Have you ever had a strict writing deadline for a project, but found it difficult to just sit down and get it done? With so many constant distractions, finding the focus needed to meet deadlines can feel like a never-ending struggle.
However, in Tokyo, Japan, they have found the perfect solution! Located in the Bohemian Koenji district, the Manuscript Writing Café serves as a headquarters for writers on a tight deadline.
In this great article from 9GAG, the writer explains that the café has strict rules that patrons must follow. First of all, only writers with a deadline can enter the café. And those writers must stay in the café for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Upon entry to the café, writers are given a slip of paper on which to write their name and writing goal for the day.
Once allowed to get started, writers are approached by the manager on an hourly basis, to make sure that they are staying on track. However, there are options for more frequent (and forceful) check-ins, if the writer needs some extra pressure.
Now, this may sound like the ideal work environment for someone trying to pound out those last couple of chapters in their manuscript.
There is a catch, though.
As part of the café’s rules, once you enter the café, you cannot leave until you are finished with your writing project. And if that means you have to stay until after the café’s usual closing time, it will cost you extra.
While that may seem like an awful lot of pressure, many writers find that in having a set timeline to get their work done—paired with the distraction-free environment of the café—they are able to be much more productive.
The English language has two “voices” used in speaking and writing. It is quite common to hear references to these voices, but what do they truly mean? And when should each voice be used?
What is voice?
English uses the term “voice” to refer to the connection between the subject and the object of a sentence.
This connection is possible through the use of verbs. As such, verbs and their voice tell readers and listeners the relationship between the subject and the object of the sentence.
There are two voices: the active and the passive.
The difference between these two voices focuses on the subject.
Thus, the subject plays a more prominent role in one voice and a less prominent one in the other.
Writers choose to use one voice over the other to highlight the importance of the subject in the sentence.
What is the active voice?
In the active voice, the sentence’s subject plays a prominent role. The subject clearly states who does the action. The verb indicates the action, while the object is the “recipient” of the action.
Consider the following examples:
Tim went to the grocery store.
Mary and I play basketball on the weekends.
The CEO will address the staff later this week.
In the examples above, the subject represents the “doer” of the action. For instance, Tim is the person that went to the store. The sentence shows this point.
Please note that the active voice drops the use of subjects only in the imperative form, as the “you” subject is implicit. For instance:
Pick up your toys.
Go to your room.
Eat your vegetables.
Imperative statements are commands and assume the use of “you,” whether singular or plural.
What is the passive voice?
In general, the passive voice is the opposite of the active voice. How so? The passive voice essentially switches the subject and the object so that the object occupies the subject’s position and vice-versa. Here is an example:
Active: The girls fixed the car.
Passive: The car was fixed by the girls.
In the active example, the subject “the girls” states who did the action.
The verb “fixed” indicates the action, while the object “the car” shows the recipient of the action.
In the passive example, the subject and object trade places.
Now, “the car” occupies the subject’s position as it comes before the verb. While “by the girls” denotes who did the action, the doer is often omitted in the passive voice.
Why use the passive voice?
There are three main reasons why English speakers use the passive voice.
To denote a formal tone. Generally speaking, the passive indicates a formal tone, giving its impersonal references. As such, the passive voice is a staple of formal academic and scientific writing. For instance, the sentence “It has been suggested that taxpayers oppose new hikes” denotes a formal, academic tone.
To maintain an impersonal tone. Often, English speakers use the passive voice to avoid accusation. For instance, “John Doe robbed the bank” may seem accusatory. In contrast, “The bank was robbed” does not directly state who did the action.
To signal an authoritative tone. Some English speakers utilize the passive voice to show an authoritative tone. For example, “Calls from company phones are prohibited.” This sentence states a prohibition but does not delve into who has issued it.
The use of the passive voice has been under scrutiny for many years. Specifically, calls to avoid the passive voice revolve around the ambiguity that may result from using it. For instance:
The bill was introduced to the Senate last week.
The sentence above lends itself to ambiguity as it is impossible to determine who introduced the bill without background knowledge. Therefore, the overall context must make clear who introduced the bill.
Also, the passive voice tends to be needlessly wordy. For some writers, using longer, more decorated expressions is acceptable. Nevertheless, mainstream writing methodology suggests that clear and concise writing should prevail as much as possible.
Consider this comparison:
Passive: The study was conducted last year by a research team out of the Netherlands.
Active: A research team from the Netherlands conducted the study last year.
The passive statement may be confusing or hard to follow, particularly for a general audience. The active statement shows the writer’s intent much more clearly.
This is why use of the passive voice continues to fall increasingly out of favor, especially when writing for mainstream or general audiences.
5 Reasons to Use the Active Instead of the Passive Voice
Considering that the passive voice has a tendency to be ambiguous and needlessly wordy, using the active voice is usually more favorable.
Generally speaking, the active voice helps promote communication by emphasizing effective writing.
Here are five key reasons why the active voice is more suitable for effective communication than the passive voice.
1. Clarity
Earlier, this discussion pointed out the tendency toward ambiguity when using the passive voice. Indeed, the passive voice can create issues with clarity. Therefore, using the active voice provides a much simpler way of delivering a clear and unequivocal message.
Consider the following example:
Passive: According to research, it is suggested that millions of people will lose their homes as coastal cities are flooded.
Active: Research suggests that millions of people will lose their homes when oceans flood coastal cities.
In the passive sentence, a formal, academic tone indicates the risk of flooding in coastal cities. Moreover, the sentence states that research suggests this phenomenon will occur. However, the wording can become confusing and hard to follow.
In the active sentence, there is a direct statement regarding how research suggests flooding will be an issue. Moreover, the sentence states that oceans will flood coastal cities. Including “oceans” in the sentence removes any doubt regarding the cause of flooding.
On the whole, the active voice allows messages to come across directly. It reduces the likelihood of information becoming jumbled amid a complex articulation of ideas. Ultimately, clear writing facilitates comprehension while reducing the time needed to go through a text.
2. Economy
The passive voice requires more words to communicate a message.
Economizing words may not be a concern when word counts are not constrained.
However, most publications (journals, newspapers, blogs) have specific word counts.
Hence, writers must find a way to say as much as possible in as few words as possible.
