I keep meeting people who tell me that one of these days they are going to write a book, or start writing articles to pitch to magazines. Really? Why “one of these days”? Why not today, or tomorrow?
Read MoreTerry's desk, by Terry Freedman
Professional writer
Er, not that kind of platform. Photo: Station platform, by Terry Freedman
The Professional Writer: Why you need a platform
Setting up a platform is easy. Keeping it fresh is time-consuming, and in strict accounting terms may not be worth the time and effort as far as generating income is concerned. So why bother?
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Notebook and Pencil, by Terry Freedman
The Professional Writer: Know Your Rights
Do you know about types of copyright and moral rights?
Read MoreProofreading (by someone else) is essential
When it comes to proofreading, we tend to hear what we expect to hear. Why? And what can we do about it?
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Lexico website, by Terry Freedman
A potentially useful word website
Could this website be a substitute for a printed usage guide?
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Click the pic to see the book on Amazon UK. (Amazon affiliate link.)
Book review: Bird By Bird
It's not often one comes across a book which purports to contain instructions on both writing and life. Does the concept work?
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Questions, by Terry Freedman
The writer's paradox
Many writers are introverts. Perhaps even most are. It’s an ideal state for the act of writing itself, where an ability to remain silent, and not interact with another person, for hours on end is a blessing.
Read MoreHow to not write without feeling guilty
When does not writing count as writing?
Read MoreA Writer’s Reference Toolkit: Style Guides (Updated)
There are two broad kinds of style guide. There is the generic type, containing advice on such things as whether to use “different from” or “different than”. And there is the specific type, ie specific to a particular publication. For example, should “internet” be spelled with a lower case “i”, or as “Internet”?. The specific style guide will tell you.
Read MoreHow I write: books
How can you start writing a book if you don’t know where to start?
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Calendar, by Terry Freedman
How I produce books
There are different stages in the writing and publication of a book. I wrote about the software I use at each stage.
Read MoreThe Professional Writer: Other people’s practice
What can writers learn from the way other writers work?
Read MoreThe Professional Writer: Bad company
Should you write for poorly-edited publications featuring poorly-written articles?
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Negotiations, by Terry Freedman
Negotiating practice
It’s all very well my coming along and saying: “Negotiate! They can only say ‘no’.”, as I did in the article entitled The Professional Writer: Negotiating. But how do you work up the courage to do so?
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Hands off! by Terry Freedman
UK Copyright conference
As we haven’t adopted the EU’s Copyright Directive, what will copyright law look like in the UK? Also, how has copyright been affected by Covid-19? These and other issues will be discussed in this online conference taking place on 16 July 2020.
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Notebook and Pencil, by Terry Freedman
The Professional Writer: Negotiating
Why is negotiating essential for the professional writer?
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Notebook and Pencil, by Terry Freedman
The professional writer: Contracts
A contract is essential — even between friends.
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Notebook and Pencil, by Terry Freedman
The professional writer: a matter of respect
Why writers should ask for payment — even if they don’t need it.
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Notebook and Pencil, by Terry Freedman
The professional writer: honing your craft
What does it take to be a professional writer?
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Bullets and numbers, screenshot by Terry Freedman
Bullets or numbers?
Should you use bullets or numbers in a list?
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