Three Times You Should Use a Comma

by Liz Bureman | 9 comments

We’ve covered when not to use commas (and when to use commas if you feel like it), but it’s just as important to know when to use commas. We can’t have run-on sentences taking over literature. So when do you use a comma?

We’ve already covered the Oxford comma and the need for commas in a series or list. There are three other primary times when you need to use a comma. Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list; just the times when comma use is most common.

Direct Objects, Prepositional Phrases, and Cats!

by Liz Bureman | 28 comments

I’m a big fan of grammar. Surprise, right? But in order to use grammar properly, we need to understand the parts of a sentence. A lot of grammar deals with objects of sentences. You know, subject, verb, object. Suzy slapped Bobby.

But not everything that comes after a verb is an object. Prepositional phrases can throw a wrench into the mix.

Stop Using the Word “Some”

by Joe Bunting | 28 comments

If you’re using the word “some” in your creative writing, you’re not being specific enough. For example, here is a sentence with the word “some.” Tom liked to play guitar but didn't take it as seriously as some. Who is some? Why do they take it...

Who’s Whose: More Help With Pronouns

by Liz Bureman | 13 comments

Liz here. I love reader/writer requests. Last week's comments section yielded a request to highlight the difference between whose and who's. Because, you know, there is one. Whose is a possessive pronoun. If you have two sloppy roommates, you might wonder whose dirty...

How You Break Up Long Dialogue Like Agatha Christie

by Liz Bureman | 38 comments

Back when I first moved to Denver, I saw a sign that was an inspiration for a post on proper quotation use. And now it’s time for the second installment of proper quotation usage.

We know that quotations are used in dialogue. But what happens when you have a pair of really long-winded characters engaged in extensive conversation?

Three Easy Steps to Critique a Friend’s Poem

by Joe Bunting | 32 comments

Writers can be solitary people. Our work requires long periods of being alone with no one to keep us company but the characters. However, I'm starting to see a community form through the Write Practice. People are commenting on each other's practices. They're chatting...