The active voice allows writers to cut down on needlessly wordy sentences. Additionally, the active voice reduces the likelihood of inflated phrases. While creative writers use over-the-top wording to create an effect, nonfiction writers must stay on point at all times.
Consider this example:
Passive: It was earlier shown by this defense that the defendant was not present at the scene of the crime at the time of the murder.
Active: The defense showed earlier that the defendant was not at the crime scene when the murder occurred.
The first sentence utilizes the passive voice to create an effect. In particular, the defense attorney wishes to draw attention to the facts and not necessarily the defense.
This style may work during oral arguments in a courtroom but may take up unnecessary space in a written document. Moreover, the passive sentence may become confusing to some readers.
In contrast, the active sentence states clearly that the defense showed the defendant’s whereabouts at the time of the murder.
This sentence not only economizes words but also facilitates comprehension, particularly for non-legal observers.
Also, please note that the first sentence uses 25 words, whereas the second sentence uses 17. Over a full text, writers can communicate much more information within the same space using the active rather than the passive voice.
3. Consistency
Using the active voice promotes consistency throughout a text. Consistency is an essential part of writing logical and coherent texts. As such, using the active voice facilitates maintaining a consistent writing style. Conversely, using the passive voice is not conducive to a consistent style, and creates extremely ambiguous and hard-to-follow texts.
Moreover, jumping between active and passive voice can create a disjointed narrative that readers may not grasp.
Consider the following examples:
Passive: A new policy was introduced this week asking workers to report defects following their shifts. The company intends to centralize reporting in order to locate production problems. The policy has been supported by managers but criticized by workers.
Active: The company introduced a new policy this week asking workers to report defects following their shifts. The aim is to centralize reporting to locate production problems. Managers have supported the change, but workers have criticized it.
Indeed, both paragraphs show a considerable contrast. In the first paragraph, switching back and forth between active and passive voice creates inconsistency. As a result, the paragraph may be confusing to follow. In the second paragraph, the use of the active voice throughout creates a much smoother text. It is also much easier to read and follow.
4. Simplicity
The active voice greatly simplifies texts by using shorter and clearer sentences. This approach is highly useful, especially when the text is a general, nonfiction one.
Additionally, writing for general audiences requires a simpler approach to avoid confusing readers with complex sentences or terminologies.
Please note that this point is not about assuming readers are unintelligent. It is about ensuring that everyone can easily understand a text’s message.
Consider the following sentence:
The entrance exam to college has been failed by more than one-third of high school students aged 18 and older.
This sentence, in the passive, provides general information about a college entrance exam. However, it is too complex to be part of a general information sheet. Thus, simpler wording would be more effective in a general information text.
Consider this alternative:
More than one-third of high school students 18 and older have failed the entrance exam.
While the message is the same, the sentence flows more naturally, making it easier to follow. It is, therefore, worth considering the active voice over the passive when producing texts for general audiences.
5. Formality
Those who believe the active voice is not appropriate for formal writing may be surprised to find it is. The active voice can be as formal as the passive voice. The difference lies in wording and tone. Consider this sentence:
Passive: It is estimated that 10 percent of parents support the school board’s new initiative.
The use of the passive denotes a formal tone. The sentence is also clear, but it could be simpler and more concise.
Consider this alternative:
Active: Approximately 10 percent of parents support the school board’s new policy.
In this example, the tone is formal, but the sentence is much simpler and concise.
Why is this approach important?
Please bear in mind that formal writing values the reader’s time. Therefore, economizing words and expressing ideas concisely gives readers what they need to know without overburdening them with inflated texts.
Summing it Up
The active voice helps deliver a clear and concise message to readers. Considering the need to economize text and time, writers using the active voice give readers everything they need to know.
Please remember that it is not a mistake to use the passive voice. However, overusing the passive voice can lead to confusing and hard-to-follow sentences.
Therefore, writers should value the active voice over the passive voice as much as possible. In doing so, writers can give readers the information they need without overburdening them with long and complex sentences.
Conciseness is a valuable commodity in the English language. Using the active voice can help writers exploit conciseness to the fullest.
It’s no secret that we writers love good words. After all, putting words together in an elegant fashion is what we do. Given our affinity for the written language, it should come as no surprise that we frequently geek out over fun new dictionaries, thesauruses, and encyclopedias.
Recently, a few of our writers shared some awesome online dictionaries that they stumbled across, and we just had to share them with you. We hope you find them as helpful as we did!
The Free Dictionary
If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop, The Free Dictionary is the site for you. This great site gives you the option of choosing a dictionary, thesaurus, medical dictionary, legal dictionary, financial dictionary, acronyms, idioms, encyclopedia, and Wikipedia encyclopedia.
It also has options for dictionaries in 14 different languages, including:
Spanish
German
French
Italian
Arabic
Chinese (both Mandarin and Cantonese)
Polish
Portuguese
Dutch
Norwegian
Greek
Russian
Turkish
Hebrew
On top of its incredible dictionaries, The Free Dictionary also provides links to interesting articles, information on “this day in history,” a “word of the day,” and more.
In other words, it’s a writer’s paradise!
Describing Words
For those of you looking for great descriptive words, describingwords.io is a dream come true.
Just plug in the noun you want to describe, and the site will give you a ton of fantastic descriptive words to choose from.
For example, if you plug in the word “Summer,” you get a lengthy list of adjectives, ranging from “feverish and destructive” to “luminous, fragrant.”
Just think of all the fun you could have with these words!
OneLook
Like The Free Dictionary, OneLook Dictionary Search gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
This simple platform allows you to plug in whatever word you would like to search for, and then provides you with the dictionary definition(s) of the word. Additionally, it gives you the option to see the following:
The word’s origin
Similar words
Related words
Usage examples
Popular adjectives describing your word
Words that often appear near your word
Rhyming words
Invented words related to your word
And, if you scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, you can find mentions of your word used in everything from pop music to quotes and Shakespearean plays.
We’ve all likely heard the saying, “positivity breeds positivity.” And many of us have probably witnessed evidence of its truth in our own lives.
But positivity does much more than just spreading positive thoughts. In fact, a study done by Harvard Business Review found that people with positive outlooks are overall more successful (and happy) than their pessimistic counterparts.
