Category: Blog

Let’s be honest we’ve all struggled writing a good hook. I know I have. Countless hours trying to write the best hook to get the reader’s attention. Writing a good hook can feel overwhelming, especially when the goal is to gain the reader’s interest rather than lose it.  So, you might ask yourself how can I write a good hook that grabs the reader’s attention?

Well, some ways on how to write a great hook is using interesting facts, ask a question for the reader, telling a story, using bold wording, or the use of imagery as well. Using interesting facts can lead the reader to be interested in the reading. Asking the reader questions can help the reader to feel engaged in what they are reading. Making them feel seen as well. Telling a story can help the reader feel connected to what they are reading. Using bold wording can grab the reader’s attention and make them want to keep reading. Imagery can also help readers picture what is happening and feel more connected to the story. These are just a few examples of how to create a great hook. Using these techniques can help capture the reader’s attention and keep them interested.

Another thing that can help make a great hook is using strong, descriptive adjectives to make your writing more interesting as well as engaging. By including adjectives, it can help the reader to paint a vivid picture in their mind. This can help keep your audience engaged and proceed with the reading. An example of a strong hook for storytelling and using descriptive adjectives can be “a small, rustic-looking key lay forgotten inside a dusty wooden box beside the front door, waiting for someone brave enough to unlock it and discover something extraordinary”. This hook is a great example of how to grab the reader’s attention. Using descriptive writing can make the reader feel more connected and interested to continue on with what they’re reading. It automatically makes the reader interested about what will happen next and it will help encourage them to keep reading. Once the reader gets past the first sentence, they will be interested in continuing with the story to see what happens next. Sometimes, all it takes is one strong, descriptive sentence to hook a reader and to keep

Hopefully, after reading this, writers will feel encouraged as well as have a better understanding of how to improve their writing and create a strong, attention-grabbing hook that keeps the readers interested. Now it’s your turn to start writing an attention-grabbing hook!

By Paige Brickle

It’s easy when doing an assignment to think that the more you write the better it will be. Students often feel that they have to fill the page or hit a certain word count. Yet in fact the opposite is true. Making your writing longer by adding extra sentences, repeating the same point, or including irrelevant details can make it more difficult to understand. The best thing you can sometimes do for your writing is to press the delete button. 

When you go back to edit your work, don’t simply check for grammar and spelling errors. For each sentence consider whether it contributes something important. If you have already explained an idea and then say the same thing in a different way, one of those sentences is probably unnecessary. Likewise with details that have only a weak connection to your main point. Removing them can make your writing more direct and easier for your reader to follow.

One good method for identifying things you can eliminate is to look for repetition. For example, if you are writing about the pressure that college students experience when deciding on a career, you might say they feel rushed about deciding their future. If you make that exact same point a few sentences later, then you probably don’t need to include both explanations. Similarly, you can look for unnecessary expressions such as “I think,” “in my opinion,” or “the fact that”. In most cases, getting rid of these words strengthens the sentence without changing your message. If you have trouble finding filler words, use the method of reading your work out loud. You may notice phrases that make your sentences longer without adding meaning. Another useful tip is to ask a pier to read aloud your writing and point out any repeated parts. 

It can be quite difficult to delete some of your writing if you have spent a great deal of time on it. You may like a particular sentence or paragraph because so much effort went into it. As this may be true that doesn’t mean it should be included in the final version. If it doesn’t support your main point, removing it can improve the whole piece. At the same time, editing isn’t about removing all the things you have written, it’s also about keeping only those elements which help your reader. Your examples, choice of words, and opinions can help show your personality through your writing. The overall goal is to keep the parts that make your writing unique while also removing any distractions from the main point. 

When you next edit an assignment, allow yourself the chance to delete. Search out repeated ideas, unnecessary words, and any details that draw attention away from your main point. It isn’t about using the most words in your writing, it’s about ensuring that the most words you retain are significant. The most powerful thing you can include in your writing at times is nothing, just the courage to hit delete. 

By: Carl Sandburg

I spot the hills
With yellow balls in autumn.
I light the prairie cornfields
Orange and tawny gold clusters
And I am called pumpkins.

On the last of October
When dusk is fallen
Children join hands
And circle round me
Singing ghost songs
And love to the harvest moon;

I am a jack-o’-lantern
With terrible teeth
And the children know
I am fooling.

By Sydney Swallow

If you’re someone who likes to read fiction stories, whether fantasy or thriller, and like me always enjoy the thrill of guessing the plot, what’s going to happen in the next book, etc., then developmental editing might be a career you’d want to learn about. Avid readers have all read a book or two that they know they would’ve loved to change that 3-star rating to 5 if there were just a few tweaks here and there. Developmental editing is the first and biggest part in the editing process for writers. It helps them clarify what to focus on and evaluating plot holes, pacing, tension, character arcs, and more. Why not see if it’s worth making a career out of? 

