Why is it so hard to sit down and write?
By Emily Hanlon
Writing and Creativity Coach
firstwriter.com – Sunday July 26, 2009
Creativity is a subtle and magnificent dance between the rational and the intuitive, between the left and right parts of the brains, between technique and imagination. Both partners in this dance are absolutely necessary and are needed in equal proportion, which means that imagination is not more important than technique and visa versa.
A matter of perspective
By J. Paul Dyson
Managing Editor, firstwriter.com
firstwriter.com – Friday June 26, 2009
Any time you begin to write a piece of fiction there’s a decision you have to make before you can even write the first sentence. It’s a decision which will determine the complexion of the entire story, and which you will have to stick with from its very start to its very end; it’s a decision which has repercussions that will reach into almost every sentence you write, and as such it’s one of the hardest things to alter if you change your mind later. The decision is your choice of perspective.
Grammar and punctuation – the "rules" are meant to be broken
By Zetta Brown
Editor-in-Chief, LL-Publications
firstwriter.com – Saturday May 30, 2009
Language is not static.
Language evolves over time. Words come en vogue (or are invented) and some words become passé or even archaic. As language changes, so do the "rules" of its use.
Writing contest etiquette
By J. Paul Dyson
Managing Editor, firstwriter.com
firstwriter.com – Thursday February 26, 2009
Getting published is difficult – I probably don't need to tell you that. It requires a lot of skill and more than a little luck, but all the luck and talent in the world can be made to count for nothing if the approach you take to submitting your work is inappropriate or unprofessional. Just how wrong writers are still getting this was highlighted recently by one of our competition entrants, so in this article I'll be pointing out the mistakes she made, how you can avoid them, and how you can make sure you don't throw away your writing career before it's even begun.
How I got published - An interview with author, Kent Richardson
firstwriter.com – Tuesday December 23, 2008
Kent Richardson recently acquired a publisher using firstwriter.com's database of over 1,000 publishers. We asked him about his writing, and how he found success.
Twenty-first century publishing options
By William G. Tedford
firstwriter.com – Saturday November 29, 2008
It's hard to keep current with the times. I'm awaiting the day I see my first electric car pull up to a gas pump. The smartest of those who laugh will be laughing with the hapless driver, not at them. We've all thrown away rechargeable batteries, or left a fork in our soup sparkling away in the microwave oven. We know a lot about how things used to be, but less about new things arriving on the scene. The fast pace of technological change catches us all by surprise now and then.
How I got published - An interview with author, Carol S. Boshears
firstwriter.com – Saturday November 29, 2008
Carol Boshears recently acquired a publisher using firstwriter.com's database of over 1,000 publishers. We asked her about her writing, and how she found success.
My writing competition success - An interview with writer, Angela Gloker
firstwriter.com – Friday August 29, 2008
Angela Gloker recently found success in a writing competition she found through firstwriter.com. We caught up with her to talk to her about the competition, and her writing.
Boost creativity by befriending your muse
By Molli Nickell
firstwriter.com – Saturday April 26, 2008
The harsh reality about making the transition from wannabe to published author is that you actually have to complete your manuscript. No agent or editor is going to perform a lobotomy to extract your words as they slumber, unwritten, between your ears. To assist you in transforming what you want to write into a book or magazine manuscript, consider enlisting the aid of your muse.
My writing competition success - An interview with writer, Neil Forbes
firstwriter.com – Saturday April 26, 2008
Neil Forbes recently found success in a writing competition he found through firstwriter.com. We caught up with him to talk to him about the competition, and his writing.
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