But what does it mean to be positive? Is it all about having a good attitude and seeing the bright side of every situation?
According to the Harvard Business Review, being optimistic is not about wearing rose-colored glasses and ignoring reality when it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. On the contrary, they define optimism as “the expectation of good things to happen, and the belief that behavior matters, especially in the face of challenges.”
In short, they believe that optimism is a combination of being a realist and seeing things for what they are, but maintaining the belief that things can always get better.
They also believe that optimism can be achieved through practicing gratitude, seeking progress (not perfection), and making the effort to connect with others on a deep and meaningful level.
So, how can we, as writers, practice more positivity in our daily lives?
In this great article from Boom Positive, they explain that one of the most powerful ways we can demonstrate positivity and optimism is through our language, both written and spoken. According to the author, “It is essential to learn how to replace negative statements and expressions with more positive ones and see how you will change your own worldview.”
This doesn’t mean that everything we write has to be filled with happy words like “laughter,” “joy,” or “love.” It just means that we should make a conscientious effort to choose words that have positive characteristics or portray positive emotions, such as happiness, dedication, motivation, and inspiration.
It also means we should replace negative words and phrases like “I can’t” with more positive things like “I won’t,” or “I have to” with “I want to.”
By making small changes in the way we write and speak, we can before more efficient and positive communicators. In addition, as Boom Positive explains, “Positive words will shape your mind, alleviate stress and improve your general well-being.”
The saying goes “don’t judge a book by its cover.” But let’s be honest… we’ve all done it. If you’re browsing the shelves of the local bookstore, there are certain book covers that simply jump out and grab your attention more than others.
There are also book covers that can easily be recognized by almost anyone, regardless of whether or not they have read the books.
Take Peter Benchley’s Jaws, for example. You would be hard pressed to find someone who, upon glancing at the giant shark head on the cover, couldn’t tell you what book it is.
But what makes for an iconic book cover? Is it the design of the cover itself? Or does it have more to do with the popularity of the book?
In this great article from Literary Hub, they have compiled a list of the 25 most iconic book covers in history. To determine which covers made the cut, they looked for books that were easily recognized, were unique, and were frequently reproduced for things such as t-shirts, memes, or even used as inspiration for Halloween Costumes.
While Literary Hub’s list is quite comprehensive, here are a few more that we felt should have made the list:
Okay, so this first one is actually a series and not a single cover, but J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series have easily some of the most iconic book covers of all time.
With their vivid, colorful images, it would likely be easy for anyone to pick them out of a lineup.
While the book cover for George Orwell’s 1984 has been redone a few times since its first publication, there’s no mistaking that giant, creepy, all-seeing eye that is featured on the original cover.
Paired with the red and black soviet colors, 1984’s cover definitely qualifies as iconic.
It’s possible that you’ve never read The Stranger by Albert Camus. It’s even possible that you’ve never heard of this award-winning 1942 novella. However, the cover to this book probably looks familiar to you.
The simplistic black and white shards, combined with the stark white center gives the cover an almost dizzying sunburst effect, which is a perfect pairing for the book’s clever and thought-provoking story.
“It’s not the fear of writing that blocks people. It’s fear of not writing well; something quite different.” — Scott Berkun
All writers inevitably face the dreaded writer’s block phenomenon. Whether they like it or not, writers must deal with tough periods in which nothing seems to flow.
There are times when staring at a computer screen or a blank sheet of paper seems to last an eternity. However, writer’s block is not always about lacking something to say. It’s about fear. The fear of not properly articulating things.
To overcome writer’s block, it is crucial to focus on your message. Having a clear message will help make the language come out. Of course, there are times when rewrites are necessary. But that is merely a part of the process. The main point is to keep going despite the fear of “not writing well.”
Here are seven tried and true tips to overcome writer’s block. These tips will ensure readers get the message loud and clear.
7 Great Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block
1. Create a comfortable workspace.
A comfortable workspace can mean the difference between writer’s block and turbocharged productivity.
Various factors go into creating a comfortable workspace. For instance, a cluttered, messy desk can become a distraction.
In contrast, a clear desk can boost productivity by creating a distraction-free zone.
Other key factors include room temperature, background noise, and lighting. Furnishings such as desks, chairs, and keyboards also greatly impact writer’s block.
In short, the more comfortable the workplace, the easier writing becomes.
The time of day can also become a significant factor in writer’s block.
Morning people may struggle writing at night. In contrast, a night owl may find it virtually impossible to get anything done in the morning. Therefore, finding the most comfortable time to write is pivotal in overcoming writer’s block.
2. Block distractions.
Nowadays, distractions abound.
Anything from a cluttered desk and poor room lighting, to constant incoming calls or the incessant chirping of notifications can foster writer’s block.
Highly productive writers find that getting rid of distractions enables them to focus better and get more done.
After all, getting into the so-called 'zone' requires unfettered focus.— Focus that can't be achieved with constant distractions making it hard to concentrate.
And when the mind cannot concentrate, writer’s block can easily creep in.
A 2012 article in the Harvard Business Review highlights this assertion. In essence, individuals cannot expect to be truly successful without finding their “flow.” However, achieving that state of heightened focus requires the removal of distractions. Getting into that mental state requires time to calm the mind and focus.
A great way to keep distractions at bay is the use of distraction-blocking apps. These apps temporarily mute notifications, restrict access to social media sites, or filter content (emails, calls, or messages). Removing distractions can be the single most powerful tool in fighting writer’s block.
3. Become a creature of habit.
Some of the best writers believe in the power of habit. Building consistent routines help keep the mind sharp and focused. This approach helps writers feel comfortable, thereby boosting their time in “the zone.”
Nobel Laureate John Steinbeck once noted, “In writing, habit seems to be a much stronger force than either willpower or inspiration.”
Indeed, inspiration is a key factor in effective writing. Likewise, writing requires willpower to get things done.
These two factors, however, pale in comparison to habit. Inspiration and willpower can only go so far. Consistency and routine help build great literary works one word at a time.
Great writing habits include working simultaneously, devoting a specific period, sitting at the same place, and taking scheduled breaks. While it is not necessary to work for hours on end every day, it is paramount to maximize output during productive periods, whenever they happen to be.
