Kill Passive Writing

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The sentence, “In my opinion, passive writing is bad,” exemplifies the passive voice.

The active voice says, “Kill passive writing,” My title proclaims this.

By nature, my words, both spoken and written, are passive. Many years ago, I became so irritated with Microsoft Word pointing out my passive sentences that I turned off the option. I concluded passivity was just my style. My writing voice was passive, so people needed to accept it and stop criticizing me for it.

In retrospect, I avoided the fact that my writing needed work.

Now I’m again checking for passive phrases and attacking them.

Sometimes passive writing is easy to fix. For the rest of the time, editing out passiveness is hard; often I end up with a sentence that is longer or less clear.

So, if fixing a passive sentence makes it stronger or easier to read, I gladly do it. For the rest, I’ll make an effort to fix them but am willing to retain some on occasion.

What do you think, should we edit out all passive sentences or be content to keep some?

Seven Tips to Successful Blogging

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If blogging is a form of self-publishing, then is writing a blog post the same as other writing? No! Here are seven blogging tips to be a successful blogger:

1) Make your title search engine friendly: Forget clever titles; aim for SEO — and to get readers’ attention. If search engines don’t like you, no one will find you.

2) Make one point per post: The point of this post is how to blog successfully; the sub-points reinforce that; anything else is a distraction.

3) Keep it short: Our online attention span is fleeting, so keep posts under 300 words, 200 is even better.

4) Use lists: Numbered lists or bullet points make your post easy to read.

5) Make it scannable: People tend to scan while reading online. The careful use of bold text aids in scanning. Sometimes italics helps, but avoid underlining because it looks like a link.

6) Link to your blog: When you make relevant comments on other blogs, link back to yours. But never spam them or leave generic feedback; it will end up biting you.

7) Ask for comments: Blogs are about engagement. Ask a question to start the conversation.

What advice would you add? (Remember to link to your blog.)

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

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When I write, I’m compulsive about saving my work at each lull in my typing and often in between: “alt,” “f,” and “s” at each pause and sometimes even typed midsentence. I don’t want to lose a thing.

Sometimes writing is slow and arduous; the words come with difficulty. If those words were lost, it would merely present an opportunity for a fresh start.

Other times, words gush forth and the results are good.

On rare occasions I get in the zone. Not only do the words flow fast, but they are good words, too: cleverly ordered, presenting profound ideas in a compelling manner.

Once my computer locked up when I’d been in the zone and hadn’t saved for a while. Dismayed, the thought of losing my eloquent prose was unacceptable.

Hoping for the unlikely, I took a break with the improbable wish that my computer would function when I returned, allowing me to save my precious writing. It didn’t happen.

From desperation springs innovation. I snapped a picture of my computer screen.

Then I rebooted and re-keyed my words.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In my case, it was only a couple hundred, but they were good words and I couldn’t bear to lose them. Thanks to a digital camera, I didn’t have to.

Have you ever lost some of your writing?

Is Building a Platform Like Walking the Plank?

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This week two friends expressed frustration with their attempts at building a platform for their writing. One lamented that with his work, family, schedule, and carving out time to write, he simply doesn’t have time to invest in growing his platform. My other friend is taking an extended break from all blogging and social media. She became so overwhelmed with the pursuit of platform that she even considered deleting her blog and shutting down all her social media accounts.

I know a third person who shares their struggles, understanding too well the crunch of time and the pundits’ insistence on platform. That person is me.

If I weren’t distracted with growing my platform, I’d have twice as much time to write. I relish writing, whereas I hate the distraction of platform performance.

Adding to my discouragement is that I’m mired in creating a proposal for my book, God, I Don’t Want to Go to Church. I’m stuck on the section about my platform. I have too little to proclaim.

I wish we lived in a world were a book could stand on its merits, without the need for a platform to push it. But we don’t, so I must persist with my platform efforts, praying that it will be enough for my future publisher, without destroying my passion for writing in the process.

This is a safe place to share. Be it success or sorrow, what are your thoughts about building your platform?

