Short Assignments, False Starts, Shitty First Drafts, and Index Cards – what do these three things have in common? They are all chapters in Anne Lamott’s Bird By Bird (affiliate link, if you purchase the book, I will receive a small payment). This book is a great reference whether you’re writing a report on birds (Lamott’s younger …
Brainstorming Ideas for Research Papers
So, you have a project that has been assigned and you don’t know where to start. The first thing you must do to produce good research is come up with an idea, and develop a focus for that idea. Following these tips to brainstorm research ideas will ensure you’ll never have writer’s block again. You could make …
How to Create a Story Arc for Your Fiction Project
If you want to create a successful short story or a novel that has a great story, you’ll likely want to create a story arc. This is another way of saying “story structure,” but this term goes back to Aristotle’s conception of what makes an aesthetically pleasing story in Poetics. What Is a Story Arc? A …
Showcase Academic Work in Undergraduate Journals
The semester has come to an end, now what do you do with that research paper you received excellent feedback on? You may want to consider submitting it to one of many undergraduate journals for publication. If your paper is published, it will look great on graduate school applications and in personal statements. Several undergraduate …
I’m Back and What I’m Working On
I’m back at the computer after taking a break to spend time with a cute baby on my maternity leave. Freelancers have an interesting relationship with work and taking personal leave. Since we’re self-employed, we don’t really get paid time off. Thus, I’m back in the saddle again already and ready to make a portfolio …
Research Note-Taking Methods Part 1: Taking Notes on Paper
It is vital, when writing, to document any material you used during the research phase. Developing a system for taking and making notes is key. Being able to report quotations and paraphrases accurately depends upon careful research note-taking methods. Here are classic paper-based note-taking methods that work well for any research project. Note: This post …
How to Create an Annotated Bibliography
An annotated bibliography can be an enormously helpful tool when performing research for a major project. During the preliminary research phase, it can be helpful to create an annotated bibliography so you can see where you are going with your research and so others can follow as well. Endnote, Zotero, and other bibliography programs can …
Fiction Friday Writing Challenge 2: Letter to an Absent Friend
Today’s Fiction Friday Writing Challenge was: Write your challenge submission as a letter from your character to someone he or she hasn’t spoken to in more than ten years. You can find this challenge along with others on the September 1st post listing the Fiction Friday Challenges for this month. Here are the Fiction Friday …
12 Tips to Help You Find Ideas for Your Writing
Are you having difficulty finding writing ideas for your writing? You’re not alone. One of the biggest stumbling blocks to getting started on any writing project is not knowing where to start. Generally, that begins with coming up with an idea you’re excited about. One of the most difficult things to do when working on …
How to Write a Preliminary Bibliography
An important step in beginning research is to survey the materials available. By formulating a preliminary bibliography before beginning work on a research project, you can help kick-start your project. You can use OneNote, Word, Evernote, Google Docs, or any other word-processing tool to store your working bibliography as you compile the reference materials for …