4. Use writing prompts.
Often, the hardest part of writing is the first word. Jotting down that first word can open the floodgates. The challenge, however, is unlocking that literary deluge. Writing prompts can serve as catalysts to unleash creativity.
Writing prompts are a common device in school. Teachers typically use a few words to introduce the topic for students to write.
For instance, prompts like 'write about the best day of your life in 300 words or less' serve to delineate what students must produce.
Similarly, professional writers can use prompts to help them guide efforts.
Legendary writer Ernest Hemingway used prompts consistently. He would narrow his focus down to a specific topic and begin writing.
Moreover, Hemingway would usually stop writing mid-sentence. This practice enabled him to pick up from where he left off.
According to personal accounts, Hemingway felt it was harder to start fresh than to complete an ongoing idea or discussion.
Indeed, writing prompts can help writers overcome writer’s block. This strategy helps reduce distraction while enabling writers to get past the roadblocks keeping them from penning their ideas.
5. Accept flaws.
The fear of writing often stems from the fear of making mistakes. In other words, writers often seek to be “perfect.” Thus, a common attitude is to produce flawless language and narrative from the start. The reality, though, is much different.
To begin with, there is no such thing as perfect writing. All writing work is subject to improvement.
Professional writers understand that editors can help them boost their use of language, find factual inaccuracies, and assist in crafting the right approach for the intended target audience.
Writers ought to accept that their work is always prone to improvement. The challenge then becomes not to take things personally.
Instead, one must keep an open mind and accept suggestions and helpful criticism.
If constructive observations mean rewriting parts of the text or furthering research, then so be it.
Ultimately, letting go of the need to be perfect can significantly boost overcoming writer’s block.
6. Read as much as possible.
Common wisdom suggests that great writers are avid readers.
This logic assumes that good writers can use others’ work to draw inspiration.
Indeed, reading can help burst through writer’s block.
Reading consistently helps writers find new ways to articulate their ideas. The aim, of course, is not to piggyback on others’ work.
Quite the contrary.
Being an avid reader aims to help writers become more attuned to how other writers approach their craft.
This practice is akin to what professional athletes do when observing other top athletes.
There is always an opportunity to learn something that can help them improve their game.
7. Avoid acknowledging it.
Acknowledging writer’s block creates an unfavorable predisposition. It signals to the writer that there’s something “wrong.”
After all, writer’s block is not a good thing.
While it may be impossible to ignore it completely, focusing on it can fix one’s mind on the block. This fixation only enhances the block itself.
There are times when the best thing a writer can do is get up and do something else.
Common practices include exercise, meditation, or merely switching to another activity.
When the mind obsesses with getting things done, the attention placed on writer’s block only increases. Therefore, a great remedy to overcome writer’s block is to forget about it. Letting go helps liberate the mind. Eventually, ideas will begin flowing again.
How can a ghostwriter help overcome writer’s block?
Unfortunately, writer’s block can delay or even derail writing projects. There are instances in which writers cannot seem to get over the hill. This seeming inability to move a project forward may cause significant frustration and disappointment.
A professional ghostwriter can support writers struggling with writer’s block in several ways.
First, a professional ghostwriter can assist a writer by acting as a coach.
Professional ghostwriters can share their tips and strategies for overcoming writer’s block.
The benefit of their experience can help struggling writers develop their coping strategies.
Second, professional ghostwriters can produce parts or text. For instance, a writer stuck on a particular topic can seek help producing that content. The writer can then resume working on the remainder of the project.
Third, a ghostwriter can tackle an entire project. In this approach, a writer can take a step back to catch their breath and collect their thoughts. Meanwhile, the ghostwriter can set about producing the remaining content.
In the end, enlisting the help of a professional ghostwriter can mean the difference between a project stuck in neutral and getting it off the ground once and for all.
Writers should not fear writer’s block. It is an unfortunate part of being a writer. Thus, overcoming writer’s block is about developing the right set of strategies that can facilitate dealing with writer’s block when it occurs. By having adequate strategies, writers can reduce their anxiety, and most importantly, focus on doing what they do best.
The simple quotation mark has a surprisingly long and rich history.
Its origin dates back a lot further than one might think.
While the practice of using a written symbol to indicate an excerpt from another written work dates all the way back to Ancient Greece, documented history informs us that the ancestors of the double quotation mark that we use today first appear in the margins of fifteenth-century manuscripts as annotations that bestow higher importance on the passages beside them.
Over the 400 or so years that followed this debut, the quotation mark experienced a slow evolution that saw changes in shape, curvature, relative height, axial orientation, and meaning.
While it’s debatable that their appearance continues to evolve to this day, considering that designers create new fonts every year, quotation marks in their modern manifestation exist to do essentially just three things:
1. To indicate a quotation from another written work or to quote the direct speech of real people or fictional characters.
2. To cite the titles of shorter literary or musical works like chapters in a book, episodes of a series, or songs from an album.
3. To highlight the irony of a word or phrase in context or imbue it with sarcasm.
Is it ever really that easy, though?
The simplicity of this three-item list hides all manner of exceptions, unique circumstances, and nuance. If anything related to quotes is easy, it’s how easily they are misused or even abused.
The literary consequences of a couple of errant quotation marks can be dire. The improper placement of the seemingly simple quotation mark can massively change the meaning behind a written statement.
Sign-makers—professional and amateur alike—are notorious for their apparent predisposition towards the gratuitous inclusion of quotation marks in their work, and the fruits of their labor are often quite hilarious.
The following guide aims to refresh your quoting know-how by laying out the basic rules of quotation and covering the various uses for quotes in written documents. It will also delve into style considerations.
In other words, by reading the rest of this blog, you’ll fortify your future work against an unsolicited appearance on this one.
Quoting Spoken or Written Words
At their core, quotation marks are for indicating to the reader that the words they are about to read are not the words of the writer…kinda.
While all the words in a work of fiction are the author’s words, a novelist uses quotation marks to differentiate between the various lines of dialogue and the narration.
Properly formatted quotation can bring a story to life and keep it flowing, but quotes are a matter of grave importance when it comes to other kinds of writing.
Quotes are especially important to non-fiction writers like historians, journalists, and academics. Quotes enable them to borrow the words of another—whether they are spoken or written—to support their idea, their argument, or the larger story they are attempting to tell.
