In a recent investigation by a local CBS Affiliate, KPIX Channel 5 in San Francisco, it was disclosed that the blood test administered by many hospitals shortly after birth, may be used for purposes other than the one stated or intended. Since early 1980, every child that is born in the United States is given a tiny prick on the heel to check for genetic disease that could result in brain damage or death. According to the report, new parents Soni and Mauro Pislor learned that there was a bit more to it than that. After being used for the stated purpose, the blood spot containing their newborns’ dna will be stored in the California state database for at least a generation and used for genetic research. Other states do the same.

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Over the past 30 years – 20 of them spent teaching writers – I’ve discovered what it takes to be successful at the craft, and it’s very simple.

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Writing prompts can offer tremendous writing help for writers at every level of experience and expertise. Who can use writing prompts?

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Have you always wanted to be a freelance writer? Or are you considering moonlighting as a writer to earn some extra income? Although most beginning writers think first of fiction when considering writing as a career choice, there are several questions you may want to consider before making a final decision between fiction and non-fiction. Making the choice that is right for your circumstances can mean the difference between financial success and a drawer full of rejection slips.

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If you’ve had trouble moving your writing project forward this summer, you’re not alone. Even my most motivated coaching clients sometimes find it tough to stay focused and productive during the summer months.
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Whenever you gather writers together they talk about writing. There are many different types of writers. Those who prefer to compose in long-hand or can only write on an old-fashioned manual typewriter. Those who write to music, demand complete silence, or create best surrounded by noise. You have the writers who must plan and outline before they can begin and those who find even talking about a project before it is drafted can stifle their creativity. But one of the most controversial divisions among writers is about whether writing is a skill, craft, or gift.

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Select a target audience and stay focused on it.

Although it might seem counter-intuitive, the more carefully you design your top ten lists to appeal to a rather narrowly defined audience, the larger your overall audience will become. You must face the fact that a comedy writer simply can not be all things to all people.

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If you’re an employer that is trying to find a perfect employee then you need to create a stellar job description. You see, a job description not only explains what the employee’s roles and responsibilities will entail but will also clarify those unique qualifications that you are seeking from an employee. By failing to create a stellar description and hap hazardously drafting a poor description, you’ll likely end up with unqualified candidates that will waste your precious time and hiring resources.

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Bits & Bytes: Romance…the Writer’s Way: Solving the Mystery of the Male POV

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I spent almost a year reading how-to books on the writing craft and I surfed hundreds of websites. I studied techniques, went down dozens of blind alleys and finally wrote my first draft. A few months passed and I started to wonder, “Did it really have to be so hard?”

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