10 Obscure Punctuation Marks That Should Really Get More Play. Recently, we were apprised of a proposed addition to the world of punctuation: the “ElRey Mark,” a symbol that looks a bit like an exclamation point with a dot at each end. As weird as it looks, we actually think it sounds pretty useful — the mark is meant to be read as “somewhere between the deadpan period and the excitable exclamation point.” That is, it’s the perfect punctuation mark for every polite email you’ll ever send. In honor of the ElRey, we’ve put together a list of ten obscure punctuation marks that we’d love to see in print more often. Did we miss your favorite? Think we’re crazy? Let us know in the comments. The ElRey Mark This little two-headed exclamation point should be used when you’re cheery, but not over-the-top excited. 12 Useful Websites to Improve Your Writing. By Johnny Webber 1. Words-to-Use.com – A different kind of thesaurus. 2.
OneLook.com – One quick dictionary search tool. 3. Vocabulary.com – The quickest, most intelligent way to improve your vocabulary. 4. 5. 750words.com – Write three new pages every day. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 73 Ways to Become a Better Writer. Synonyms for 95 Commonly Used Words - A Mini-Thesaurus for Writers. Synonyms for 95 Commonly Used Words in the English language Source for Comic Source for Synonyms Writers Write offers the best writing courses in South Africa.
To find out about Writers Write - How to write a book, or The Plain Language Programme - Writing courses for business, email news@writerswrite.co.za. 10 Most Commonly Misused Words. Think you’re the best writer or speaker in the world? After viewing this infographic of the 10 most commonly misused words, you may want to think again. Even though we learn how to spell and use words in properly in grade school, this information is often forgotten once we get older.
Even worse, because we hear everyone else using a word a certain way, we tend to follow suit and do the same thing. For instance, how many times have you called something a “travesty” when referring to a tragedy or unfortunate event? You probably hear the word used like that all the time, but it’s wrong. How about the word “ironic” or irony? Another biggie is the word “conversate.” 10 Most Commonly Misused Words | Advanced Marketing Strategies. » New York Times 50 Most Challenging Words (defined and used) The New York Times recently published a list of 50 fancy words that most frequently stump their readership. They are able to measure this data thanks to a nifty in-page lookup mechanism, which you can try here. Try double-clicking the word “epicenter”. Since the NYT didn’t include definitions of these words, I decided to post a job to MediaPiston to produce an article defining and using each word in the list.
Voila! Just a few hours later, here it is. The New York Times 50 Fancy Words (defined and used) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 117 Most beautiful words in the English language. Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules for Writing. Elmore Leonard — author of Get Shorty, Out of Sight, and Rum Punch — died today. What was it about his suspense thrillers that made them both popular AND critically acclaimed? Maybe his own writing rules will provide the answer. 10 things you should watch out for in your writing, according to Elmore Leonard 1. Never open a book with weather. 2. Avoid prologues. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
And his most important rule, to sum up all the others: “If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.” What do you think of those rules? Creative Writing Exercises. 18 Thought-Provoking Questions. 23 Writing Websites to Improve Your Writing. We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master. ~Ernest Hemingway How strong is your writing? No matter how good you think it is, there’s always room for improvement. In most cases, plenty of room. Luckily, there are some amazing websites that’ll help you improve your writing, and take it to the next level. (***By the way, have you seen this amazing online creative writing course, “Story Is a State of Mind,” created by Giller finalist Sarah Selecky? Want to strengthen your story, empower your performance, and beef up on the publishing business?
Here are 23 sites (in no particular order) I look to for daily inspiration and advice: PS If you find this list useful, please share it on Twitter, Facebook or StumbleUpon – I’d really appreciate it! 4) Query Shark A query critique site you don’t want to miss. 5) Men with Pens Fantastic articles on copywriting and freelancing. 6) Ask Allison Writing and publishing Q&A by novelist Allison Winn Scotch. CALLIHOO Writing Helps--Emotion List. 3 Steps to Writing a Novel with Unforgettable Characters. Character development is one of the first essential steps of writing a novel and it involves creating the people who will carry out your story.
There will most likely be a variety of characters needed for your story, but none as important as your lead character – your protagonist. A well-developed protagonist has much to do with the success of writing a novel. When writing a novel, the protagonist should be someone that your readers feel is a “real person” that they come to love (or at least like a whole lot), can relate to in many ways, and will care about and think about long after they’ve turned the final page on your novel. How to Create “Real People” for Your Novel When writing a novel, there are many ways to go about creating characters and much has been written about it in “how to write a novel books”, sometimes in great detail.
There are as many ideas about what makes a good character as there are apples on a tree. Writing a Novel – Four Attributes of a Lead Character: 1. 2. 3. 4. Questionnaires for Writing Character Profiles. Enter your e-mail to get the e-book for FREE. We'll also keep you informed about interesting website news. "I have searched the web and used different worksheets, but none have come close to your worksheets and descriptions of (what to do and what not to do). Both courses I have taken have with Creative Writing Now have been amazing. Each time I have learned something new. The one thing I love, you take everything apart and give examples. " - Katlen Skye "As usual - I already love the course on Irresistible Fiction, rewriting a lot and improving greatly even after the first lesson.