An objective reporter can use quotes from various witnesses, participants, or officials to further illuminate the current event they are reporting on.
The subjective writer behind an opinion piece might use the quotes of another to support the stance they hold on a matter.
A student crafting a thesis statement can borrow the words of established writers or experts in a particular field to back up the claim they’re making.
So, how do they do it without getting slapped with charges of libel or plagiarism?
We’ll start at the very beginning.
Let’s say a guy named John Smith once said or wrote something regarding his feelings toward cauliflower and you wanted to quote him on it. Let’s try putting his exact words into quotes:
“I hate cauliflower.”
That doesn’t really cut it. You need to attribute the quote to someone:
John Smith said, “I hate cauliflower.”
With that, you have a perfect, basic, direct quote. Or, if you prefer, you can flip it around:
“I hate cauliflower,” John Smith said.
The sentence in either orientation informs the reader that the quote was spoken as opposed to written, and the quote is attributed to the speaker who uttered the words within the quotation marks.
It is also possible to quote a speaker without quotation marks:
John Smith said that he hates cauliflower.
This is known as an indirect quote. While the sentence relays the exact same information as the previous example without embellishment—and it maintains the emotional level of John’s disdain for cauliflower—it does not use the actual sentence that John spoke. Therefore, it does not require quotation marks.
Paraphrasing is another matter and it should not be confused with indirect quotation. Paraphrasing is when there is a reference to a spoken quote or a written passage and its sentiment is accurately captured, but there is no claim to any quotes in the retelling:
John Smith once told me about his feelings towards cauliflower. I don’t remember exactly how he put it, but he’s definitely not a fan of that particular vegetable.
When dealing with quotes, the rules of capitalization and punctuation are a matter of great importance as well.
If they are misplaced or ignored, it’s not only bad form, but it can confuse your reader and throw them off course.
Just as with a regular sentence, a sentence quoted in full should begin with a capital letter—even if the quote appears within the sentence that houses it:
John looked up at me and said, “Man oh man, cauliflower is really gross.”
A quote broken up part of the way through is known as an interrupted quote. With interrupted quotes, the second part of the quote is not capitalized:
“Man oh man,” said John while looking up at me, “cauliflower is really gross.”
As you can see in the example above, a comma follows the statement that indicates the speaker of the quote, and one is placed within the first half of the interrupted quote.
Also, take note that the period is placed within the closing quotation mark when the sentence concludes with a quote.
If you choose to quote only part of the sentence, the sentence fragment should not begin with a capital letter:
John called the cauliflower “really gross” before throwing it to the floor.
The placement of question marks in or outside of quotation marks depends on the context of the sentence:
John asked them, “What is it with you guys and this obsession with cauliflower?”
Does John always react like that whenever anyone says, “Let’s all have literally nothing but cauliflower for dinner”?
While rare, alternate punctuation outside of the quotation marks may be necessary in certain circumstances:
John often ranted about what he called cauliflower’s “Three Evils”: its appearance, its smell, and its taste.
Mr. Smith happily sampled all the vegetable dishes that were “not white and weird”; he ignored the various cauliflower casseroles.
It might sound like the setup to a brainteaser, but as a writer, sometimes you have to quote someone who quoted someone else in their own quote—maybe it’s a bit of a tongue-twister too.
To execute a successful secondary level of quotation, the single quotation mark is all you need:
Phil asked, “Did John really scream, ‘Get that cauliflower away from me’?”
If you’re looking for the single quotation mark on your keyboard, it’s located right beneath the double quotation marks that we’ve already been working so hard. You might know it as an apostrophe, but don’t worry, when it comes to flipping it the right way your computer will know just what to do.
Block Quotations
Block quotations come in handy when literally all the words in a particular passage from an author’s work are just so good that you feel as though you’d be doing a disservice to your reader by not sharing every last one of them.
Students and researchers often make use of block quotations when supporting a claim in an academic paper or a nonfiction manuscript.
Block quotes differ from the kinds of quotes we’ve discussed so far because, well, they’re way longer and they look like blocks.
You can’t just slap a long passage in between a pair of quotation marks and call it a day. There are certain rules you have to follow, depending on whom you’re writing for, and proper block quotes look pretty cool anyway.
So, let’s give one a go:
As you can see above, block quotations don’t use quotation marks at all. Their indentation is ½ inch further in and a line below their introduction. Finally, they conclude with a citation.
Style guides differ, but generally, if a typed-out passage takes up more than a few lines on the page, it should be presented in the form of a block quotation.
For questions regarding the proper format and citation styles of block quotes according to the most commonly followed manuals, consult this helpful visual from The University of Arizona.
Alternate Uses
Image by Pexels
While italics are used for citing or referencing larger works, quotation marks are used for citing shorter portions of them:
“Looks like Brains” is the worst song on John Smith’s independently released folk album Cauliflowernication.
Single quotation marks can be used in place of parentheses when translating an italicized foreign word within a sentence:
The injured German waiter said that all he did was offer the mysterious man some blumenkohl ‘cauliflower’ just before the assault occurred.
Scare quotes or shudder quotes are arguably the most fun kind of quotes, but as one can see from the examples linked at the beginning of this article, they should be used sparingly and with extreme caution.
Scare quotes paint the words between them with anything from irony to sarcasm to disdain, and it’s up to the reader to determine their meaning from context. Essentially, scare quotes indicate that the words they encapsulate do not actually mean what they usually mean.
A couple of examples based on what we’ve come to understand about John Smith:
Tonight, we’re having ham, mashed potatoes, and John’s “favorite” side dish: cauliflower.
A great way to “thank” John for totaling your car would be to sneak a whole head of cauliflower into his pillowcase.
We’ve already demonstrated how to properly frame a line of spoken dialogue, how to tag the speaker, and how to interrupt it with action.
When you’re dealing with multiple lines of dialogue—like when two fictional characters in a novel speak to one another—following a set of guidelines will make the conversation flow naturally for your reader.
Beyond the quoting rules that we’ve already covered in this blog, there are a few more we should go over when it comes dialogue:
New Speaker, New Paragraph. Whenever a speaker begins speaking, his or her words get their own paragraph—even if their line is just a single word. The act of making each line its own paragraph indicates to the reader that a new speaker is speaking.