These editors look at all those elements in a story including overall organization, inconsistencies, POV, voice, and scene development/effectiveness. They are the “big picture” editors and help authors indicate the symbolism and meaning more directly for the readers experience. This is done by restructuring a manuscripts discourse either by coaching the author chapter by chapter or in sections for better direction of the story. Sometimes they can have a more hands-on approach with editing paragraph by paragraph and sentences if needed, but that teeters on the cusp of line editing and is only done if it was previously discussed. Overall, how these editors denote a manuscript is dependent on the story and each editor has their own style. 

 Writers and Developmental Editors primarily use an editorial letter with a collection of all this information that discusses changes/suggestions made, in-line comments, and when to expect potential deadlines. The editorial letter is a great tool for setting the tone and building a relationship with the author to get their work to the best of its ability. How many other jobs do you get to say you’re the first to read a book and where you get to brainstorm ideas back and forth? In this kind of partnership, you create trust with your author to make their vision come to life!  

Depending on how long a story is this can be quite extensive or overwhelming work for the editor and knowing their own style or method is key to achieving the story’s goals. A couple of examples are the Pomodoro and Eisenhower Box Method. These techniques help editors prioritize what they are focusing on at the moment and what tasks are most to least important. The Eisenhower Box is a great way to start an edit with a story because this method helps you categorize the priorities needed and why, what tasks go with each category, timeframe and action plans, and then you can delegate it from most urgent to least. This would be best effective for novels and helping guide authors throughout the process. A Developmental Editor would need to schedule timelines for the publishing catalogs, mapping out revision due dates with the author, and release dates including cover art or special editions.

Pomodoro is another method that works for a more difficult or longer edit to break up the tasks. It has interval sessions for working anywhere from 15-30 minutes and breaks for 5 minutes. After a few intervals you can start taking longer breaks of 25 minutes. This method is also great for an editor to work on emails, check-ins with the authors you’re working with, and drafting your editorial letter. It’s also beneficial for avoiding procrastination to work on a harder task while simplifying it as well. You can take a moment to grab more coffee, take a walk, stretch, eat, and maybe even look for your next read! Whatever it takes to help fuel your mind and body to keep you energized.  

Staying focused on the edits needed for books can make all the difference in making a book successful. Of course, mastering the art of storytelling doesn’t come overnight. You can gain experience by learning about the industry and getting mentored with an entry level job at any big or small publishing company; some are Penguin Random House, Bloom Books, or even FairyLoot that’s a book subscription service but is expanding more into publishing. If you don’t live near big publishing companies, you can also start as a beta reader, proofreader or copy editor, or even freelance for indie authors or platforms like Reedsy to gain experience and build a portfolio! Being a Developmental Editor may have moments of drudgery work and needing grit, but it’s negated by getting to read new books no one has gotten to read yet, form opinions on what needs work, and make it better. With all the new ways you can find a space in the editing world, maybe you can be the person that streamlines creating a meaningful impact that all readers crave!  

By Tyler Truong

Writer’s block, something that is the bane of existence to every writer. With writing everyone has at one point hit a roadblock that you cannot physically write anymore? Well, that is called the writer’s block. Where it’s a phenomenon where writers of all types have trouble with producing or even continuing their writing.  

It is ok to experience the writer’s block, even though I have experienced it with my other works that I have written before. In this blog, I want to explore the outlets on how to overcome the writer’s blog that you are currently experiencing right now. 

With every writer’s block, people can tackle the phenomenon in many ways, and I have tips and advice on how to tackle it. Taking a new direction with a new question in mind to help you engage in your writing or stepping back from the work can help you overcome writer’s block.  

One of the many ways to manage the block is to take a different direction with your writing. Now it may seem like a strange method of managing the block, but here is a good reason why. Taking a new approach can stimulate your creative mindset and help you get back on track. Using prompts can help you stimulate new ideas for your work which can show a new way of thinking for your work. For example, if you are struggling to start or to continue your work, find a prompt to get you started. Having a sense of direction can help you overcome the block.  

Sometimes it’s not always the content that is causing the block; it could also be your own state of mind. Forcing yourself to write will affect the process and it will affect the results. Taking a break from writing can give your mind a mental break and it can also give you some creative inspiration along the way. Listening to music or even watching another medium can bring a mental break from writing and if it’s in the same genre of your work, it can bring a new creative insight into your writing.  

Exploring new outlets or even taking a break can help you as a writer to achieve a mental break and a creative spark. By exploring different prompts and questions to spark a new creative idea for your writing. By having those new prompts and questions it can bring a whole new side to your writing. Taking a break by walking to a new spot, listening, and watching something new can bring your mind a break from writing. By taking a break, you can relax and recharge your creative mind for more!  