Thanks so much for the great courses. " - Kitty Safken “Essentials of Fiction proved that I could indeed write and I wrote every day, much to my boyfriend's dismay (waa sniff).” - Jill Gardner "I am loving the course and the peer interaction on the blog is fantastic!!! " "I'm enjoying the weekly email course, Essentials of Poetry Writing. "Thank you for all the material in this course. "I'm learning so much. 100 jump-starters to cure your writer's block. Kurt Vonnegut -- troubling.info.
Eight rules for writing fiction: 1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted. 2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for. 3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. -- Vonnegut, Kurt Vonnegut, Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction (New York: G.P. Kurt Vonnegut: How to Write with Style. Free Fonts, Cool Fonts - UrbanFonts.com. 100 Most beautiful words in the English language* 100 Most beautiful words in the English language*
How to Structure A Story: The Eight-Point Arc. By Ali Hale - 3 minute read One of my favourite “how to write” books is Nigel Watts’ Writing A Novel and Getting Published. My battered, torn and heavily-pencil-marked copy is a testament to how useful I’ve found it over the years. Although the cover appears to be on the verge of falling off altogether, I’ve risked opening the book once more to bring you Watts’ very useful “Eight-Point Story Arc” – a fool-proof, fail-safe and time-honoured way to structure a story. (Even if you’re a short story writer or flash fiction writer rather than a novelist, this structure still applies, so don’t be put off by the title of Watts’ book.) The eight points which Watts lists are, in order: StasisTriggerThe questSurpriseCritical choiceClimaxReversalResolution He explains that every classic plot passes through these stages and that he doesn’t tend to use them to plan a story, but instead uses the points during the writing process: So, what do the eight points mean?
Stasis Trigger The quest Surprise Climax Reversal. Guide for Writers: French Phrases. When you want a character to sound pretentious, nothing beats a nice turn of French. Somehow, American writers (and readers) associate all things French with money, pretense, and culture. It’s quite the mix of responses, a “love-hate” relationship with France. If you want a character with class, or one completely without class, French is a wonderful tool. affaire de coeur - love affair au contraire - to the contrary au fait - possessing practical knowledge of a thing au revoir - until we meet again autre temps, autres moeurs - other times, other customs avec plaisir - with pleasure bête noire - a thing especially disliked bon jour - good day; hello bon soir - goodnight bourgeoisie - middle-class, materialistic c’est-à-dire - that is to say c’est la vie - such is life chacun à son goût - each to his own taste coup de grâce - death blow coûte que coûte - cost what it cost dégagé - without emotional links de trop - too much or too many dernier ressort - last option Dieu avec nous - God is with us.
A List of BIG WORDS. Sesquipedaedalus: Prettiest Words: A Work in Progress. B-Rhymes - The Rhyme and Slant Rhyme Dictionary. 100 Exquisite Adjectives. By Mark Nichol Adjectives — descriptive words that modify nouns — often come under fire for their cluttering quality, but often it’s quality, not quantity, that is the issue. Plenty of tired adjectives are available to spoil a good sentence, but when you find just the right word for the job, enrichment ensues. Practice precision when you select words. Here’s a list of adjectives: Subscribe to Receive our Articles and Exercises via Email You will improve your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed! 21 Responses to “100 Exquisite Adjectives” Rebecca Fantastic list! Useful references for writers - WestSuburbanWriters. Because there are HUGE misunderstandings about what a copyright is these days and I keep seeing them repeated over and over again.
I thought I could help. There's a good start. So, yes fan fiction is a violation of copyright. Copyrights are made as soon as you make them into apparent form. This post will be invalid in its copyright after I'm dead for EIGHTY years. Also another thing to know is that an official copyright is EXPENSIVE, which is why most publishers will do it for you. Copyright info and Electronic publishing info from the Science Fiction Writers of America. Aggressive Body Language. Techniques > Using Body Language > Aggressive Body Language Body positions | Gestures | See also A significant cluster of body movements is used to signal aggression. This is actually quite useful as it is seldom a good idea to get into a fight, even for powerful people. Fighting can hurt you, even though you are pretty certain you will win.
In addition, with adults, fighting is often socially unacceptable and aggression through words and body language is all that may ever happen. Threat Facial signals Much aggression can be shown in the face, from disapproving frowns and pursed lips to sneers and full snarls. Attack signals When somebody is about to attack, they give visual signal such as clenching of fists ready to strike and lowering and spreading of the body for stability.
Exposing oneself Exposing oneself to attack is also a form of aggression. Invasion Invading the space of the other person in some way is an act of aggression that is equivalent to one country invading another. Approach. Write & Get Paid. 20 Basic Plots For Story Generators - Software Secret Weapons.