Indentation. Each new “paragraph” (scare quotes!) of dialogue should be indented unless the quote itself is the beginning of a new chapter in a book or a new scene in the story.
Speeches. In the rare event that a character speaks for so long that their words flow into multiple paragraphs—like when one character is telling a long story or literally delivering a speech—leave off the end quotation at the conclusion of one paragraph but start the next one with another opening quotation mark.
Em Dashes. An em dash (one of these guys —) is a great way to represent one character cutting off the words of another with an interruption.
For this one, maybe a demonstration is in order:
“Come out on the veranda,” Lindsey beckoned, “I’ve prepared a glorious vegetable spread with multiple dips!”
“But I thought I told you that if I even see a cauliflow—”
“Say no more John,” she reassured him, “I’ve banned them entirely from the property.”
When quoting spoken words or written text, getting them right is a matter of utmost importance.
Occasionally, when endeavoring to insert quotes into a document, you’ll encounter misspellings, poor grammar, or tenses that don’t match the one you’re working with. Luckily, there are workarounds for such a scenario.
When a misspelling or grammatical error is discovered, the ethical practice is to preserve it, but you wouldn’t want anyone to think that the error was your own. This is where brackets come to the rescue:
“Johnny Boy hated collyflower [sic] even when he was little.”
Placing sic (Latin for “thus” or “so”) italicized and between brackets is how you can indicate to the reader that you transcribed the quote exactly as you found it—warts and all.
Brackets are also a way to provide the reader with information they wouldn’t have otherwise. Using the same sentence, we’ll inform the reader that “Johnny Boy” is a nickname for a character we’re already familiar with:
“Johnny Boy [John Smith] hated collyflower [sic] even when he was little.”
Brackets are also at your disposal if you need to change a word in a quote so that it fits properly in your sentence.
If John Smith once said:
“My aversion to cauliflower has always been a problem for me.”
You could (if absolutely necessary) quote him like this:
John Smith’s aversion to cauliflower has “always been a problem for [him].”
Conversely, you may need to remove words from quotes entirely so that any off-topic information contained within them doesn’t confuse the narrative.
For example:
“Whole Foods is a store with delicious hot bar offerings and a wide selection of coffees from around the world, but it’s also a purveyor of cauliflower.”
With an ellipsis (three periods separated by spaces), we can shorten the quote to align with our topic while letting the reader know that unrelated words were removed:
“Whole Foods is . . . a purveyor of cauliflower.”
Presuming what follows is more negativity towards cauliflower, omitting the complimentary remarks about Whole Foods doesn’t change the overall sentiment of the sentence.
On the other hand, misquoting someone is at best a careless mistake requiring a correction or retraction; at its worst, a purposeful misquotation is a malicious act and grounds for a defamation lawsuit. If you handle your quotes with care and diligence, you won’t ever find yourself in either situation.
Style
One might think a literary practice so constrained by rules wouldn’t have any room to spare for personal style choices.
But when it comes to quotes, it’s in there.
With quotes, you can choose how to quote, what to quote, and how often to quote.
You can even choose how to attribute quotes.
For more wisdom on the matter, we reached out to Barbara Adams, a knowledgeable (and stylish) copywriter with The Writers For Hire:
“I have a degree in journalism,” Ms. Adams warned us at the outset, “so that definitely influences how I use and think about quotes.”
Warnings of journalistic bias aside, Ms. Adams was quick to dispense some pretty universal advice for writers of all breeds:
“Quote length is important,” she says. “My experience is that some writers struggle with how to introduce a quote, so they just dump a long quote in place. It would be better to summarize what the speaker is saying and then use the most important/cogent idea as the actual quote.”
Despite the fact that we may have already ignored her advice by just dumping rather than summarizing the very quote in which she gives the advice, what Ms. Adams said next was so poignant and perfect we felt it deserved its own block quotation:
Coming from a journalism background, I have no problem with using “said” or “says” over and over. I know some writers like to use other words – exclaimed, pointed out, noted, etc. – but I feel those should be limited to books (fiction or non-fiction). I write a lot of trade articles and using anything other than said or says (or “added”) would be completely out of place. I recently read a piece where there were a ton of quotes, and each had a different verb attached and it was just jarring. It was like the writer had done everything he could to avoid using “said” and got the thesaurus out, instead.
Sometimes it’s a classy move to conclude a written work with a quote.
Just in case this is one of those times, that’s how we’re going to end this blog entry.
The following is a pretty good quote that Ms. Adams gave us when asked if she had any quotes…about quotes. Plus, it gives us the chance to use brackets:
“[Quotes are] indispensable for adding color, personality and context to an article, but they also serve another, more practical purpose: they break up grey columns of copy.”
Being a writer requires a combination of talent and discipline. Successful writers must develop routines and habits that allow them to harness their creative powers. In addition, writers must make time to conduct research, take notes, edit, and proofread their work.
Indeed, the entire writing process demands a great deal of organization and careful attention to detail.
Luckily, there are a lot of fantastic tools available to help writers stay organized and on task.
In this article, we will explore eleven great organization tools for writers to implement into their daily routines.
Scrivener aims to be the ultimate organizational tool.
This tool for writers looks to incorporate everything a writer needs to produce great content. It focuses on helping writers organize notes, prepare outlines, reference research, and produce manuscripts.
Additionally, Scrivener helps writers stay organized by bringing every kind of file together in a single application.
In general, Scrivener serves any type of writer, from novelists to comic book designers. In particular, non-fiction writers can greatly benefit as it allows research notes, PDF files, audio notes, and transcribed interviews to mesh together in a single point.
Writers can highlight text to include notes, references, and websites. It is a complete tool for writers to stay organized.
The biggest drawback is the steep learning curve that comes with this application. It takes time to learn how the entire program functions. Fortunately, the $45 license for Windows and $49 for Mac come with tutorials.
On the whole, Scrivener is a great tool to help build organization skills for writers.
Google Docs is a ubiquitous tool known for its flexibility and reliable online presence. After all, a stable internet connection is enough to get access to Google Docs.
In particular, Google Docs is a great tool for writers due to its collaborative nature. As such, teams working on a single file can track changes and make edits in real-time.
Google Docs’ best feature is that it is free.
