We love technology at ProWritingAid and how it helps writers improve. Over the past few months, we’ve been checking out some of the best writing technology out there. We've already reviewed Scrivener, The Novel Factory, Ulysses, and ILYS, this month we look at a new app called Rough Draft.
Where We Write…Rough Draft
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How Literary Devices Can Add Depth to Your Writing
The term “literary device” refers to some common techniques that writers use to add meaning to their writing and get their message across more poignantly. When mastered, literary devices can help your reader interpret your scenes and understand your ideas with greater depth.
There are hundreds of literary devices to choose from, but let’s talk about some of the ones that will add layers to your writing.
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Check Out These New ProWritingAid Features
The newest version of ProWritingAid comes with some shiny new features to check out including a Word Explorer, summary reports, easier navigation, contextual thesaurus, detailed explanations and more. Take it for a spin now.
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Do Your Subjects & Verbs Always Agree?
We know that a singular subject goes with a singular verb, and a plural subject goes with a plural verb. This is fairly straight forward and won’t throw most people off balance.
There are some instances, however, when you might confuse what is the actual subject of the sentence and choose the wrong verb.
Here are a few.
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How-To Techniques to Establish Pace
Pacing your story is like using the throttle to give an engine more gas. With more throttle, the engine revs up and speed increases. Less throttle slows you down so you can see the passing scenery.
Controlling the pacing of your story is like maneuvering through city streets, main thoroughfares, and high-speed highways. You need different speeds to maintain control of your vehicle in each situation.
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Cut “That” Out—Seriously
You want clear, concise writing, so make every word count. Cut out extraneous words, especially “that,” taking up space without adding value. This practical post is full of examples where the word "that" could be cut, and other times when it should be included for clarity.
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7 Online Tools for Fast and Easy Infographics
People’s attention spans are getting shorter and a huge portion of the population identify themselves as visual learners, and so infographics can be the perfect way to get your point across.
They allow you to compress information in an engaging way, and make numbers and statistics come alive. But they rely on a good balance of graphics and content, and that’s not always easy.
Here are seven online tools to make fast and easy infographics that quickly engage your audience’s senses.
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Summary Report: The Next Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
In anticipation of ProWritingAid’s upcoming release of the new online editing tool, we want to talk about one new feature that we are particularly excited about: the Summary Report.
What is it? A summary report is an all-in-one look at the statistics in your writing. Not just the basics like word count, sentences, and paragraphs, but it also points out the key actions you need to take to strengthen your writing.
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Summary Report: The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
In anticipation of ProWritingAid’s upcoming release of the new online editing tool, we want to talk about one new feature that we are particularly excited about: the Summary Report.
What is it? A summary report is an all-in-one look at the statistics in your writing. Not just the basics like word count, sentences, and paragraphs, but it also points out the key actions you need to take to strengthen your writing.
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How to Foreshadow Like Alfred Hitchcock
Foreshadowing allows you to plant clues, hint at what’s to come, build the tension, or even place a red herring in your reader’s path.
You can use foreshadowing in a variety of ways. The resulting action can be immediate or delayed. You can use dialogue or narrative to set the scene, and you can foreshadow a symbolic event or an ethical dilemma. You can use direct or indirect foreshadowing, and it can even be true or false.
Foreshadowing can feed the tension of a scene. Who doesn’t know the famous shower scene in the movie Psycho? Right before the character Marion Crane pulls up to the Bates Motel, her windshield wipers are slashing through the rain, foreshadowing what awaits her in the shower scene.
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Writing for a British Audience
As someone who lives and runs a business in the UK and has travelled extensively in the US, I can tell you from first-hand experience that there’s a world of difference between the way Americans and Britons do things.
And I’m not just talking about the fact that we drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the road (though, you know, obviously remember that if you decide to visit).
There’s the whole ‘s’ versus ‘z’ argument, the fact that we prefer spelling colour with a ‘u’ and gray with an ‘a’. And of course, let’s not forget about our penchant for the imperial system.
Grammar and measurements aside though, when it comes to marketing across the pond the differences are both vast and nuanced. We’re all speaking English, but that doesn’t mean it’s the same language.
