Bryan Collins's Blog, page 59

How to Organize Thoughts on Paper? A Step-by-Step Guide

Learning how to organize thoughts on paper is an important skill for any writer, and this step-by-step guide can help.

Brainstorming, mind mapping and note taking are all terms that refer to one of the most important steps of the writing process. Learning how to organize thoughts on paper is a key factor in becoming a good writer, but this is often something that's not taught in writing courses in high school. 

Before you can start writing anything, whether it is a research paper or a shor...

7 Tidbits of Advice for Newbie Writers

For the new writer considering starting a book for the first time, these pieces of advice for newbie writers are a valuable starting point.

Everyone must start at the beginning, and a new writer is no different from someone starting any other hobby or career. The first time you sit down to write, you may feel a little overwhelmed.

Thankfully, there are many pieces of advice for newbie writers you can latch on to as you strive to make yourself a better writer. Yet with so much writing advi...

15 Cool Journals that Make Great Gifts

From vintage paper to colorful covers, these cool journals are good choices for your next gift.

Journaling is a great way for writers to get their ideas onto paper, and it's good for mental health as well. The blank pages of a journal serve as endless possibilities for recording thoughts, feelings, and ideas for a great new book. Writers can also use journals as sketchbooks, letting them doodle out some thoughts in free space.

If you are a writer or have a writer in your life that you are ...

What Is the Best Memoir Writing Software? 6 Options

If you are looking for the best memoir writing software, you are looking for a distraction-free word processor. What are a few options you should keep in mind?

If you are looking for book writing software that can help you with your memoir writing process, you might be wondering where to start. I remember I started with a free version of numerous memoir writing options and got frustrated with the learning curve from time to time. 

Eventually, I was able to find a word processing program th...

Living Writer App Review: Is this the Best Writing App?

Our Living Writer app review will cover all the important features of this novel-writing tool, and if it's the right choice for your work.

What is LivingWriter?

LivingWriter is a text editor, a writing app that’s specifically designed for writers that are working on a book – primarily fiction, but there’s no reason it can’t be adapted to nonfiction books as well. It’s an interesting premise that LivingWriter fulfills in several ways to help it stand out, although it’s a bit lacking ...

The 11 Best Masterclass Courses In 2021

In this resource, we go through the 11 best Masterclass courses, what you���ll learn from them, and how it can help you as a writer.

Finding the best Masterclass courses can be tough since they have so much informative content.

Masterclass is one of the best online learning platforms. It features celebrities who're masters of writing, filmmaking, interior design, and chess. These world-renowned experts teach in-depth classes so you can reach your goals quicker.

I especially like their c...

Otter.ai Review: Is It Worth It?

In my in-depth Otter.ai review, I���m taking the plunge into this super-smart transcriber platform. How does it work, and who gets the most benefit from it?

Here���s everything you need to know, including what we think about the value of both the free and paid versions of Otter.ai���s software, based on extensive testing. We tested Otter.AI via the web browser and desktop app, with a variety of documents and audio files.

What is Otter.ai?

Otter.ai (also known as the app Otter Voi...

Writer.com Review: Is this the Best Writing App?

In today���s Writer.com review, I���m taking a closer look at the Writer app, what technology makes it unique, and if it���s the right fit for your writing life!

What is Writer.com?

This is the site that offers the Writer web app, an app designed to help writers find the best words, stick to a specific message, and correct any grammatical errors ��� or make grammatical choices that are the best options for their brand and tone.

It���s designed to unify, save time, and make certa...

9 Speedy and Effective Dictation Tips

Dictating can help any writer produce more words in less time. Use the six dictation tips in this guide to improve your workflow.

These days, dictation forms a big part of my writing workflow. I outline articles in advance using bullet points, on index cards or via writing software. I dictate the first draft using dictations apps like Dragon Anywhere on my iPad or iPhone in the morning. In the afternoon, I edit my drafts while sitting at a computer.

Dictating takes skill and practice, but ...

First vs Third Person Point of View: What Makes Sense for Your Story?

Writing a book or short story? The first decision you will make is the use of the first vs third person point of view. Choose which fits your story best.

When writing a fiction work,��point of view��is a critical part of the overall writing process. Will your narrator be an omniscient third-party person or limited to a��first-person��narrative?

While the��second-person��point of view��occasionally shows up in fiction stories, most writers decide between first vs��third-person��point of vi...