Search found 104 matches
- Sun Jul 20, 2014 2:10 am
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--MASTERING METER
- Replies: 65
- Views: 80235
Re: Be a Better Writer--MASTERING METER
Yay! This looks like so much fun. I'm a little nervous to do the homework, though. It's a bit of a stretch for me. Believe it or not, I didn't even know about stressed and unstressed syllables until I read your lesson! I wrote some free-verse poetry as a teen and then stopped writing poetry until ab...
- Fri Jul 18, 2014 1:48 am
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--A FEW LOOSE ENDS
- Replies: 24
- Views: 23284
Re: Be a Better Writer--A FEW LOOSE ENDS
I love your advice for adverb and adjective use. It's so sensible! You have a gift for making the light bulb come on in my brain, Jan!
- Sun Jul 06, 2014 2:15 am
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--ASK ME ANYTHING
- Replies: 33
- Views: 29976
Re: Be a Better Writer--ASK ME ANYTHING
I have some questions about em dashes. I didn't even know what an em dash was until I joined FW last year, and now I love them. But I'm not sure if I really understand how to use them. My understanding is that they are used like parentheses but that they have the opposite effect—they emphasize the w...
- Wed Jul 02, 2014 1:24 am
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--COMMAS ARE TRICKY
- Replies: 47
- Views: 82815
Re: Be a Better Writer--COMMAS ARE TRICKY
Commas have been the hardest thing for me to grasp when it comes to grammar. I was happy to see that I knew where all of the commas should go in your examples, but I did need to think about some of them, so it's not natural yet. Was the second comma in my last sentence right? I know that I need to u...
- Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:24 am
- Forum: Best of the Best
- Topic: Best of the Best Winners - 2014
- Replies: 10
- Views: 18238
Re: Best of the Best Winners - 2014
Congratulations guys!!! This must be so exciting!
- Wed Jun 25, 2014 11:56 pm
- Forum: Page Turner Writing Contest
- Topic: Very Excited....
- Replies: 1
- Views: 7881
Re: Very Excited....
Yay!!! I can't wait to get a copy of Theresa's book!
- Sun May 25, 2014 8:04 pm
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES, part 2
- Replies: 24
- Views: 25265
Re: Be a Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES, part 2
Exclamation points are the hot topic! ;) I overuse them in my forum posts and in emails. It's kind of true to my personality, though; I'm fairly exuberant in conversation. I try to limit myself and often take them out only to add them in again. When I first started writing, my stories were full of e...
- Sun May 18, 2014 2:17 am
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be A Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES
- Replies: 16
- Views: 17348
Re: Be A Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES
Number four made me happy.
I've seen sentence fragments used effectively, but was too afraid to use them in my own writing. I needed a teacher's permission! And I thought I was a rebel.
Thank you, Jan! This is one of my favourite lessons too.
I've seen sentence fragments used effectively, but was too afraid to use them in my own writing. I needed a teacher's permission! And I thought I was a rebel.
Thank you, Jan! This is one of my favourite lessons too.
- Sun May 18, 2014 1:56 am
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--PUNCTUATING DIALOGUE
- Replies: 11
- Views: 24058
Re: Be a Better Writer--PUNCTUATING DIALOGUE
This is such an important lesson! I started writing a blog a few years ago, and that's when I realized that I really didn't know how to punctuate dialogue. I spent some time researching it, and I feel like I understand the rules now. A good reminder is always beneficial, though! Before I get to my h...
- Sun May 18, 2014 1:24 am
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--GIVING AND RECEIVING CRITIQUE
- Replies: 17
- Views: 25246
Re: Be a Better Writer--GIVING AND RECEIVING CRITIQUE
I believe an in-depth critique can be one of the most valuable gifts that we are blessed with as writers. How we receive these critiques may be the factor that determines whether or not we grow. At first it was hard to not take the critiques personally, but I decided to be grateful for every single ...
- Thu May 01, 2014 11:34 am
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Paragraphs
- Replies: 7
- Views: 8094
Re: Paragraphs
Very helpful information! I don't usually think about paragraph placement, and it's good to be reminded of the "rules."
- Sun Apr 27, 2014 7:24 pm
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be A Better Writer--Self-Editing
- Replies: 23
- Views: 24098
Re: Be A Better Writer--Self-Editing
Thank you for the examples, Jan! I don't know why I've had a hard time wrapping my head around this before, but your examples help me to see how a stronger verb can really "make" the sentence.
- Sun Apr 27, 2014 12:54 am
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be A Better Writer--Self-Editing
- Replies: 23
- Views: 24098
Re: Be A Better Writer--Self-Editing
Jan, I couldn't find a lesson on limiting "to be" verbs. Is there one? Is this the same thing as passive sentences?
- Sun Apr 27, 2014 12:49 am
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be A Better Writer--Self-Editing
- Replies: 23
- Views: 24098
Re: Be A Better Writer--Self-Editing
I'm sold on sending my work to a professional editor, but I love the list for self-editing too. All these tips help me to be a better writer. :) I go over my pieces several times and then I always read them out loud to my husband. It's great for finding typos, repetition, and clumsy sentences. I lov...
- Sun Apr 27, 2014 12:35 am
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be A Better Writer--ASK ME ANYTHING
- Replies: 27
- Views: 35745
Re: Be A Better Writer--ASK ME ANYTHING
Though I don't have experience with queries, I've found a few resources that look good: The Steve Laube Agency (at: http://stevelaube.com/) At this website, you can find many great blog articles about writing queries and a great many other writing subjects. I signed up for their daily emails which ...