When Sentence Introductions Get in the Way

Some sentences spend so much time getting started that readers have to wait for the actual information. Writers often begin sentences with introductory words and phrases because they seem to create a smoother transition into the main idea. Sometimes they do. Other times, the introduction contributes little or nothing and simply delays the sentence. Consider this example from Beauty and the Beast: At that particular moment in time, Belle walked into the library. The important … Read more

10 Ways to Find Your Unique Angle When Outlining Your Business Book

One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is assuming they need a completely original idea before writing a business book. Very few business topics are truly new. There are already books on leadership, marketing, sales, customer service, finance, real estate, coaching, consulting, and just about every other business subject imaginable. Your goal isn’t to invent a new topic, it’s to present your expertise in a way that only you can. Your unique angle comes … Read more

How Thinking Words Weaken Your Writing

Imagine watching a movie where every few seconds a narrator interrupted to explain what the main character was thinking. The story would feel slow because you wouldn’t be experiencing the events yourself. You’d be watching someone else experience them. The same thing happens in writing. Many writers unintentionally place readers outside the story by constantly telling them what characters notice, realize, wonder, or think. These words create distance between the reader and the action. Instead … Read more

Your Paragraphs Sound Like a Drum Beat

Most writers know that repeating the same words can weaken their writing. Fewer writers realize that repeating the same sentence structure can create the exact same problem. Readers may not consciously notice it, but they feel it. A paragraph where every sentence follows the same pattern creates a steady rhythm that eventually becomes monotonous. Like a drummer hitting the same beat over and over, the writing becomes predictable. The information may be interesting, but the … Read more

How to Sell Your Services Without Turning Your Book Into a Sales Pitch

One of the biggest fears business owners have about writing a book is sounding like a salesperson. They’re afraid readers will think every chapter is leading to a pitch. They’re worried they’ll come across as self-serving instead of helpful. Ironically, the opposite often happens. They work so hard to avoid selling that they never mention their business at all. Somewhere between a constant sales pitch and complete silence is the sweet spot. The best business … Read more

Why Writers Love “Just” Too Much

Every writer has a favorite word. Sometimes it’s obvious, and sometimes it hides in plain sight. One of the most common crutch words I see while editing manuscripts is just. The word appears so frequently that many writers stop seeing it altogether. Yet once you start looking for it, you’ll discover it’s scattered throughout pages of dialogue, narration, and description. The surprising part? Most of the time, the sentence works perfectly well without it. Why … Read more

Online Critique Groups: A Path to Better Writing, All from Your Comfy Couch

Are you frustrated with your writing progress? Maybe you’re questioning your publishing goals, struggling to finish a draft, or wondering whether your latest chapter makes sense to anyone except you. Writing may be solitary, but improving your writing doesn’t have to be. Becoming an active member of a writing community can provide encouragement, accountability, and the honest feedback you need to make your manuscript stronger. A good critique group gives you all three. Of course, … Read more

Make Your Business Book Work for Your Business

One of the biggest mistakes business owners make isn’t writing the wrong book. It’s forgetting to connect the book back to the business. I’ve seen it happen over and over. A business owner spends months writing a helpful, informative book. They publish it, celebrate the launch, and then… nothing. Readers finish the last chapter and close the book without: The book becomes the end of the relationship instead of the beginning. A business book should … Read more

The Four Questions That Will Instantly Improve Every Paragraph You Write

When writers think about editing, they often focus on sentences. They look for weak verbs, repeated words, awkward phrasing, or grammar mistakes. Those things matter, but even beautifully written sentences can’t save a paragraph that doesn’t accomplish anything. A paragraph should never exist simply because the writer had another thought. Every paragraph should move the story, reveal character, increase tension, provide information, or prepare the reader for what’s coming next. If it doesn’t, readers begin … Read more

The Secret to Writing Business Book Examples That Actually Teach

One of the easiest ways to improve a business book is also one of the most overlooked. When you add examples for whatever you’re teaching, readers move from understanding a concept to seeing how it works in the real world. Without examples, a business book often feels abstract. With strong examples, readers begin to think, “I can actually do this.” The difference isn’t simply having more examples, it’s having better ones. Examples Should Explain, Not … Read more

Why Every Chapter in Your Business Book Needs a Clear Point

One of the easiest ways to lose a reader is to make them wonder: “What was the point of that chapter?” It happens more often than you might think. A chapter starts with an interesting story, wanders through several related ideas, includes a few personal experiences, and eventually comes to an end. While the information was correct, the problem is that the reader finished the chapter without a clear takeaway. Every chapter in a business … Read more

Clear Sentences Start with Clear Subjects

Imagine telling a friend this story: “There was something I wanted to tell you about what happened yesterday.” Your friend would probably think: Just tell me what happened. Readers feel the same way. One of the easiest ways to weaken your writing is to delay the information readers actually care about. Instead of presenting the subject or action immediately, many writers begin with unnecessary words that force readers to wait for the point. The result … Read more

The Hidden Cost of Weak Verbs

When writers want to strengthen their prose, they often focus on adjectives and adverbs. They search for more vivid descriptions or more expressive ways to tell readers what’s happening. But the biggest opportunity to improve a sentence is usually sitting in the middle of it. It’s the verb. Verbs carry the action. They create movement, establish pacing, and help readers visualize what’s happening. When the verb is weak, the entire sentence loses energy. Strong verbs … Read more

Why “I Help Everyone” Will Kill Your Book

One of the first questions I ask business owners who want to write a book is simple: “Who is your reader?” The answer often sounds something like this: While that may sound inclusive, it’s one of the fastest ways to write a book that connects with no one. The more broadly you write, the more generic your message becomes, and generic books are easy to ignore. You Can’t Solve Every Problem Every reader picks up … Read more

Make The Pumpkin and the Mouse Jinn Part of Your Halloween Tradition

Halloween may still be a few months away, but it’s never too early to start building your family’s collection of seasonal favorites. The Pumpkin and the Mouse Jinn is a magical story filled with humor, heart, and just the right amount of Halloween fun to enjoy year after year. The Pumpkin and the Mouse Jinn by Wendy Spurlin is becoming a delightful Halloween tradition for families looking to add a little laughter to their autumn … Read more

Why “In Order To” Almost Never Helps

Some writing problems hide in plain sight. They’re not grammar mistakes. They’re not spelling errors. Most readers won’t consciously notice them, yet they quietly make sentences longer, slower, and less effective. One of the biggest offenders is the phrase in order to. Writers use it because it sounds like proper writing: formal and complete. Unfortunately, it often adds words without adding meaning. But in most cases, removing it makes the sentence stronger. Why Writers Use … Read more

5 Differences Between Self-Publishing and Traditional Publishing for Business Owners

One of the first questions business owners ask when they decide to write a book is: “Should I self-publish or pursue a traditional publisher?” It’s a fair question. After all, traditional publishing has long been viewed as the gold standard, while self-publishing was once considered a last resort. But the publishing world has changed dramatically. Today, many successful business owners choose to self-publish, while others pursue traditional publishing for the opportunities it can provide. The … Read more

Why Sentence Rhythm Matters

Most writers focus on word choice, grammar, and punctuation when they revise. Those things matter, but they’re not the only factors that determine whether writing feels smooth and engaging. Sentence rhythm plays a role too. Readers may not consciously notice rhythm while they’re reading, but they definitely feel it. When every sentence follows the same pattern, the writing starts to sound repetitive. When sentence lengths vary naturally, the prose becomes easier to read and more … Read more

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