It’s the writer’s brand as sure as a hot iron sears the page. Each writer has a unique way of stringing words together. Consider forming a writer’s group to sharpen the tools of the craft and to socialize. When creative people are able to share their thoughts with like minds, they’re encouraged and inspired to continue. The truth is we have a distinct perspective about the world that allows us to communicate through the written word. We’re often labeled as eccentric, bizarre, or advised to take meds. Most creative types see life with a bit of quirkiness. It’s free! My new fav site is ProWriting Aid, a writer’s personal writing coach. Paste a document into the site, and the application shows the number of times every word is used. My go-to site is I also value the Word Frequency Counter. With textbooks and websites available to teach and correct our errors, there isn’t an excuse. Nothing is more frustrating or throws a reader out of the experience more than poor grammar and punctuation. If the project is nonfiction, the reader needs to be entrenched in the material. If the project is fiction, the reader must experience the story. As difficult as this may sound, the clarity and conciseness not only helps the writer focus on the fiction or nonfiction project, but also provides an overall pitch to others. Develop three sentences describing the writing project.The following 10 items will increase every writer’s awareness of the skills needed for a successful book. Dedicated writers challenge themselves to make each project better than the previous one.

Writers seek ways to polish their craft and deepen their understanding of what makes a marketable manuscript.

Where Tomorrow Leads by DiAnn Mills