Traci M. Sanders's Blog, page 14

Tip #339: How short should short fiction be?

More and more, short fiction is taking over the scene, (no pun intended), because readers always want great stories but don’t always have the time to sit for an entire novel. Short fiction can been [...]

Tip #338: Edition Vs. Addition

Today’s tip is a fairly simple one, but quite important. Because these two words sound alike, they are often confused in writing. This could be one of those issues where the brain knows the correct [...]

Tip #337: Incredible? Or amazing?

Today’s post is about two words that, at first thought, may seem synonymous. In fact, many people use them interchangeably, even though these words do not have the same meanings. Have you ever heard someone [...]

Tip #336: Wreak Vs. Reek

Today’s tip is focused on two words that sound alike but have nothing in common. I’m referring to wreak vs. reek. Here are the definitions for both: Wreak – to cause something to happen in a [...]

Tip #335: Making the most of Goodreads

I’m a member of Goodreads, although, I don’t use it as often as other social-media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. There is a great deal to learn about it, but if you take the time [...]

Tip #334: Use your voice…

Today’s post is a short little tip about a cool tool that comes in handy when you can’t type (perhaps you’re on a smartphone and don’t want to use the keypad. Or maybe you’re sick [...]

Tip #333: Know your audience – Part 2 (YA fiction)

Today’s post is a continuation of tip #301 (Know your audience – Part 1 – children’s books and middle-grade fiction). This tip concerns one of the broadest genres in writing – YA (young adult) fiction. [...]

Tip 332: Conjunctions don’t always need commas

In tip #114, I touched on commas for clarity, and briefly mentioned commas with conjunctions. Today’s tip delves deeper into comma usage with conjunctions. I must admit, this is one grammar topic that even I [...]

Tip #331: Overusing characters’ names

Today’s tip involves the overuse of characters’ names when pronouns will do. Many authors end up using various forms of a character’s name to avoid repeating the dreaded he or she. However, overuse of proper

Tip #330: Are you a word hoarder? Get rid of “things/stuff”

I’m pretty much the opposite of a hoarder–with clothes, shoes, household items, etc., If I don’t have an immediate need for an item, I’m quick to donate it or trash it.  The same is true [...]