FREE tips for the self-publishing author

We've put together some tips to help authors over some of the bumps on the road to smooth and accurate writing.

Browse through our tips and suggestions for word lovers for basic help with problems like "who or whom" and punctuation. Even better, we recommend several books online that provide a wealth of classic information for serious writers. All free. No irritating forms to complete.

The biggest problem I see in authors who ask my assistance with their writing is a heavy approach to language. This is especially the case with writers whose native language is not English. As if to demonstrate their grasp of scholarly words, unsteady writers pepper their paragraphs with "however," "therefore," "furthermore" and other words that are better left in dictionaries.

Along with that problem comes the habit of writing long sentences and paragraphs. Don't use old books as a model for your writing. Even in scholarly and intellectual pieces, today we expect clear and direct writing. That means sentences that range from 6 to 35 words, paragraphs with 2 to 10 sentences, and the use of examples and stories to illustrate key points.

Finally, read well-written books and magazines in your field of interest. Put them out of sight when you're writing to avoid sliding into the dangerous habit of copying style and content from someone else.

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