CataUniversity | Quick Tips

Progress & Challenges

By Alice ⋅ January 28, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

“Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.”
~Mark Victor Hansen

Quick Tip: Get Into Their Head

By Alice ⋅ January 22, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

The next time you’re having trouble with your book try switching POVs. In fact, write a scene from a secondary character’s point of view. You might not use the scene in your finished draft, but I’ll bet you’ll be surprised at what you learn from writing that scene. You see, every character in your story [...]

Quick Tip: The Rules Still Apply

By Alice ⋅ January 14, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

Even though we’re living in an age of technology and email there are still many publishers and agents who only accept paper submissions. One of the first “rules” I ever heard was to make sure your ink is dark, your font basic (Times or Courier here, folks) and your paper, bright white.
A new article in [...]

Quick Tip: 1000 Words a Day

By Alice ⋅ January 7, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

Have you done the math? If you write 1000 words a day, at the end of a year you’ll have 365,000 words. How many full length novels is that? How many category length stories or novellas is that?
Even if you don’t write on weekends or holidays… say you don’t write 10 days a month. You’d [...]

Grammar Tip: Brushing up on verbs

By Alice ⋅ January 4, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

A verb expresses action or a state of being.
Example:
Fred swung the bat.
For more about grammar visit: catauniversity.com/?cat=62

Quick Tip: Need an education?

By Alice ⋅ January 3, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

Are you looking for a writing class or workshop to take? Ready to improve your writing? Check the Class/Workshop page at CataUniversity for a list of upcoming courses. Direct link: catauniversity.com/?cat=9
Alice Anderson

Quick Tip: Form Good Habits

By Alice ⋅ January 2, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

When do you like to write? Early morning? Late at night? It’s time to form some good habits. If you write best in the early morning make sure you’re setting your alarm clock every night. Work out a schedule that allows you time to write. Commit to writing new words before you edit, check email, [...]

Quick Tip: Organize your space

By Alice ⋅ January 1, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

One of the common causes of writers block is clutter. Clutter in the mind, on their desk, in their workspace in general. And editor’s offices aren’t much better. So take half an hour today and tidy your space. Take notes and write out a to do list to get things off your mind. Go on, [...]

Promo Tip: Check your links

By Alice ⋅ December 31, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Once your book is released, double check the links on your website. Any link to your publisher, to buy the book, etc. should now link to your book’s personal page on your publisher’s website or to amazon/barnesandnoble or where ever readers can buy your book.
Alice Anderson

Quick Tip: Time to write

By Alice ⋅ December 30, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Don’t wait for “the right time to write.” Make every chance you get the right time. Carry a satchel or briefcase with you everywhere you go. Inside, keep a notebook, a pen, pencil, and/or a laptop/word processor. Now you’re ready to write whenever you have a spare moment.
Alice Anderson

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