By taking these tips, I hope that when you are stuck with the writer’s block and have no idea what to do in the future. Take a gander at this blog again to rethink and recharge your mind for more creative ideas! 

By: Katalina Torres

When it comes to interviewing someone, it can be a little intimidating. You’re trying to find the right words to say, wondering what to do when there’s an awkward moment of silence, and maybe overthinking what you just said so much so that you aren’t even paying attention to the response. Suddenly, you’ve forgotten what you even asked, and you’re just staring at your subject like a deer in headlights.

What if I told you that the best interviews are the ones where you do the least amount of work? You are essentially the copilot; you can sit back, relax, and go for a joyride while still remaining in full control. Think back on a time you’ve been interviewed, let’s say for a job. For me, I was always a nervous wreck, worrying about trick questions and filling every gap with “believable” answers. Now, think of a time you’ve talked with someone who is genuinely getting to know you—a friend, a lover, or even a curious child. The conversation flows because you are relaxed enough to share the real parts of yourself.

That natural flow is your goal, and as an introvert, you actually have a secret advantage: you’re already a pro at observing. Here is how to turn that quiet nature into a journalistic superpower.

Over-Prepare to Under-Talk

The best way to reduce “social exhaustion” is to do the heavy lifting before you even meet. Write out twice as many questions as you think you’ll need. This isn’t so you can grill them. It’s so you have a safety net. When you aren’t panicking about what to ask next, you can actually listen to what they are saying.

The “Power of the Pause”

This is the ultimate tool for the quiet writer. When your subject finishes a sentence, don’t jump in immediately. Count to three in your head. Most people are terrified of silence and will feel an innate need to fill it. Usually, the first thing they say is the rehearsed answer. The thing they say after the “awkward” pause is the raw, high-impact quote you actually want.

Embrace the Role of the Observer

You don’t need to fake extroversion or be the loudest person in the room to be a great journalist, writer, influencer, etc. By leaning into the silence, you aren’t failing the conversation—you’re leading it. So, take a breath, lean back, and for the love of everything, just shut up and let them talk.

By Megan Storer

Sharing your writing can feel very intimidating and scary. Even when I love something that I wrote, there is always a little voice in my head that says it is not good enough, and that hesitation makes me wonder if anyone will care. But thankfully, I am not alone! Everyone has had that little voice in their head. This fear is familiar to many writers, especially students, who are still trying to find their voice. This fear can make you want to keep your writing to yourself, but the truth is so simple: your words might matter more than you think, and someone out there might need to hear them.

Writing has the strange power to reach people when they need it. It hits us in ways we do not always expect. A short story you wrote for a class or even a title you think is too simple… these things can change lives. They can make someone feel understood or inspired, even if you did not write with that intention. It is so easy to assume that what we write does not matter, but it might matter a lot to someone who needs it.

It is also easy to think that your writing has already been published somewhere out in the world. Sure, maybe the theme, but not in your voice. Other pieces do not have your personality, your humor, your storytelling, or your way of seeing things. There are a million stories out there about a genre, but each one sends a different message. There is someone out there waiting for a voice like yours and you do not even realize it!

I submitted to Elektraphrog last semester, and I was so scared. I kept rereading my story and convincing myself that no one would care or even read it. After I submitted it, I felt relieved. My friends loved what I had written! This reminded me that we may never know how our words can make someone feel. Your writing could leave a lasting impression and impact.

Unfortunately, fear does not just magically disappear, but facing our fears is how we combat and move past it. Sharing is how you can grow. You can start small by:

• Letting a friend read something you are proud of
• Submitting one piece.
• Focusing on the connection that writing creates
• Reminding yourself that someone out there might need your words

So, again, your voice matters more than you think. Elektraphrog is not looking for perfect writing, just real writing, and that is why you should consider submitting! It is a space built for many messy, honest, creative, and brave voices. Your story could be the one that makes someone feel heard, and you will not know until you share.

Taking that first step is something you will be very proud of later.

By Emily McDowell  

Have I done enough? A common question many writers ask themselves every time they are moments from submission. However, is enough too much? When writers begin the editing process often, they find themselves over editing. This results in more mistakes than adding too little.  

As a writer, you want to submit the best of your own writing thus, you make yourself find every reason there is something wrong with your piece. You look for small grammatical errors that may or may not exist and end up causing another issue. This is known as over-editing, and stems from the lack of confidence and faith in yourself. While this is an issue many people face, there are many ways to overcome this challenge and become confident in your work.  

