Do you ever write “how to” books or articles? How do you go about structuring your material? Have you ever tackled something like this which required a lot of research? Or do you limit your “how to” writing to something you’ve actually done and have experience at?

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Some days I have to be honest — instead of writing something, I have more fun just playing around in the collection of “writing tools” I have in my writer’s toolbox. I’m talking about the goodies and gadgets available out there to make writing easier and quicker for us as writers — but things that too often distract us from writing.

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This is sort of a question I ask periodically on my blogs, especially this blog since it relates to writers and writings more than my other blogs: Any tips for really good, REALLY cheap insurance solutions for freelancers?

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As a writer, do you ever think about capitalization, or do you just whip the words out the way they feel and look “right” to you? The rules for capitalization and their usage demonstrate just how tough written English can be. For example, which of these is correct? And why?

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If you’re more dedicated as a writer than I — and you undoubtedly are — you probably put in lots of hours at the computer most days, tap, tap, tapping away at the old keyboard, adding words to your great works. Over the weeks and months, those words build up and your great works reach various stages of completion, maybe even publication.

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Having gone to college in an era well before the Internet was invented, I never had the option of something as exciting as Western Governors University (WGU), with the many educational advantages they offer as an online university — not just any online university, but one praised and recommended by such sources as “TIME” magazine and NBC Nightly News.

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If you do any blogging on online writing trying to make money in any way, you certainly have seen or heard the term “SEO.” The letters stand for “search engine optimization.” I just read an excellent, but very different, article about what SEO has come to mean, and what it really SHOULD be — written by someone I respect highly when it comes to online marketing. Take a look at his article for yourself. I hope you’ll click that link and read it thoroughly. It offers some really practical, simple advice if you’re an online writer/marketer.

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Most writers I know who have had any success getting published, or who blog regularly or otherwise self-publish, have a great love of words, all sorts of words.

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about idioms and how they make language colorful and interesting, as well as difficult to learn.

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Writers need to learn a fundamental rule of integrity: Do the best you can do deliver what you promise.

I was thinking about this because I’ve been disappointed with a couple of novels I read recently. Their substance didn’t begin to live up to the hype from the jacket copy; in fact their substance seemed below par for the best-selling author’s past performance.

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