Category: Uncategorized

by: Kinsley Ellison

This time of year brings pumpkins, leaves, and fall galore. Every corner has a coffee shop with fall flavors. To be more financially savvy, and make these drinks at home, many turn to the internet with recipes and inspiration. Those who are curious to write and publish can even create a cookbook. 

(Acosta, Danilo. Unsplash Photos, 10 October 2023)

Many of us struggle to finish and write out our thoughts to create an organized layout. Since the process has already been stressful, why not make publishing easier? Let me give you some advice on how! 

The first step should be to check the longevity of the website. Legitimate companies have sustained their existence, while scam companies are short-lived. The following website is useful to determine how long a website has been active: https://who.is/

Even though you have secured a long-standing website, your work is not complete. A more thorough investigation of the website is the second step to avoid trickery. One tip you can use is a tool called the five-step CRAAP test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose). This helps make sure the website is credible and worthy of using.

Now that you have examined the website, what can we do about publishing? This is a target area for scammers which is why I want to highlight a specific category called vanity publishers. Vanity publishers are those who exploit new authors and try to scam them. How does this happen? It can happen in many ways, with one being receiving a direct message involving recognition and curiosity. It is good to note that any legitimate agency is highly unlikely to ever send you an email or text message out of the blue to publish your work. Sadly, naive, yet new writers could see this message and think, “Wow what a great opportunity” and take it. Writers need to be aware, however, that many of these companies do not have your best interest in mind. 

While reading the blog of Anne R Allen, I was informed of another scam, this one involving the popular site: Facebook. New writers looking for publicity, make an account for their author page, and these scammers aim to take over. These scammers hack their accounts or make one identical, and send all your friends a new friend request. (In this scheme, your Facebook page is cloned so that others think you are trying to send them a new friend request on an alternate account). Your friends immediately accept and receive direct messages often asking for money or, most deadly, these scammers offer nonexistent free books that the author “published”. Your friends, or the general public, see this advertisement for free books, apply, and provide credit card information. Weeks later when no books arrive, the author gets flooded with hate and many people are without money. Go check out this link for yourself to learn more about these horrific schemes! https://annerallen.com/2021/09/warning-to-writers-new-publishing-scam/

(Eliason, Kenny. Unsplash Photos, 1 November 2017)

In the end, interestingly enough, these scam “artists” are learning from their mistakes and evolving after being caught. They are getting smarter and finding new ways to manipulate us. It is always good to remember that scammers are not only in the United States, and everyone needs to be user-aware. Besides, if the scammers are evolving then writers need to as well. Do not be the naive one and do your proper research.

By: Maria Ballesteros

The Importance of a Strong Beginning
Every writer knows the pressure of starting a piece with impact. How do you pull readers in from the very first line and make sure they keep reading? A compelling beginning can set the tone, create intrigue, and establish a connection between the reader and the text. Yet, many writers struggle with crafting those all-important opening sentences. If you lose the reader’s attention at the start, no matter how brilliant the rest of your work is, you might not get them back.

Creating Intrigue with a Strong Hook
So, how can you ensure that your beginning grabs the reader’s attention? One of the most effective ways to start is by creating intrigue. Your first line should make the reader curious about the story, the characters, or the problem you’re about to explore. A strong hook draws the reader in, urging them to keep reading to find out more. You can do this by starting with a question, presenting a bold statement or surprising fact, or beginning in the middle of action (in medias res). For example, “The rain poured harder as Sarah sprinted down the alley, clutching the envelope that could change everything” sets an immediate scene that makes readers want to know more.

Setting the Right Tone and Mood
Once you’ve hooked the reader, it’s essential to establish tone and mood early. The tone sets the reader’s expectations for what’s to come, and it should match the overall style and mood of your story. Is your piece dark and mysterious, light and humorous, or emotionally intense? The first few lines should give readers a hint about what they can expect, making them more invested in the journey you’re about to take them on.

Connecting with Relatable Emotions
Another powerful way to draw readers in is by introducing relatable emotions. Human emotions are universal, so beginning with a feeling or situation readers can relate to is an effective way to create a connection. Whether it’s fear, excitement, frustration, or joy, tapping into emotions helps bridge the gap between the reader and your story. For instance, “John’s heart raced as he stood in front of the crowd, wondering if he would remember the words he had rehearsed for hours” immediately brings the reader into a moment of tension and anxiety, something many can empathize with.

Practical Tips for Writing Strong Openings
As you develop your opening, here are a few practical tips to start strong. First, avoid clichés. Beginnings like “Once upon a time” or “It was a dark and stormy night” feel overused and tired, so aim for freshness in your writing. Second, keep it concise. Avoid overloading the first lines with too much backstory or description. A sharp and to-the-point beginning is more effective at holding the reader’s attention. Finally, revise your opening. Your first attempt at writing the beginning doesn’t have to be the final version. Once you’ve finished your draft, revisit your opening and consider if it needs to be stronger or more compelling.

Why a Strong Beginning Matters
A great story or blog post can only succeed if readers are engaged from the start. By focusing on intrigue, tone, and emotional relatability, you can ensure your openings are as compelling as the rest of your work. Don’t underestimate the power of a great beginning—it’s your first chance to make a lasting impression. By mastering the art of a strong start, you set your piece up for success from the very first line.

By Kaylee Joy

From “The Mortal Instruments” series by Cassandra Clare, to the infamous “50 Shades of Gray” by E.L. James, more and more authors are getting their start in fanfiction. But how do you go from a run-of-the-mill fanfiction writer to a fully-fledged published author? As a digital producer, I’m here to teach you. And you’re already on the right track, because the first step is a desire to improve. 

