Daphne Gray-Grant
Articles by this Author
The "division of labor" secret that all fast writers know Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published December 22, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
Are you the type of person who writes a sentence and then spends 10 minutes thinking about it? "Is that the best word?" you wonder. "Does this flow from the previous sentence?" "Is that pronoun in the right place?"
10 Ways To Beat Writer’s Block Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published December 8, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
Do you ever struggle with writer’s block? Here are 10 ways to tame that monster!
Why you should limit your writing time Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published November 24, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
If your writing is blocked or too slow, even though you've scheduled lots of writing time for yourself, then try something different. Tell yourself that you are allowed to write for only "x" number of minutes per day or per week. (You, of course, get to decide what X represents, but make it slightly smaller than you think reasonable.)
5 winning websites for writers Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published November 10, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
If you’re reading this column, you’re likely already a fan of the Internet. But do you use it to full advantage for all your wordsmithing? Here are a few sites I highly recommend:
How to organize your hard drive for writing faster Contributed to Bookpleasure By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published October 26, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
Will all of these specific tips work for you? Maybe, maybe not. But invest an hour or two in getting your hard drive better organized and I guarantee you'll see your productivity soar.
5 reasons why we all find writing difficult Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published October 13, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
Here’s a question I get at least a hundred times a year. Why is writing so damn tough?
Why hard work is more important than talent Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published September 28, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
I’m more inclined to agree with Stephen King who said, “Talent is cheaper than table salt.” He continued: “What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” Hard work is what I want to talk about today. Many people seem to think that writers are always "born" rather than "made." No way!
Are you guilty of using unnecessary words? Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published September 14, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
The advantage of scouring your writing for these phrases is simple. If you focus on a few phrases -- with the passion and precision a 16-year-old girl might devote to applying her lipstick -- your brain will start to become attuned to other unnecessary words. It's been said it takes 21 days to form a habit. I don't know about that, but I do know if you work on ridding your text of a few common needless phrases, you're likely to develop the habit of eliminating all needless words.
Fats Waller's secret to getting on a writing roll Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphe Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published August 31, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
Why you should explain using a variety of words Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray- Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published August 17, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
How to avoid getting tense about verbs -- tips for the grammatically challenged Contibuted To Bookpleasures By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published August 4, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
Five easy ways to silence the devil on your shoulder Contributed To Bookpleasrues.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published July 20, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
Negative thoughts will not only hurt your writing; they'll also make writing slower and more painful. Don't let the devil get away with it. Fight back.
Are you doomed like Sisyphus? Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published July 7, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
In a dark and gloomy pit, deep in the bowels of the earth, a large and strongly muscled man rolls a heavy boulder up a steep hill. The task takes him the entire day. But when he gets to the top, ooophhhh, the stone escapes his grasp and rolls right back down to the bottom. So the next day he must begin all over again.
Five best ways to avoid scowling at your readers Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published June 22, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
Like many ex-journalists, I pride myself in being skeptical. But I also have a Pollyanna streak that leads me to believe that being kind is one of the keys to success. A recent York University study found that people who performed small acts of kindness — every day for five to 15 minutes for a week — increased their happiness and self-esteem.
Is your helicopter the right height? Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published June 11, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
Five ways to connect the dots when you write Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published May 26, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
Ten best ways to beat writer's block Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published May 12, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
I know the feeling. You really, really, really don't want to write. You're blocked. You've hit the wall. The words just won't come. You're bereft of inspiration.
How editing is like dieting Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published April 27, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
5 ways to build better bridges for yourself Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published April 13, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
Writing is a little bit like giving directions. As the writer, you know the landscape. You’ve had the benefit of doing the research, conducting the interviews, pondering the material and then, actually writing it.
Five reasons why you should write like a speed demon Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published March 30, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
"Why should I want to write quickly?" That gauntlet, thrown down by a colleague recently, caused me to sit back -- rather like an astronaut pressed into the chair by G-forces. But for me, the only force was astonishment.
7 best ways to become a better proofreader Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published March 11, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
This week's column is about mistakes and I am supremely well qualified to write it. I'm the idiot who once let an email subject line read, "Why you should ignore your grammer checker."
What your hissy fit is trying to tell you Contributed to Bookpleasures.com By Daphe Gray -Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published March 9, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
Five ways to salvage writing disasters Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published February 17, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
How Many Drafts Should You Write? Contributed to Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray- Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published February 6, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
People frequently ask me how many times they should rewrite. I try to dodge this question because, in truth, there is no easy answer. Pieces of writing are like snowflakes; each is unique. There are, however, some questions you can ask yourself for guidance
Three writing resolutions for 2012 Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphe Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published January 20, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
How To Begin Your Sentences In A Winning Way Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Daphe Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published January 5, 2012
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing
Five Reasons Why You Must Murder Your Darlings Contributed to Bookpleasures.com By Daphne Gray-Grant
- By Daphne Gray-Grant
- Published December 23, 2011
- Improving Your Writing Skills & Marketing