Also, it works on any device. As a result, it is a perfect choice for anyone looking for a simple, easy-to-use word processor with basic functionality.
Moreover, it is a great tool for organization as it allows writers to offer suggestions before accepting changes.
On the downside, Google Docs has limited capabilities. Particularly, its performance slows down as documents get bigger or multiple images get inserted.
Furthermore, many standard functions available in other word processors are not accessible on Google Docs.
Nevertheless, it is a great option for any user looking for a simple and cost-effective way of collecting ideas and producing relatively simple documents.
Freedom is a productivity-boosting app. Specifically, Freedom keeps distractions at bay by temporarily restricting user access to certain apps and websites. For instance, instant messages from social media apps and non-essential emails get tucked away for later reference.
This great tool for writers helps cut down on unproductive and wasted time, helping writers concentrate on producing great content.
Freedom works across multiple devices and starts at $6.99 a month. Also, there is a $129 lifetime fee. This tool for writers is worth its cost, especially when distractions are too hard to ignore.
There are plenty of spelling and grammar checking tools out there. However, most tools fail to deliver an in-depth analysis of writing style and language use.
ProWritingAid provides a detailed analysis of writing based on grammar, spelling, and style.
Moreover, this app gives suggestions on emotion, unusual language, reading grades, plagiarism, and variety. In particular, ProWritingAid offers suggestions on the fly. As such, it helps writers and editors improve writing as they go along.
The biggest advantage that ProWritingAid offers is easy integration with various platforms such as Microsoft Word, iOS, Google Chrome, and Scrivener, among others.
This app offers a free trial option, which is worth using to gauge its effectiveness. Paid plans start at $79 a year. This price is on par with other similar options in the market.
Overall, it is a tool for writers looking to organize the most common mistakes they make to avoid them moving forward.
Novel Factory is a sophisticated organizational tool for writers.
Novel Factory mainly focuses on fiction writing, helping writers to build plots, develop characters, and organize notes. However, non-fiction writers can also benefit from Novel Factory’s great organization scheme.
In addition, this app’s great character organization tool can become highly useful when managing topics and subtopics.
Novel Factory’s scene management feature organizes individual scenes, or topics, highlighting key information. Additionally, the app’s plot manager uses an index card system, which can also be helpful for non-fiction writers. Novel Factory links images, weblinks, and other media to specific scenes, text, or notes.
Ultimately, Novel Factory is a highly useful organizational tool for fiction and non-fiction writers alike. Its word process and split-screen view greatly enhance visibility when working with various sources and materials.
Evernote is the ultimate note-taking app on the market. As such, it is a wonderful organizational tool for writers. It allows writers to organize notes seamlessly. Evernote is a collaborative organization tool that allows multiple users to share notes, files, screenshots, weblinks, audio, and video.
Additionally, Evernote has a solid search feature. In other words, users can go through multiple notes quickly and easily.
On the whole, Evernote is a great alternative to OneNote. It gives writers the flexibility to organize their entire data set into “notebooks.”
Consequently, this arrangement makes it quite easy for fiction and non-fiction writers alike.
The basic Evernote account is free. The Premium version starts at $7.99 a month. It is certainly worth starting with the free version and then deciding if the paid version’s additional features are worth the cost.
The Ulysses app is a word processor specific to Mac users. As such, it is a great organization for writers using Mac computers. On the whole, Ulysses provides a clean interface that promotes distraction-free writing. Additionally, this app allows writers to save all work related to a single project in one spot, allowing for easy access later on.
Ulysses’ most useful feature is its ability to publish directly on WordPress and Medium. This feature makes Ulysses a strong app for bloggers, journalists, marketers, or anyone who publishes frequently. Please note that this app does offer support in character or plot development. As a result, Ulysses caters more to non-fiction writers. Nevertheless, fiction writers can also make good use of its robust features.
Lastly, Ulysses helps writers organize their progress by offering a goal-setting and tracking function. This app is a highly useful tool as it helps writers stay on track.
This great app for writers certainly helps manage progress effectively. Ulysses syncs documents with multiple devices. Thus, it is good for writers constantly on the go.
The app is free to use with a subscription fee starting at $4.99 a month.
When it comes to designing and formatting books, Vellum is a go-to organization app for writers.
Vellum allows writers, editors, and publishers to format books prior to publication.
As such, this facilitates organization for writers by reducing the amount of work needed to produce quality, professional-looking books.
Currently, Vellum is available for Mac users only. The app facilitates importing files in various formats. Also, editing files is easy within the app. However, it is worth noting that Vellum is not a word processor. Additionally, users can preview books before exporting the finished file in the format of their choice.
The app is free to use. However, it requires a subscription before exporting finished files for publication. The first subscription has a $199 fee. It allows unlimited e-book exports. The $249.99 fee allows unlimited e-book and paperback exports.
Overall, Vellum is great a saving time during the final editing process. It is a great organizational tool for writers who publish frequently.
Focus writer is a “bare-bones” word processing tool for writers. Its aim is to remove distractions so writers can focus solely on producing great content.
On the whole, it has a clean design. Toolbars disappear in full-screen mode. As such, this great organization app for writers aims to reduce visual strain. Additionally, Focus Writer helps track writing goals based on time and word count. Therefore, Focus Writer promotes organization for writers by helping them plan their work.
Nevertheless, please note that Focus Writer lacks many of the advanced features that Microsoft Word offers. Therefore, it is a great organization and writing tool for writers who do not need much more than text-based content. Best of all, Focus Writer is free to use. It is worth giving it a try, particularly when distractions are a consideration.
Fast Pencil is a fantastic organizational app for writers. It allows writers to self-publish their work seamlessly. It facilitates organization for writers by enabling formatting, e-book publishing, and print publishing (including ISBN and retail barcode).
Fast Pencil aids worldwide publishing and distribution.
This great app also eases the management of sales and royalties.
It is a complete publishing management tool for writers. Therefore, it saves time and effort when planning the publishing portion of a book.
Please bear in mind that this app does not work offline. Moreover, it is not a word processor. As such, Fast Pencil manages finished manuscripts ready for publication. The app is free to use with additional packages that unlock its full features.
Bibisco is an all-in-one organization tool for creative writers.