Creating your own Protagonist  

Envisioning a Setting 

Letting Go of Tropes 

Keep in mind, learning to create your own stories can be a long and grueling process. Take it slow and don’t discount the experience you’ve developed by writing fanfiction, just learn to grow from it. Writing anything is leagues better than writing nothing. However, as we are writers, it is important to cultivate our creativity so we can improve. All these tips will help you expand your ability as an author in the making.   

By: Camila Silvestre

Beginnings are hard. The start of a new job, location, or friendship (to name a few) can bring great stress. I should know. I even struggled to come up with how to start this post! Let me let you in on a little secret though: they don’t have to be so complicated. Take a song for example. In regards to music, that one starting line can really hook the listener in and keep them engaged. How do you get started with that great line though? Read on for a few tips on how to make the beginnings of your songs the best they can be!

1. Don’t Give Too Much Away

That’s what your chorus is for. A great opening line should set the scene, but not give so much away that your listener already gets the theme . What is the theme at hand? For example, let’s say it’s a negative change in a friendship. You’ve been wronged by someone, and you want to write a song to cope. An opening line could be: “You, an expert in keeping lies.” This draws the listener in. What sort of lies? What do you mean expert? Then, the chorus could expand on why this person is such a bad friend.

2. Don’t Overcomplicate It

Writing a song, whether for the first time or as a seasoned professional, can be daunting. What can be said that hasn’t already been said? Will my song resonate with somebody? It’s important to keep the thought process simple: you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Writing a song should, from my experience, be fun and freeing. Don’t be afraid to mess up- if writing for the very first time! A great rough draft is better than no draft at all. 

3. Learn from Others, but Don’t Remain Frozen

What better way to learn how to begin a song than to draw inspiration from others? Doing a bit of research into your favorite songs and how they start can be motivating. However, too often, it can be easy to feel insecure. How did they get there? Will I be able to write a song as good as theirs? To put it simply: comparison is the thief of joy. Observing can only get you so far. Getting your hands dirty (metaphorically- don’t go around playing in mud) and starting the song as best as you know how to is the best way to write a song.

By: Alissa Kessler

Hate something, love something? We want to hear it all! There is no right or wrong here, and every thought, opinion, and expression shared will be recognized and respected. 

The majority of people would love to speak up about something they love or hate, but due to their fear of being criticized and/or judged, they shy away from the idea. What makes one person’s opinion any more valuable than another’s? Exactly–nothing! One person’s opinion is just as important as the next person’s, and everyone has the chance to use their voice. 

People have the opportunity to speak freely, though only some people take advantage of this when they write. It is common that people will share what they think others want to hear or what they think will be most popular. However, we want to hear what people want to say. 

This is how we grow mindsets and learn from others. When we are told only what we want to hear, we have no chance of growing or seeing different perspectives. This is why it is crucial for people to share their views on ideas, situations, and environments: so that others can grow their knowledge. 

No one is held to one standard when it comes to their writing, and no one is bound to share just one opinion. Writing is the most beneficial when we use it to enhance different perspectives. While some may be nervous about this, we want to remind our authors that this is a safe space and a judgement-free writing platform. This is a professional environment, and as long as our authors are respectful and kind, we will let them speak their minds. 

Nothing is black and white, so why should we expect writing to be? We want you to use your thoughts and opinions freely and to share what you think needs to be said! 

By: Cheyenne Colt

When you are writing, you may sometimes experience writer’s block or simply run out of the words to say, while still having a minimum word count you need to reach. One way in which people handle this issue is by adding in filler words. Overusing filler words takes away from a writer’s piece, though. While it is adding to your word count, it somehow makes your writing less effective when your wording is repetitive. It can also bore the reader. The word “very” is perhaps one of the most overused words in writing, whether that be in the message you would like to convey, or the vocabulary being used. There are two instances in which these mistakes are made and can be corrected. The first is using the word “very” instead of other adjectives with the same meaning such as “remarkably” or “exceedingly” or “profoundly.”

Read the following sentences and take note of the difference between the two:

1. It is very important to wear your mask in public.
2. It is incredibly important to wear your mask in public.

While the two sentences essentially hold the same message, the second one sounds more serious and professional. Changing up wording also keeps readers interested.

Not only does the word “very” sometimes not hold the urgency you need, but it also just becomes repetitive to continually read/hear. Take, for example, the following two sentences:

1. She ran very quickly to see her friend because she was very excited. They had not seen each other for a very long time.
2. She sprinted to see her friend because she was ecstatic. They had not seen each other for an awfully long while.

By using the word “sprinted,” I avoided using a filler word, while also creating a stronger sense of urgency. Another example would be saying the word “joyous” instead of “very happy.” Using the word “ecstatic” instead of “very happy” creates an entirely different feel but still expresses the message you are trying to convey. The changes made in the last sentence make the writing sound more professional and interesting. It can be different to avoid overusing the word “very,” especially when you are trying to express urgency; however, there are ways around it. When I proofread my writing and I see that I used the word very, I will either think of a replacement word or look up a word on thesaurus that fits the sentence. I am not saying you can never use the word “very” in your writing. It is a simple, yet effective word. If you are critiquing someone’s work, there is not much of a need to use larger words. Saying “very good job” conveys the message just fine. It is always a good idea to check your writing to make sure you have not overused any words, though. While this is a simple fix, it can make a huge difference in your writing.