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Wordstead

Writer's Newsletter

ARTICLES:

► A Step-by-Step Approach to Hiring and Working with a Ghostwriter—There are certain tell-tale signs to look out for when deciding which writer to hire.

► Which Ghost Writer Handles Unexpected Challenges Best?—Ghostwriters are not immune to huge challenges that risk project failure. Which ones are best suited to meet those challenges?

► Tips on Writing Natural Dialogue—Writing is simply not like talking. It doesn't matter how much you try to mimic ordinary speech to make your text sound informal—or realistic, in the case of dialogue.

► "Are Memoirs Beating the Fiction Market?"—Memoirs are not only holding their own in the book market, they're filling an important gap left by the fiction market.

► "Why Anybody Can Write a Memoir"

► "How to Get the Best Out of Your Ghostwriter"

► "Why You Should Think Before You Write"

► "Tips on How to Soften Your Writer's Block"

BOOK REVIEWS:

► Stephen King's latest novel, Under the Dome

► "The Old Cold War Magic We All  Miss by That Much"—A recently discovered CIA manual of old secret tricks.

► Short book reviews

► More book reviews & must-reads

BLOG ARTICLES:

► The Secret to Writing With an Authentic Voice—Fiction writers consider dialogue one of the best ways to breathe realism into a story.

► Tim Fitzgerald's ground-breaking memoir of his days as a youth activist in the 1960s.

► "Do You Have to Be Famous to Write Your Memoir?"—That's the myth, and here are the facts...

Want to be notified about new blog postings? Send me a brief e-mail message by clicking on:

Afshaker@aol.com

PUBLISHING NEWS:

► "An e-Book Melee Worthy of a Soap" and more...

COOL FACTS:

► Did You Know...?

► Famous Ghostwriters

WRITING TIPS

► Writing With Style

► Writing Tidbits: Sentences

► Writing Tidbits: Paragraphs

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► TIPS ON WRITING-

1. Active vs. passive

Many books on writing insist on the use of active rather than passive sentences (“Mary wrote that book,” not “That book was written by Mary”). Follow their counsel to the letter and you’ll end up with loosely strung sentences. It’s far more important to allow your sentences to flow one from the other. Leave some sentences passive to maintain consistency.

2. Consistency

A good way to check for consistency inside a paragraph is to underline the beginning of each sentence. Read those beginnings to make sure each ties in with the words and references toward the end of the previous sentence.

3. Information flow

Two great thumb rules to follow: (1) Put the newest or most important information toward the end of your sentence, which information you intend to expand on in the next sentence. (2) Put at the beginning those ideas you’ve already mentioned or implied in the previous sentence.

Usage & Abusage

 Use “neither” to refer to only two things (persons, actions, groups, companies, etc.). For three or more, use none or not any. “Shirley, Clive and Rupert went to town; none wore blue.”

 Use “loath” to mean disinclined toward something (“I’m loath to believe it”); and loathe to say you dislike something (“I loathe the smell of failure!”).

 Use “incredulous” to mean skeptical, incredible to mean unbelievable. I often hear outbursts like: “It was so incredulous!” That's wrong. On the other hand, it’s idiomatically acceptable to say: “You're incredible, you know that?”

 Don’t abuse “a lot of” by employing it too often in the plural. Everybody does it, of course, but "a lot" is singular, and will stay that way to the end of time. Instead of "a lot of farmers have singing talent," say: "Lots of farmers have singing talent." Better still, "Many farmers do." And I can vouch for that!

Testimonials

Anthony has been key to developing my writing career. He has been, and continues to be, a mentor, a trusted intellectual mind that holds thoughts and words with care and insight. Yet he sees, not merely the written text, but the soul and spirit that is behind every passage that emerges from an author's deepest parts...

- Nenosi Mae 

The Colour of Barashash (novel)

barashasha@yahoo.co.uk

My mother said she would like to meet you one day…I have to agree that you did an incredible job getting in sync with my memories and emotions. I am so glad that I decided to work with you! I hope we will continue to work together on future projects.

- Margot Hyland, American from

South Africa and mother
   of young US marine serving in Afghanistan
   Across the Color Line (memoir) 

mihland@yahoo.com

I have just completed the process of publishing my first manuscript, and I must say that you have helped me find the most eloquent and highest expression for my thoughts. I want to acknowledge your tremendous contribution to my personal success and that of my book project. I look forward to using you as my resource to support all of my writing needs. You are a true master at what you do.

- Harold Davis, MscD, PhD

Inspirational speaker and success coach
    Moving the Stars With Your Words: How to be the creative factor and achieve

what you really want out of Life 

drhdavis@movingthestars.com

www.movingthestars.com 

Dr. Shaker, I have read the manuscript and I am so darn impressed with what you have done I can't find words to express it. You are definitely a master at what you do. I hope you will allow me to include you in my acknowledgments, because I want those who read the book to know about you...You certainly deserve that if you would allow me.

- Robert Sullivan,

Georgia businessman

The Formula: Building Competitive

Advantage for the Motor Carrier

robert.l.sullivan@att.net

Read more...