Writing Information

Mama Dont Allow No Fighting in Your Writing


When you sit down to write a steamy romance, a spine-tingling horror story, or an action-packed adventure, lock the door. The last thing you need is your mother, father, coach, English teacher or pastor reading over your shoulder and giving you advice.

How You Can Find Freelance Editing Jobs


Freelance editing opportunities are out there, you just need to know where and how to look for them. As a matter of fact, there are hundreds of companies that are waiting for you, right now, to fill their job vacancies.

Bird by Bird


It's easy to feel overwhelmed by marketing. First, there's so much to learn: What works? What's a waste of your time? Where should you invest your energy and money?Then you have to prioritize: Where should you start? What's the ONE THING that, if you don't do anything else for a while, is your best first step?Next, you've got to figure out how to get it all done.

Hero's Journey - The First Threshold


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.

When I Grow Up


I've just come back to work after nine glorious, sun-drenched days at home. This year, vacation was the week of July 4th.

About Writing


Here's everything I know about improving your writing, publishing it electronically and in print, and promoting it after the sale.Two questions you should ask:(1) What will it cost me?(2) What does this Michael LaRocca guy know about it?Answer #1 -- It won't cost you a thing.

How To Break Into Print Publishing


The big question. Do you submit directly to the publishers, or do you find an agent who will do that for you? Based on anecdotal evidence I've heard, it can work either way.

Learning How To Write


As a student of Spanish, my goal was to think in Spanish. Skip the word-by-word translation so I'd have the necessary speed to speak and listen.

Writer School?


Here's something from my mailbag. "Dear Michael, do you need to do good in school if you want to be a writer? I stink at school and all my friends laugh at me when I tell them I want to write, but I'm serious.

Comma Usage Made Simple


Don't they drive you nuts?You can visit all the rules of style you want, and you can read all the books and articles you want. You'll still be confused.

Print-On-Demand: A Definition and a Comparison


The purpose of this article is to consider Print-On-Demand publishing as an alternative for the aspiring author. It has its strengths and its weaknesses.

Apostrophe Usage Made Simple


According to one of my previous articles, whenever a Southerner says "Y'all watch this," get out of the way because those are probably the last words he will ever say.Well, I'm a Southerner.

The Writing Life


In the 7th grade I wanted to be an architect but it turns out math is involved. Who knew? My 8th grade English teacher talked me into working on the school newspaper and I was hooked.

That Cute Lil Ol Apostrophe


Have you ever had a student write to tell you they've achieved Grade A's at exams? I have, and one of them was a grade A in English!The apostrophe seems to be the most misunderstood punctuation mark in the English language, and yet its use is really very simple.There's really only one rule: an apostrophe is used to replace one or more missing letters.

Another Way to Show Your Expertise: Write a Book!


Maybe you should write a book! This is not as difficult as it sounds. You're already an expert in a field by virtue of your work experience and/or academic credentials.

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