to know if we’re any good. But we have a dilemma: We know the publishing industry has its biases and is profit-oriented. Yet, we also assume that...

Writing Workshops: What Should They Really Teach?
If you want to get better at writing, just sign up for writing workshops, right? Maybe not. How writing workshops meet the need for a little pain In an article for The Practical Writer, Dan Barden argued...

The Burning Question: How Far Would You Go to Save Your Writing?
I come across intriguing and surprising things on social media just about every day. Today’s prize? This gem from the BBC: Now, this piece is a few years old. But it showed up again on Twitter...

Critical Things You Should Be Writing (But Probably Aren’t)
As the world grows more commercial, there’s an increasing tendency to label only certain types of writing as valuable: People encourage others to write books nearly as a right of passage. Professionals apparently aren’t professional...

5 Practical Tips to Take the Suck Out of Writing
Image via Canva Like any job, writing has its logistical and psychological challenges. These don’t have to ruin your experience, though. These are just a handful of tips that can make completing a draft all...
Recent Posts
- How to Make Your Writing Sound More Conversational April 1, 2025
- Are You Forgetting Your Storytelling? March 28, 2025
- Why Writers and Other Creatives Need to Be Careful When Told to “Add Value” March 21, 2025
- Why You Need a Writer AND an Editor March 14, 2025
- Is Allowing Your Book to Be Adapted for Film Worth It? March 13, 2025
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