My Addiction to Alliteration

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I’m addicted to alliteration: the repetition of similar sounds near each other in a sentence, often at the start of words. “Similar sounds” is an illustration of alliteration. An extreme example would be “Similar sounds starting successive words….”

Just as some people consider a pun as the highest form of humor, I elevate alliteration as a revered writing skill. I employ it often, perhaps too often.

Apparently alliteration has become passé. Some even say to avoid it, as alliteration distracts the reader. How sad. In discussing this in blog comments with Chip MacGregor, he allowed that two or perhaps three sound repetitions are acceptable, while four or more are excessive.

Yikes! I’ve pulled off four and five alliterative sounds – and once proudly preformed six in succession. When in the depths of my addiction, I would replace an ideal word with an acceptable one just to feed my compulsion. Even now, with my craving in check, I’m especially pleased at this post’s title, with the beginning and ending of two words that showcase my skill.

My addiction to alliteration will never go away, but I am in recovery.

What writing habits do you have that you need to control or eliminate?

Why I Save What I Delete

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When I delete something from a work in progress – be it a book, article, or post – I try to save it. Often it comes in handy later.

Last week’s post, How Much Has Your Writing Progressed in the Past Year?, was running long. I shortened it to make my point more succinctly. I deleted content that didn’t move the piece forward, removing words that failed to connect with the theme or advance my thesis.

One sentence I deleted was:

“We can always improve as writers – and I hope we always will; we need to guard against becoming complacent and settling.”

For years, I was complacent with my writing. My goal was to complete each piece quickly, not to improve. And though writing with regularity helped me to write with greater speed, the quality of my words remained unchanged. At the time I deemed my writing as “good enough”; I had settled.

Then one day I made a mental transition. I uttered the career-changing words, “I am a writer.” I became empowered. An attitude adjustment started that day. Writing with speed merely to reach the end ceased to be my sole goal. Stringing words together to call attention to my prowess as a writer exposed itself as shortsighted and selfish.

I desired to improve. And I have. Though the path is long and I will never reach my destination, I persist in moving forward, growing as a writer with each step. I discover techniques to pursue and habits to discard. I’m picking up tips and developing strategies.

One practice I adopted is saving the things I delete. And today that gave me the basis for this post.

How has your writing improved? What are you doing to become better?

How Much Has Your Writing Progressed in the Past Year?

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Last week, I shared how going on a writer’s retreat gave me the opportunity to pause and reflect on my writing journey over the past twelve months.

I had written nearly every day during the preceding year, making progress but not seeing it. I ground out words with methodical repetition, not realizing I had reasons to cheer. Yet I did have cause to celebrate, in terms of both quantity and quality.

Quantity: At last year’s retreat, I started writing a book. Just before this year’s event, I finished it. (Never mind that a book is never truly done.) That was quite an accomplishment, but until I paused to reflect, I hadn’t appreciated how far I had come.

What amazed me even more was that I started researching another book last April and just finished that one, too. I also took time out to write a short e-book, My Faith Manifesto (download it for free). Plus there were a couple hundred blog posts. I also worked on my platform and published some shorter works.

Quality: Sitting at the writers retreat also reminded me of how I’ve improved over the past year. I’ve learned so much – and applied most of it. I don’t make the same basic errors I made twelve months ago. I still make mistakes, it’s just they’re more advanced ones – ones I was too green to even see last year. I’ve plugged into critique groups, attended webinars, and taken online classes. I’ve gotten better.

But instead of reveling in all this, I was tired and discouraged, Sheesh. I forgot to celebrate my accomplishments.

There’s certainly more I could have done and more I wanted to do. But I refuse to focus on what didn’t happen, instead celebrating what did.

Your journey is different from mine. You may have less time or more time to write, fewer distractions or more, a slower lifestyle or a busier one. So don’t compare yourself to me. Compare yourself to you. That’s what matters – and then celebrate what you’ve accomplished.

What achievements have you made in your writing journey? Please share them here so we can all celebrate with you.

Take Time to Review Your Writing Journey

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Last month I attended a writers retreat, the second time in two years. Aside from a chance to write in a different venue and hangout with other writers, I enjoyed an unexpected benefit: I recalled my writing journey over the preceding twelve months.