To begin, you can start by taking a step back. Many times, when we are writing we find ourselves not only writing in one sitting but also editing in the same period of time. As we begin the writing process, it is helpful to take a step back after we conclude the writing process so then we can look at our work with fresh eyes. This allows us to fully comprehend what it is we are editing and not become overwhelmed by not only the writing but also the edits we have to make which makes it easier to catch spelling and grammatical errors rather than creating issues that do not already exist.  

Next, another step we can take is finding confidence in ourselves. When we do not have confidence in ourselves, we do not find confidence in our writing. Finding faith and confidence in your writing takes time and it is not an easy task. However, taking the feedback we receive on our academic assignments is the first place to begin. Using the detailed notes, we receive about our writing tells us where we have room for improvement and what we excelled at. It is this feedback that allows us to find confidence in our own writing. Another step is asking for feedback while it can be scary, or you may feel you do not need it, receiving suggestions from your professors and or peers will help elevate your writing to the next level. Using these suggestions is the next major step in learning when to hit send. 

Finally, how does this apply to the submission process? While these are only a few examples, it is these steps that allow us to determine when it is appropriate to hit send. While there is always the constant fear you have not done enough for the piece you are working on, hitting the send button will get easier the more you learn how to leave the edits behind.  

Today, I have discussed with you the idea of taking a step back, finding confidence in ourselves, and how this applies to the submission process. Together these steps tell us when to hit send so you can submit with confidence and ease.

By Daeria Harden

Every writer’s beginnings are different, but the journey is equally as bumpy. The truth? The journey from blank page to published author isn’t reserved for the “naturally gifted.” It belongs to the one who is consistent, the curious, and the courageous. For most people writing starts as a passion. Writing poems in your notes, journal entries, or even story ideas you’ve had for years. Publishing however requires a shift. Your writing moves from expression to intention. That doesn’t always mean you have to lose the creativity behind your writing. It just means you have to make it clear and concise. In simplified terms; revising when it’s easier to quit, taking the time to study the craft, learning structure, building dialogue and most importantly, understanding your audience.

 The biggest myth about publishing is that it’s impossible to break into. In reality, it’s all a process. Traditional publishing usually involves agents, submitting manuscripts, and facing rejection before receiving acceptance. Self publishing requires learning about formatting, cover design, marketing, and distribution platforms. Both are valid. Both require preparation and neither demands perfection, only constant persistence. If your goal is to move toward publication, start small, but be consistent. Set a writing schedule. Always finish pieces instead of starting new ones. Share your work and ask for feedback. Study the industry and start treating your writing like it’s a craft and your publishing goals like a plan and not just a dream. Rejection is not negativity, it’s reality. Rejection does not determine your talent. Every “no” can help you improve in different areas of your writing. It’s a part of the process. The writers who often get published are the ones who kept going when it was easier to stop.

Most importantly, don’t wait for permission. You won’t become a writer if someone just hands it to you; you become a writer when you commit to the work. Publishing is an achievement, not the starting line. Remember your story matters. The world deserves to hear the voice of someone willing to do the hard work of turning raw ideas into strong words. Start where you are right now and write what you can and learn as you go. Also remember, the blank page isn’t there to scare you, it’s there to invite you.

By Angelie Green

Distractions are everywhere in the world. People, pets, even on the very devices we do our homework on, they intervene with our lives and keep us from staying focused on the things we have to do. In a study conducted at California State University students were watched for fifteen minutes, yet they only stayed focused for 65% of the time. If you were in that study, how long do you think you would stay focused without picking up your phone? What is the distraction you find yourself looking for most?

When writing, I always find myself looking at my phone, petting my dogs, and opening different tabs on my computer that aren’t the research I’m supposed to be doing.  However, there are methods to help you stay focused with writing, even some of my personal favorite ways.

One of the first steps to eliminating distractions by writing is putting your electronics (besides the one you’re using to write with) away. Try silencing them and turning off vibrate on them. On your computer, try ad blockers or other website extensions which help you stay focused on writing. StayFocusd on chrome gives you the ability to block distracting websites and limits your time on them. 

Next, you can try listening to music. I recommend something without lyrics. Listening to music with lyrics may cause you to get distracted again. One of my favorite playlists to listen to is mario kart music! Music from video games attempts to keep your mind stimulated, it also prevents you from falling asleep while writing. 

Finally, give yourself breaks! If you’re writing for too long, your mind will become tired and you’ll have more difficulty staying focused. One of my favorite methods of studying and writing is the pomodoro method. You study in 25-30 minute increments and give yourself 5 minute breaks in between. Another method many people like for writing is the Flowtime Technique. You write until you’re tired or lose focus, then give yourself a break for that proportional amount of time. 

Distractions are everywhere in the world, however it’s up to us on how to eliminate them. Start by finding what works for you and keeping your phone away from you. It’ll help at least a little.