Book: A Writer's Guide to Nonfiction

This is a book by Elizabeth Lyon (also the author of Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write).

I owned this book, a long time ago, but I only had the chance to really look at it now. I compared the various books (about writing) I have now, since I also bought new ones recently.

This book teaches how to make the Title of your article, the different ways to make your Lead, how to write the Middle part of your piece, and finally, how to End it well. Very Useful!

Also, the author encourages writers to think of the Purpose of your writing first, before you proceed. Then there is the formula: Subject of Writing + Purpose + Promise = Making a Difference. I really like this formula, and I pattern my writing from this.

Buy this book by Elizabeth Lyon, I highly recommend this.

How to Write a Coherent Article

One quality of a good article is coherency.

My way of achieving this is by being straight to the point; and using only words and sentences within a paragraph that makes the thought complete.

I don't use flowery words, as I feel this will not add value to the article. As much as possible, eliminate such in your work or at least put it to a minimum. This advice has statistical basis as well: "the more you say, the greater the chances of error." Especially if you are not sure of what you are writing, writing less will be better.

It takes discipline to constantly examine your work, checking each and every word for the purpose it plays in the paragraph.

In the end, it will pay off. This will result to an article, where the paragraphs inside, will possess clarity. The message or points pursued by the article will be easily understood by the reader.

Your readers will appreciate an article that they don't have to read and re-read just to get the point.

Freelance Writer's Guide: You Need Focus when You Write

As a freelance writer over the web, we are paid to make articles on various topics. Good if we are familiar with the subjects we are writing about. If not, you will need to do some researching.

Writing will not always come naturally. At times, you may even feel you can't get a word out from your brain. This happens -- even to the more experienced writers.

You will need to focus on what you are doing. Concentrate on your task at hand. Sometimes, it just a matter of mindset.

Some call it writer's block -- others don't agree that there is such a thing. I don't know what to believe =) But I admit that there are times I seem not able to write -- whether that is writer's block or if it is just that I lack the will to write during that time, I am not sure.

So what do I do when this happens? I usually walk around, look outside my house, listen to good music, watch some t.v., or sleep -- with the last one being my favorite. But if the deadline is really near, I only have a small amount of time to get back on track, and start writing, no matter what.

On the most part, I would say, it is all in the mind (I just realized this now, hehe). Studies show that our minds are powerful -- and that we are using only a small percentage of it. So I am thinking, perhaps I am not using my brain as efficiently as I should.