In my last post, I talked about why I wrote The Practical
Writer, and the fact that the focus of this reference is about quality. I
thought it might be helpful to offer a little explanation of what each chapter
is about to give an even better picture of this reference’s content.
Who Am I? >
This is a short biography, briefly introducing you to this blog, what it’s all
about, and also my career path as a medical transcriptionist and MT instructor,
and my experience as a writer throughout my career.
Introducing
Practicality > A short introduction on the main focus of this reference,
my process for writing and what I learned along the way, and how this book can
help with putting out not just a 5-star story, but also with 5-star quality.
Chapter 1: My Story –
From MT to Author > I go into a little more detail about my background
as an MT, how I wound up becoming a full-time writer, and the fact that both
careers came to me quite by accident.
Chapter 2: Organizing
Your Time and Workspace > This chapter discusses how to find the time to
write, especially if you have a lot of other obligations, such as a full-time
job and children. I also talk about how to set up the right desk/writing area
that is going to fit you correctly so
you don’t wind up with aching arms and shoulders.
Chapter 3: Writing
Observations > Here I talk about how to get started with your story,
such as some issues you may need to research before you even write that first
sentence. There’s information on book covers, disclaimer page, dedication,
whether or not to use a pen name, and a few other points you will want to
consider as you begin and complete your story.
Chapter 4: Word and
Keyboard Notes > You probably already know how to use Word, but this
chapter will tell you about some how-to tips you might not know about and can
save you time. I have included keyboard shortcuts for keeping your hands off
the mouse, which is another time saver.
I also show you how to fix your screen if you suddenly find it upside
down or sideways. If you have never had that happen to you, it can be a real
panic moment!
Chapter 5: Word
Expanders > If you have never used a word expander, this chapter is
going to be a huge help to you. Using a
word expander will help you save even more time than not using your mouse. I
provide tips on how to create a shortcut language so that there’s nothing to
memorize and will allow you that much more time to write, especially if time is
not on your side.
Chapter 6:
Punctuation and Grammar Rules and Guidelines > The title is obvious, I
know, but what I have done is listed the most common rules you come across in
writing, have included sample sentences that show what to do and what not to
do, and provided several websites you can use for even further help.
Chapter 7:
Researching > This isn’t a chapter on how to research, but rather why
sometimes researching can be so important for the accuracy of your story. You
will also find a few tips on how to properly research using Google or whatever
search engine you prefer.
Chapter 8:
Proofreading and Editing > Provided
in this chapter are tips on what to look for as you proofread/edit, especially
if you are doing that on your own. That’s not recommended, but there may be
times when you don’t have any other resource but yourself, so this chapter will
help if you are in that situation. Included is a long list of sound-alike words
with their meanings, words often missed because of their closeness in spelling,
such as nerve/never, and a short list of words often misused.
Chapter 9: Pricing
Your Novels and Other Works > Now I don’t tell you what you should
charge for your books, because obviously that is entirely up to each
individual. What I do talk about is what I have done and what works well for
me. It’s one of those things you have to play around with to see what will help
your sales. There is no right or wrong way, but hopefully my experience with
this particular topic will help with your pricing decisions.
Chapter 10: Social
Media and Networking > This chapter deals with the social sites I use,
keeping in mind the list is probably endless on where you can get your name out to potential readers. I do offer some tips on how you can best use these tools, such as why
it’s best to have an author page on Facebook or how to check how many people
have seen your Twitter posts.
Chapter 11:
Journaling > I talk about the several journals I have and how this can
be a great exercise in developing your writing skill set. I also discuss the
reasons why both electronic and handwritten journals are important.
Chapter 12: Just For
Fun > Here you’ll find exercises on how to create a short story or even
coming up with an idea for an entire novel.
There are also some fun facts about words, such as there are 45
definitions for the word “draw.”
Chapter 13: Some
Final Thoughts > This book’s focus is all about quality, and my final
thoughts on the subject explain why I feel quality is so important, in fact,
vital, not only for your projects, but for the writing industry as a whole.
In several chapters, you will find extra links to websites
you may want to bookmark for extra help with grammar and punctuation, sites for
finding products to help dress up your workspace, and sites for improving your
word usage, such as 100 different expressions for “said.” Many chapters also have a blank page at the
end of the chapter titled “My Notes,” so you can make your own notes on your favorite
websites, punctuation rules you might need to pay extra attention to, researching
sites, or whatever you might want to refer to later. Who knows—you might even wind
up writing your own writer’s guide to help up-and-coming authors.
I hope you find the above
information helpful in what The Practical Writer has to offer. Here are the links
to the print version and E-version:
Always feel free to let me know if you have any further questions.
Enjoy your day and your writing! Thanks for
stopping by.
