Rob Bignell's Blog, page 310

Examples of how to use e.g. vs. i.e.

If these two abbreviations are Greek to you, you’re not alone. But first things first: They’re Latin, not Greek.

e.g. is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase exempli gratia, which translates to “for example”; e.g. Many Los Angeles sports teams (e.g. the Dodgers, Angels, Lakers, Raiders, Rams, Galaxy and Ducks) have won national championships.

i.e. is an abbreviation for id est, which means “that is”; e.g. New York City boasts the most national sports championships, mainly because of one team – i.e., the Yankees have won 27 in their long history.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like San Francisco, California, or a small town like Nimrod, Oregon, I can provide that second eye.

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Suffering from writer’s block or need to add some spunk to your writing? The problem may be that you need to change up your routine. To that end, try this tip: Select a genre that you usually don’t write in. For five minutes, write a passage in that new genre.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Baltimore, Maryland, or if you come from a small town like Giants Neck, Connecticut, I can provide that second eye.

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Writing prompt: Create an out-of-whack event

Suffering from writer’s block or need to add some spunk to your writing? The problem may be that you need to change up your routine. To that end, try this tip: Often the opening sentence shows something out-of-whack in the world. This then sets up the story’s central problem that the main character needs to resolve. Look around your house and think of what would need to change for a situation to be off-kilter. For example, “Each time I picked up the telephone, no one was there” or “She reclined in my pool chaise as if completely at home, but I didn’t have a clue as to who she might be.” After writing five such opening lines, select one as your book’s first sentence.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like St. Louis, Missouri, or a small town like Cheesequake, New Jersey, I can provide that second eye.

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Five Great Quotations about Reading

“...reading and writing were not the same - you couldn't just soak it up then squeeze it out again.” – David Nicholls

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” – Stephen King

“I am a part of all I have read.” – John Kieran

“...it's impossible to be a great writer without being a great reader." – Brad Thor

“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.” – J.D. Salinger

“She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.” – Anne Dillard

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Springfield, Massachusetts, or a small town like Burnt Corn, Alabama, I can provide that second eye.

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When I reach for my pen, nothing is out of reach

The very act of writing is a testament that anything is possible.

Writing brings reality to what we cannot now do: the technology to travel to other solar systems; use of magical potions to immediately heal an injured comrade; the ability to cross the Old West or sail aboard a Roman galleon. Whether you pen fiction that creates a story centered on these impossibilities or nonfiction that details the path toward obtaining such dreams, writing transforms a vision in one’s head into something tangible.

The fuel for this transformation is one’s imagination; the devices that this creativity drives vary from pen and paper to keyboard and computer memory, from paperback to ebook.

When our visions become something tangible that others enjoy as well as learn and grow from, they can ignite within readers the desire to make that dream more than just words on a page. The annals of science fiction are ripe with readers who became engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs that made visions of space travel, new communication devices, and medical cures a reality of our modern times. Political, economic and philosophical tomes have spawned new ways of thinking about our world that whole generations then embraced and constructed.

Are you lonely and seeking love? Write a romance. Do you dream of greater wealth? Write a guidebook to investing. Want to visit mysterious Incan ruins? Write a travelogue or an action-adventure novel.

For with your pen, you can go anywhere and achieve any wish you desire.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Wichita, Kansas, or a small town like Bird In Hand, Pennsylvania, I can provide that second eye.

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Put your Twitter profile text to work for you

When promoting your book, Twitter no doubt will be among the social media you use. One often overlooked aspect of tweeting is your Twitter profile text.

The profile text consists of the 160 characters that appear below your name. Whenever anyone looks up exactly who you are on Twitter, those 160 characters will appear with your name and the icon that represents you (which usually is your face or your book cover).

A lot of authors try to be witty and clever in their profile. This probably isn’t the best use of those 160 characters, however. Instead, you want to use words that quickly identify who you are, Remember, Twitter users by nature scan all the tweets and profiles they encounter.

Who you are primarily consists of two parts – your occupation (i.e. Writer, Author, Novelist) and your genre (i.e. science fiction, romance, hiking guidebook). Hence, you might write something like:

Jane Johnson
Romance and Mystery Writer

Along with your genre, you may want to include the title of your book or the series you write. For example:

Rob Bignell
Author of “Hittin’ the Trail” and “Headin’ to the Cabin” hiking guidebook series

This approach also will make you easier to find. Regarding the latter, when people search for Twitter users who talk about or hold specific subjects, the wording in the profile text is what most often shows up in their search results.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like San Diego, California, or a small town like Eek, Arkansas, I can provide that second eye.

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Self-publishing tip: Set your story aside

To remove yourself from the story so you can best determine what needs to be changed, set it aside for a few days, then re-read. You may find that some of what sounded great when you first penned it is now problematic and that some of what you initially disliked actually reads quite well.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Minneapolis, Minnesota, or a small town like Nothing, Arizona, I can provide that second eye.

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You sound so much better when you use good grammar: Complement vs. compliment

Oh what a difference a letter makes! Such is the case with the often confused compliment and complement.


Compliment means “a kind or flattering remark”: He paid Michelle the biggest compliment by mentioning that her new haircut looked nice.

Complement means “to go well with”: The blue dress perfectly complemented Danielle’s eyes.

An easy way to remember the difference is “A compliment is kind – both take i’s.”

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Colorado Springs, Colorado, or a small town like Big Chimney, West Virginia, I can provide that second eye.

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Writing prompt: Describe any object

Suffering from writer’s block or need to add some spunk to your writing? The problem may be that you need to change up your routine. To that end, try this tip: Select any object in the environment where you write – maybe a barista in a coffee shop, a poster in the den, or the refrigerator in the break room. Write a description of this found object, even if it has nothing to do with the story you’re working on. The goal is to “train” yourself to write at any moment.

Need an editor?Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Tampa, Florida, or a small town like Deadhorse, Alaska, I can provide that second eye.

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Writing prompt: Coming up with an opening line

Suffering from writer’s block or need to add some spunk to your writing? The problem may be that you need to change up your routine. To that end, try this tip: Stuck for a first sentence? Read an online list of the “greatest” opening lines for novels, short stories or nonfiction books. Which ones did you like the most? Emulate their style. For example, if “Call me Ishmael” is your favorite, you might write “My name used to be Jane” or “Most people call me Jack, but I’ve never figured out why.”

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Seattle, Washington, or a small town like Uncertain, Texas, I can provide that second eye.

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