by Dwayne Phillips Beware – tests before hire are often a way to obtain free work from you. I have been applying to freelance jobs recently as a writer. On occasion, job openings require taking a “test” such a: edit this text so we can determine if you are a qualified editor write a piece […]
Freelancers: Beware of Tests
December 5th, 2013 · No Comments
Tags: Employment · Writing
Government Documents – Shorter Please
November 25th, 2013 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips When it comes to government documents, shorter is better almost all the time. I used to write government documents. I still read government documents. Such is the life of someone who worked for the government, retired, and went to work for companies that compete for government contracts. Here is it, something regarding […]
Tags: Government · Writing
One Editing Technique
September 23rd, 2013 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips I present one technique I use to edit writing from others and myself. There are various techniques for editing writing. Here is one that I use more than any other. I reformat the paper in a word processor with a 0.3″ margin on the left and a 3″ margin on the right. […]
Tags: Writing
A Timed Writing Technique
September 19th, 2013 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips I have been using a new writing technique lately in which I set a timer for uninterrupted writing, followed by a five-minute break, followed by another timed writing period. There are countless writing techniques. My advice for these techniques: Try the technique. If if works for you, use it. Otherwise, forget it. […]
Imply vs Infer
August 19th, 2013 · No Comments
By Dwayne Phillips I am unable to say, “You implied such-and-such.” I know it is a small distinction that difference between imply and infer, but it bothers me. I continue to stumble upon these two words: imply and infer. I her people say, “You implied such-and-such.” Since this is my blog, I can rant to […]
Tags: Communication · Writing
Yet Another Source of Story Ideas
July 15th, 2013 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips I stumble upon yet another source of story ideas. I like to write short stories. I have more ideas than time and energy to write them. A few weeks ago I stumbled upon yet another source of story ideas. Go to a McDonald’s somewhere where you never go Observe people Make up […]
Tags: Writing
Writing Work Ethic and Speed
July 8th, 2013 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips If you write 1,000 words a day, you will write 365,000 words in a year. That is about five novels or a hundred short stories. And that requires typing words for only one hour a day. I like to read the blog of author Dean Wesley Smith. He recently wrote about a […]
Tags: Writing
Debilitated by a Dog
July 1st, 2013 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips I am bit by a large dog. What is worse, I could not write about it. I went on a short walk recently. The big event of the walk was that a large dog walked up to me and bit me on the right forearm. All things considered, I was fortunate. The […]
Tags: Writing
Date Please
June 3rd, 2013 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Another embarrassing blog post: please put the date on your blog posts and articles. I am really embarrassed to be writing this one, but I do so because I continue to read posts and articles that are not dated. Was the piece written five minutes or five years ago? I don’t know […]
Tags: Writing
Let’s Simplify: Writing a Plan
April 25th, 2013 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Let’s return to basics and discuss the aspects of a plan. I love it when a plan comes together – that guy on the A-Team TV show This is one of those blog posts that I am embarrassed to write. Surely everyone already knows this one, right? Wrong. I wish I had […]