This wonderful organization tool for writers incorporates a word processor, organizer, timeline creator, plot development tool, chapter tracker, and character creation function.
Bibisco’s best feature is its outlining function. It facilitates generating outlines that lead to simple character and plot development. Moreover, its features help creative writers navigate multiple characters, places, items, and events throughout the story’s development.
On the downside, Bibisco is an open-source tool. Therefore, it consistently gets updates. Writers need to save their work frequently in order to prevent information loss during a sudden update. The app is technically free but requests a “pay what you want” donation. The “donation” is roughly $15.
Organization Is Everything
Seasoned writers know that organization is the backbone of any successful book project. Therefore, writing organization tools greatly facilitate the most difficult part of the writing process: outlining ideas and organizing thoughts.
Nevertheless, please bear in mind that a rough draft needs to go through proofreading and editing.
While nothing can substitute trained human eyes, spellcheckers and editing tools can greatly cut down overall editing.
Additionally, publishing tools that enable easy formatting and publication aid in cutting down on overall production time.
This approach helps writers better organize their time and efforts. After all, any tools that can help reduce time and effort are more than welcome.
Lastly, choosing the right tools begins with testing them out. From there, writers can decide which organization tools work best for their particular styles and rhythm.
If you know any writers, then you know they can be picky (some might even say pretentious). But it’s really not that hard buying gifts for the writers in your life – especially not with TWFH on your side. Here we’ve put together a list of five of our favorite gifts and gadgets for writers.
#1: Moleskine Notebooks
Moleskine notebooks will forever be the signature of serious writers, artists, and notetakers. But the hottest thing for writers right now are Field Notes. These cute, compact memo books are great for scribbling down notes and ideas in a hurry – and with several priced at just under $10, they’re more affordable than the Moleskine line (it’s also rumored that Pulitzer-prize winner Bryan Monroe and Anderson Cooper love their Field Notes). Try ordering from the website or checking out this list of retailers.
#2: Software
Software is always a great gift idea for writers (especially if they’re the starving-artist type). Right now I’m drooling over Final Draft 12, the newest version of the industry-standard software for screenwriters. This software isn’t just for screenwriters – playwrites and fiction writers will be able to appreciate the updated storyboarding function too.
#3: Jewelry
For jewelry lovers out there, give a writer in your life one of these stylish Ted Baker gold pen necklaces. At just under $40, these necklaces are truly affordable chic. And best of all, your writer will never have to scramble around looking for lost pens.
#4: Books
Books, books, books! Seems like a typical choice for writers. For a more practical approach to book-giving, try the new 2021 Writer’s Market line. It’ll help your writer make a little cash and get published (a great encouragement as the new year approaches).
#5: A Fancy Pen
Every writer needs a decent pen. If you’ve got some cash to throw around, check out these Livescribe smartpens (starting from $99.95). Perfect for gadget-lovers, these pens will record audio as you take notes – then you can upload the audio to a home PC and share it through email, Facebook, etc … that way you never miss a word. A MontBlanc pen is another option for writers – if you’ve got $200-$2,000 to spare. For the more frugal shoppers, go rogue with these instructions on how to turn any pen into a Mont Blanc.
Have you ever found yourself searching for a word to
describe certain emotions or feelings, but just can’t put your finger on the
right one? Well, believe it or not, there is actually a word for that. It’s
called “lethologica.”
But lethologica does not have to get you down. It turns out
there is a whole collection of words to describe obscure emotions or feelings
that you often don’t know names for. So many words, in fact, that there is an
entire website dedicated to them called The Dictionary of Obscure
Sorrows.
While the website includes 117 of these heartbreakingly beautiful
words, here are some of our favorites:
Anchorage
n. the desire to hold on to time as it passes, like trying
to keep your grip on a rock in the middle of a river, feeling the weight of the
current against your chest while your elders float on downstream, calling over
the roar of the rapids, “Just let go—it’s okay—let go.”
Anecdoche
n. a conversation in which everyone is talking but nobody is
listening, simply overlaying disconnected words like a game of Scrabble, with
each player borrowing bits of other anecdotes as a way to increase their own
score, until we all run out of things to say.
n. a kind of melancholic trance in which you become
completely absorbed in vivid sensory details—raindrops skittering down a
window, tall trees leaning in the wind, clouds of cream swirling in your
coffee—briefly soaking in the experience of being alive, an act that is done
purely for its own sake.
Chrysalism
n. the amniotic tranquility of being indoors during a
thunderstorm, listening to waves of rain pattering against the roof like an
argument upstairs, whose muffled words are unintelligible but whose crackling
release of built-up tension you understand perfectly.
Gnossienne
n. a moment of awareness that someone you’ve known for years
still has a private and mysterious inner life, and somewhere in the hallways of
their personality is a door locked from the inside, a stairway leading to a
wing of the house that you’ve never fully explored—an unfinished attic that
will remain maddeningly unknowable to you, because ultimately neither of you
has a map, or a master key, or any way of knowing exactly where you stand.
Lilo
n. a friendship that can lie dormant for years only to pick
right back up instantly, as if no time had passed since you last saw each
other.
n. the awareness of how little of the world you’ll
experience.
Rubatosis
n. the unsettling awareness of your own heartbeat, whose
tenuous muscular throbbing feels less like a metronome than a nervous ditty
your heart is tapping to itself, the kind that people compulsively hum or sing
while walking in complete darkness, as if to casually remind the outside world:
“I’m here, I’m here, I’m here.”
Rückkehrunruhe
n. the feeling of returning home after an immersive trip
only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness—to the extent you have to
keep reminding yourself that it happened at all, even though it felt so vivid
just days ago—which makes you wish you could smoothly cross-dissolve back into
everyday life, or just hold the shutter open indefinitely and let one scene
become superimposed on the next, so all your days would run together and you’d
never have to call “cut!”
Sonder
n. the realization that each random passerby is living a
life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions,
friends, routines, worries, and inherited craziness—an epic story that
continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with
elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know
existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the
background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at
dusk.
n. the strange wistfulness of used bookstores, which are somehow infused with the passage of time—filled with thousands of old books you’ll never have time to read, each of which is itself locked in its own era, bound and dated and papered over like an old room the author abandoned years ago, a hidden annex littered with thoughts left just as they were on the day they were captured.
