Inspiration for Writers, Inc.: Writing Tips

Okay, so who wants to read boring stuff? Or worse, spend time doing boring stuff? The creative part of writing—getting to know characters and discovering plot twists—can be fun and exciting. Writers stay up all night writing, giving up precious sleep to write, write, write. Many of us, at one time or another, have chosen to write instead of spending time with a friend or lover, doing chores, or even doing things we really should have been doing.

But once those words are down on paper, we need to decide if we want to be published. And yes, being published is a decision each writer makes. So many writers are cavalier about this decision—“Oh, if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.” Say what? All those sleepless nights, all those stolen moments, all those burned pans should not be for naught. You’ve spent hundreds of hours getting your story down on paper. With every great passion also comes responsibility. God would not have given you this passion to write if you were not meant to become a writer. And becoming a writer entails becoming published—sharing your stories with others.

This section of our Tips and Techniques includes the information you need to format your manuscript according to the most-requested specifications, a review of a few common grammar gaffes, and an update on that onerous of all critters, the comma. And frankly, if taking your writing on this final step of tightening and cleaning bores you silly, consider hiring an independent editor to do it for you. Not only will an editor clean up your manuscript, but she will also tighten and polish your prose until it sparkles.

The result? A manuscript you’ll be proud for others to read.