Why should it matter so much whether your verbs are strong or weak? And how do you even know if you’re using weak verbs? If you know the answer to the question, “What is a verb?” and if you enjoy reading, it won’t take long to answer the bigger question of how to replace weak …
What is passive voice misuse? How do you know if you’re overdoing it with passive voice constructions? And is active voice always better? If you’ve ever run your work through the Heminway Editor, you know it flags passive voice right away (along with wordy or overly long sentences). Human editors, too, tend to bristle at …
When you’re a writer, you need to know the best strategies to get your reader’s attention and hold onto it. The goal is to get them hooked on your content, so they’ll want to read more. Only then can you cultivate a relationship that serves you both. So, how do you do that (without actually …
You’re looking for some creative story ideas for teenagers, maybe because you want to write YA fiction, or maybe because you know someone else who does. Welcome to our inspired collection of 55 writing prompts for young adults. You’ll find a variety of characters and scenarios to play with. Choose from different themed groups to …
Whether you’re working on the next great American novel or drafting your company’s annual report, choppy, disjointed writing kills readability. Smooth, seamless prose sweeps readers along effortlessly. So how can you transform stilted, clumsy text into flowing, lyrical passages? In this article, we provide simple yet powerful tips to dramatically improve the flow of your …
Tell us about yourself. Scary, right!? Welcome to the art of writing personal narratives. It’s one of the most intimidating but powerful writing styles out there. But don’t worry. We got your back. Below, we’re breaking it all down with narrative writing examples. By the end, you’ll have the tips you need to get it …
If this post’s title brought back memories of heated arguments over the Oxford comma, no worries. This is a comma-friendly space. Commas make whatever you write easier to read by inserting pauses and setting things apart. They help make each sentence sound in the reader’s head the way it sounds in yours. But one question …