• Ask the Editor: Varying Rhyming Patterns in Poetry

    The debate on rhyming in poetry produces skewed results. Should poets use end rhymes or not? Some argue that rhyming in poetry creates a natural rhythm that cannot be produced in any other form. Others encourage poets to do away with rhyming, as it creates a distracting predictability. Below is a brief list to shed light on rhyming patterns that deviate from your average end rhyme pattern. The key here is to challenge yourself to be inspired by an innovative rhyming scheme that retains the musical tones in your writing without the cliché predictability. Half Rhyme/Slant Rhyme/Off Rhyme. This rhyme…

  • Scene One: Your Book and Poetry

    Like a fluffy, well-placed ribbon cascading down a vase of fresh flowers, adding poetry into a manuscript is a small touch which adds a lot of beauty—if done correctly. If done incorrectly, it can clash with, distract from, or (worse) obliterate any view of the original masterpiece. How do you make sure that you’re using poetry in a way that enhances your book? Think theater: if your book was a play, poetry is used to set the stage for the audience. 1) Raising the Curtain. Poetry can be used as a dramatic introduction at the beginning of a chapter. Write…

  • Ask the Editor: The Grammar Debate

    So you thought this would be a post on which grammar rules are official and which ones are made up. That’s not where we’re headed. This is more of a duel than a debate – as in, the dueling forms of grammar all contained in one manuscript. Being the author, you decide which grammar rules you want to adhere to – you just need to stick to your choice. It’s all about consistency. If you are making inconsistent choices in regards to your nouns and verbs, then you are likely making errors in grammar. It’s not about remembering an impossibly…

  • Squashing Your Inner Critic and Other Fun Ways to Fix Your Creative Dry Spell

    There is nothing more exciting than penning a novel, poem, essay, prose, blog or script. Any writer looking to complete a piece of work suffers from highs and lows in the writing process – from the sweet rush of ideas that flood the soul at random times of the day, month or even years, to the dull moments that arise when trying to coax the writing process along. Here’s a list of ideas that can help you breeze through your moments of blockage. This is not in any particular order of importance; feel free to experiment with some or all…