Category «Readers»

Writing is a competition — and that’s OK

In following the social media streams of many writers, I often read that writers aren’t in competition with one another. But we are, of course. There is a finite number of people in the world, therefore a limited number of readers, and a limited number of works they can read. We are all in a …

Thanks, Mum (Mistake #76)

I’ve written about ingratitude previously in Mistake No. 48 so perhaps it’s only fair gratitude gets a turn. I am not suggesting you do not thank your mum. She wiped your bottom once, after all. But I am suggesting you consider doing it in person rather than in an article. If thanking someone is the …

Sending an editor an article you shouldn’t send an editor (Mistake #31)

Namely, one of these: * The Origins of Halloween / Valentine’s Day / Guy Fawkes’ etc; * The History of Tea / Coffee; * My Intelligent Dog (and why he is the best); * My Dead Cat (and why he was hilarious); * Why I’ve Decided to Become a Writer; * My Interesting Family Tree; …

Stating what you want (Mistake #28)

Usually, in a cover letter: “I want to share my story with readers…” That much will be obvious, if you are proposing an article about your story to an editor. Besides, what about what the editor and readers want? Rather than state what you want, state what you’re offering and ask the editor whether she …

Writing to demonstrate knowledge (Mistake #21)

This is an interesting one, which I tend to see in younger writers, perhaps just out of school or college or uni, and therefore maybe fresh from writing essays. Articles are not essays, clearly. One of the key differences – there are many – is that in an essay you are typically writing to show …

Putting your reader second… (behind your interviewee) (Mistake #8)

“The most important thing was to write a piece that my interviewee would be completely happy with,” was what a writer told a colleague of mine a while ago, regarding a sculptor she was profiling for an arts journal. I’m sure the final piece was excellent, but I couldn’t help feeling this attitude was a …

Something for Everyone (Mistake #4)

So here’s a fictitious and slightly OTT example of something I used to do a lot, still slip up on occasionally, and see a bit in the work of new writers, especially in travel articles. “Nicetown-on-Sea has something for everyone… Foodies will drool over the delights at Pedro’s continental deli on the High Street, but …