Titling a book is challenging. It is hard enough to describe a book in just a few sentences. How can you be sure you have a title for your nonfiction book that works? Here is a handy checklist to help choose the best title for your book. If the title does not meet one of…
Archives for December 2017
Proofreading Marks
I spent the day yesterday editing and proofreading a manuscript before turning it into my editor. I went through this draft on paper and made marks in ink. Years ago I attended a workshop on the Chicago Manual of Style. It made me wish I paid more attention back in high school English class. I…
Gospel Meditation: Second Sunday of Advent
The Preaching of John the Baptist (Mark 1:1-8) Let the following questions to guide you through a process of Lectio Divina: LECTIO (Reading): What does this passage say that everyone should understand? What was John the Baptist’s goal? What was it about John the Baptist that must have made him so popular throughout Judea and…
Stephen King’s “No Adverbs Rule”
“I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops. To put it another way, they’re like dandelions. If you have one on your lawn, it looks pretty and unique. If you fail to root it out, however, you find five the next day… fifty the day…
Write for an Emotional Connection
“A woman whose son was incarcerated read my own favorite short story of all I’ve written (‘Unconditional’) about a parent whose child is in prison for an unimaginable crime. She told me it had brought her comfort and asked to share it with a support group for parents of children in prison. They read it…