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Flashbacks: A Writer’s Best Friend (or Worst Enemy)
A flashback is a scene you use in your current narrative to show something that happened in the past. The two key differentiators are: 1) it must be a scene (as opposed to narration about an event), and 2) it’s past news.
Flashbacks are great for building three-dimensional characters because readers gains insight on how a character’s thoughts, feelings, and morals were formed by important events. They’re also useful for dropping hints about what happened to lead your main character to the current point in time. They help your readers understand and care deeply about your characters and what happens to them.
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2017 Content Marketing Trends Copywriters Need to Know
The good news for copywriters is that content is still king. The bad news is that only the really good stuff will sell.
In the past, the low barrier to entry for copywriters created a glut of writers hanging out their shingles. Companies are now beginning to realize, however, that all content is not created equal. Their audience is tired of the hype and the fluff. Readers expect value in exchange for their time spent reading your content. If they don’t find value, they’ll turn elsewhere.
We’ve pulled together a few predictions on trends that will rule content in 2017. Like most predictions, take what you need and discard the rest.
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Article 2
As someone who lives and runs a business in the UK and has travelled extensively in the US, I can tell you from first-hand experience that there’s a world of difference between the way Americans and Britons do things. And I’m not just talking about the fact that we drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the road (though, you know, obviously remember that if you decide to visit).
There’s the whole ‘s’ versus ‘z’ argument, the fact that we prefer spelling colour with a ‘u’ and gray with an ‘a’. And of course, let’s not forget about our penchant for the imperial system.
Grammar and measurements aside though, when it comes to marketing across the pond the differences are both vast and nuanced. We’re all speaking English, but that doesn’t mean it’s the same language.
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2017 Content Marketing Trends You Need to Know
The good news for copywriters is that content is still king. The bad news is that only the really good stuff will sell.
In the past, the low barrier to entry for copywriters created a glut of writers hanging out their shingles. Companies are now beginning to realize, however, that all content is not created equal. Their audience is tired of the hype and the fluff. Readers expect value in exchange for their time spent reading your content. If they don’t find value, they’ll turn elsewhere.
We’ve pulled together a few predictions on trends that will rule content in 2017. Like most predictions, take what you need and discard the rest.
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Humor Sells – How to Add it into Your Blog
It's said that laughter is the best medicine. It's also an important and useful tool for building an audience for your blog. Writing with humor will improve your writing and is more likely to attract readers.
There's a fine line between being funny and being offensive. The first will make people more likely to share your blog with their friends and visit your site again in the future, while the second will upset your audience and drive them away. Know the audience you are writing for, and know what lines should not be crossed.
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Get Paid to Write: 10 Sites Looking for Submissions Now
It feels as though getting started as a writer is impossible. With so many people asking for your services for free, how will you ever make a living with your skills? Thanks to the internet, there is a way. There's plenty of people out there who need writers and are willing to pay. Here's ten sites where you can find them and start making some cash.
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Get Paid to Write: 9 Sites Looking for Submissions Now
It feels as though getting started as a writer is impossible. With so many people asking for your services for free, how will you ever make a living with your skills? Thanks to the internet, there is a way. There's plenty of people out there who need writers and are willing to pay. Here's nine sites where you can find them and start making some cash.
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How to Juggle Styles and Write for Different Audiences
Writing for a living can often mean that you have to take on less-than-ideal jobs just to make ends meet. While in-depth reports on current affairs might be your forte, you could feel stumped if you find yourself writing for a ‘click-bait’ style site that wants you to focus on pop culture. If you’re used to writing conversational-type pieces, creating an instructional eBook may feel a bit awkward for you. While each writer has a preferred style and a voice, you need to be able to code-switch to meet the needs of your audience.
Before you begin writing, you need to know who you’re going to be writing for. Do a bit of demographic research, and identify a goal. Are you trying to inform stay-at-home moms? Are you trying to sell something to young-adult men? Defining your target audience and a goal or intent will help you decide on the voice that you need to tap into to address them appropriately.
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