Expert tips from a nurse-turned-writer

P.S. I’m not an expert-expert, but I do make a living by stringing words together and want to share everything I learn with you!

Girls just wanna…

Hello writers,

I was going to say “…have fun,” as the catchy song goes, but in honor of International Women’s Day this weekend (March 8th), I refuse to paint with that broad a brush! Sure, women like fun, but we also like politics, science, and a loooooong list of other fascinating interests. So, girls, enjoy your favorite things this weekend, and try to have a little fun, too.

Talk soon,

WRITING TIP OF THE WEEK

Show-don’t-tell in non-fiction, too

What’s the golden rule of storytelling? Show, don’t tell. In fiction, here’s how that looks:

• Tell: “Ana felt ashamed. Her worst nightmare was coming true right before her eyes.”

• Show: “Ana’s face flushed with red heat as she read the email that embodied her worst nightmare.”

But, how can you use this principle in non-fiction work? The best way to snag a reader’s attention is to make them feel something. Readers want to feel seen, and showing rather than telling them will grab their attention and keep it there. Think less “textbook” (unless you’re actually writing a textbook) and more “60 minutes intro.”

For example, let’s say you’re working on a piece about sleep deprivation. You write,

• “Many people suffer from poor sleep, which can cause daytime sleepiness and poor work and school performance.”

Aaaaand your reader just went to sleep. Which is good for their sleep I guess, but not great for your article performance. Here’s how you can show the same information:

• “When you have to drag yourself out of bed each morning, stagger to the coffeepot, and stifle yawns through every meeting or class, you may not be getting enough sleep.”

The second version gives the same information, but it shows with real-life examples and action verbs. One caveat? Some clients truly want you to tell, not show — and their preference comes first! But, when you have the choice, shut down the "telling” and bring on the “showing.”

TRIVIA-PALOOZA

America’s very own Mulan

In honor of International Women’s Day, your trivia question for the week is…

💡 Which soldier fought in the American Revolutionary War disguised as a man? 💡

(The answer’s at the bottom!)

FREELANCER CORNER

Google sheet deep(ish) dive

Want to know my super secret tricks for staying organized and streamlining my business?? Google Sheets takes first place as my favorite organization tool. I don’t know about you, but some days my brain feels like a sieve, and I live in constant terror of losing track of a project… That’s where my spreadsheets come in!

Here’s my “Open Projects” sheet, where I track all my current projects, the editor, any ID numbers, and their due and submission dates. I also have handy columns to track my expert interviews.

This next one helps me track my invoices. I know plenty of programs offer fancy invoice-tracking services, but many of my clients have very specific invoicing needs. I find this way easier to see everything in one place.

The next pic shows all my spreadsheet tabs — I have one for leads, expert sources, editing projects, hour tracking, pitches, and even a style guide cheat sheet!

I’d love to hear how you organize your business!

IT’S PERSONAL

Skiing hopes squashed

This weekend, my family and I headed up to the highlands. The big kids had reserved lift tickets and gear in Glencoe and were excited to hit the Scottish slopes!

It….didn’t happen.

Scottish skiing is a bit of a crap shoot at the best of times, and it didn’t work out this trip. They only had one run open, and it was booked for a skiing competition.

The good news? We got a refund! Even better? We explored the trails of Glencoe, walked on 3-inch deep moss, found impressive walking sticks, almost got lost, and generally had a fantastic time.

‘Til next time

Thanks for reading and see you next week!

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You can view all my work on Authory and also feel free to check out my website!

💡 Find the trivia answer HERE 💡