It’s wise to periodically look back and evaluate progress, yet we seldom do. As writers we too often go from one day to the next, plodding forward but not seeing any headway.

The opposite dilemma is sliding from one day to the next, with the implicit promise to write tomorrow. Days become weeks and weeks pile up to make months and months turn into years, all with the intent to resume writing tomorrow.

Neither perspective is good. When we don’t see the journey, we lose the opportunity to celebrate progress. Yet, if we procrastinate, we miss even taking the trip. Yes, seasons come when we can’t write or don’t write but those should only last for a time; that’s why it’s called a season. Then we resume writing.

Take a pause today and look at the past year. What do you see?

  • If you’ve moved forward in your writing, take a moment to cheer. And then get back to work.
  • If you’ve not been writing – whether for a good reason or not – don’t despair. Shrug off the guilt; remove the excuses; stop explaining why. Forget what was and resolve to resume writing. Start today.
  • What if you progressed but not as much as you hoped, what then? Simply realize you’re normal. We seldom accomplish as much as we want or think we should; that’s life. Celebrate what you did, cast aside what you didn’t do, and pledge to keep moving forward. That’s what real writers do.

What has your writing journey looked like? What do you need to change?

Writing Contests: Should You Pay to Play?

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Last week I talked about writing contests. These competitions come in two flavors: free and fee. I generally don’t enter any fee-based contests, though last week I made an exception. Here are the pros and cons of both.

Free Contests: Free writing competitions are egalitarian; they are fair and open. This appeals to my sense of right and even more so to my checking account. Of course with no barriers to entry, submissions abound, lessening the chance of winning. Some of the contests I enter have hundreds or even a thousand submissions. The odds of winning are not encouraging.

Fee-Based Contests: Entry fees limit participation, thereby increasing the chance for recognition. Often the fees go to prize money or to pay professionals to judge submissions. Fee-based contests have a greater likelihood of offering feedback as well. As a bonus, you may catch the attention of a judge, who could later benefit your career. Therefore, in theory, fee-based writing contests have less competition and offer better prizes and more benefits.

However, before submitting to a fee-based contest, check them out. Not all are legit, with the only real rewards going to the person who collects the fees. Investigate them, delve into their history, consider the caliber of the judges, and talk with past winners. Also, contact online writing groups and social media hangouts for input. Then you can proceed as appropriate.

As I mentioned last week, I see much value in participating in writing contests and will continue to do so as time allows, for both the free and fee versions.

Do you prefer free or fee-based contests? What’s your experience with them?

What’s the Value of Writing Contests?

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I sometimes submit my work to writing contests. And I sometimes wonder why. Though I want to win, I don’t really expect to. This isn’t self-deprecating; it’s realistic: I write nonfiction and most of the contests I enter are for fiction. So why do I do it?

To Stretch Myself: Many of the contests I enter are through Writer’s Digest. Their challenges are fiction focused. Though I only dabble in fiction, I want to one day pursue it. Stretching myself now will pay off later. Plus memoirs (my present focus) borrow from fiction techniques, so that’s another bonus.

To Try Different Genres: The first contest I entered was for poetry. I don’t write poetry – or at least I hadn’t since my teenage years. The opportunity to dip my toe into this genre appealed to me. Even though I didn’t win, my work made it to the finals. This encouraged me to pen more poetry and I did publish a subsequent piece. I’ll never be a poet, but poetry is a nice diversion.

To Learn: Each submission is a learning opportunity. In some cases, judges offer feedback on your work. This is a great opportunity to grow as a writer. The contests I’ve entered so far, do not provide comments, but comparing my submissions to the finalists and winners show me how I can improve.

To Celebrate: If you win (or are even a finalist), this is cause for celebration. And if it’s put on by a prestigious group, winning is an impressive addition to your resume. Plus, for all the aspiring writers who talk about submitting but never do, mere participation is a reason to cheer.

To Win: For some contests the payoff is bragging rights, others award prizes, and some include publication in a magazine or book. The tangible rewards are compelling, but for me they simply represent an added bonus.

Have you ever entered a writing contest? What were your motives and expectations?