7 Features of Bad Writing suggests some common characteristics of poor prose. Any one of these 'sins' would serve as an indicator, especially if they occur more than once or twice.
Read MorePhoto from Stencil. Licence: CC0
Handy hints
7 ways to get ideas for blog posts Updated
in Handy hints, How to
Fortunately, I don’t often suffer from writer’s block — my problem is more often a lack of time in which to write what I’d like to. But if you are stumped for what to write or, like me, you sometimes wish to publish something without having to spend hours on it, here are some ideas you might wish to consider. They have all worked very well for me.
Read MoreLists: Bullets or numbers or checkboxes?
When should you use bullet points, and when numbers? And when checkboxes? Read on to find out.
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Terry Freedman. Photo by Elaine Freedman.
How I prepared for one of my courses
in Handy hints
On the 8th June I’ll be teaching a course called Creative Writing with Constraints. (Note the word “constraints”, not “restraints”.) This article outlines how I prepared for it.
Read MoreUsing codes when note-taking -- republished with discussion
You might think that recording an interview, and then transcribing it using an app like Otter, would be much faster than writing everything down at the time.
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writer, by Terry Freedman
How I earned $9000 from a free paper
Not many writers can make a living solely from their writing. (Figures released this month in the UK put the figure at only 19%.) Therefore, think creatively of other ways to make money.
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Fodder, by Terry Freedman
The point of pointless writing (Updated)
What’s the point of doing exercise or yoga? The answer is, usually, to keep yourself generally fit and toned up. Unless you’re preparing for an athletic event, there is no specific or direct point to any of it.
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Blogger, by Terry Freedman
Ideas for making your blog work for you (revisited)
in Handy hints
This post from 2014 is still relevant, not least for the ‘90 tips’ article referenced within it. Enjoy.
Read MoreThe Carrot2 Search Engine Revisited
The Carrot2 search engine can be a useful alternative to Google.
Read MoreGetting your ideas down
Did Samuel Pepys, for example, carry a quill and an inkwell around with him?
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Question marks, by Terry Freedman
Categories or tags? Or both?
in Handy hints
It was hard enough to pluck up the courage to start your own blog, and now all of a sudden you have discovered there are things called categories and tags. What are they?
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River walk, by Terry Freedman
Do exercise to be creative
in Handy hints
Fortunately, I don’t suffer from writers’ block. I do, however, sometimes suffer from lack of inspiration.
Read MoreBash it out
Maybe it’s just me, but if, after a whole morning’s work doing research and reading, all I have written down is a title (and probably a working title, at that), I feel that I haven’t done any work.
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Proofreading, by Terry Freedman
The need for more intensive proofreading
Those people who implore us to always have someone else proofread a piece of writing are, annoyingly, completely correct.
Read MoreUsing codes when note-taking
You might think that recording an interview, and then transcribing it using an app like Otter, would be much faster than writing everything down at the time.
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Blogger, by Terry Freedman
7 things that every serious blogger should do
If you're going to blog, please don't disrespect your reader by publishing non-proofed copy, verbose (aka pompous) writing, gratuitous swearing, incorrect words and other horrors that could easily be avoided.
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hazardous area by Terry Freedman
The basics of good technical writing
Technical writing may not sound like the most exciting thing in the world, but (a) there’s a great need for it and (b) a huge degree of satisfaction is gained from writing user manuals that ordinary mortals can understand.
Read MorePlain Speaking - 4 Secrets For Getting Your Book Purchased
in Handy hints
What can be more infuriating to a potential purchaser of a non-fiction book than chapter headings which give no clue as to their contents?
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Ping! Now I get it! Terry Freedman having a lightbulb moment about tags and categories. Illustration: Idea lightbulb, by Terry Freedman
Blogging: Categories and tags
in Handy hints
While I was walking, or having a swim, or doing my version of a workout in the gym, it all suddenly made sense. Categories! Tags! Of course! (Editor’s voice: enough of the exclamation marks already.)
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Terrys’ two minute tips, by Terry Freedman
Anatomy of a blog post
in Video, How to, Handy hints
What are the elements of a typical blog post, and why are they useful?
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