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Dennis L. Peterson
Nov 16, 20182 min read
First Impressions
“You get only one chance to make a good first impression.” That statement is especially true when it comes to submitting your writing to...
Dennis L. Peterson
Oct 16, 20182 min read
Word Man
One hundred ninety years ago today, a man was born who later published a book the influence of which stretched far beyond his own...
Dennis L. Peterson
Aug 31, 20182 min read
Put the Cookies on the Bottom Shelf!
I don’t know where I first heard that statement: “Put the cookies on the bottom shelf.” It certainly didn’t originate with me, but I have...
Dennis L. Peterson
Jul 31, 20183 min read
Revise, Resize, Recycle!
Perhaps you’re familiar with the adage “Don’t work harder; work smarter.” Although writing is always hard work (because it requires a lot...
Dennis L. Peterson
Jul 2, 20183 min read
Dealing with Rejection
“It isn’t defeat, but rather your mental attitude toward it, that whips you.” This goes back to what an earlier post said about the...
Dennis L. Peterson
Jun 28, 20182 min read
Initiative and Action and Your Writing
We’ve seen already how Napoleon Hill offered some good advice that writers can apply to the attitude they take toward their work. That’s...
Dennis L. Peterson
Jun 26, 20182 min read
Attitude and Your Writing
In my last post, I mentioned that Napoleon Hill offered words of wisdom that could be applied to one’s writing. Among the quotations from...
Dennis L. Peterson
Jun 23, 20182 min read
Napoleon Hill Sayings Applied to Writing
In fact, I get a daily e-mail “thought for the day” from the Napoleon Hill Foundation http://www.naphill.org that has included numerous...
Dennis L. Peterson
May 25, 20182 min read
The Evolving Writer, Part IV–Cut the Fat!
The next stage for a writer who continues to evolve in his or her skills is learning to “cut the fat.” First drafts are enveloped and...
Dennis L. Peterson
May 22, 20182 min read
The Evolving Writer, Part III–Speed Your Lead
The lead, of course, is what the professionals call the first paragraph (sometimes a little more) of your piece. It is supposed to pull...
Dennis L. Peterson
May 18, 20181 min read
The Evolving Writer, Part II–Hallmarks of Good Writing
During that time and through all the ups and downs of my writing career, I’ve noticed seven recurring characteristics that editors seek...
Dennis L. Peterson
Apr 28, 20181 min read
Publishing Wheels: Slow but Sure?
In two weeks, it will have been two years ago (yep, in 2016), since I submitted a particular article for publication. It had been even...
Dennis L. Peterson
Jan 26, 20183 min read
The Edited Life
I recently ran across two articles written by Joanna and Chip Gaines, and they made me think. Whenever I watched an episode of their...
Dennis L. Peterson
Jun 23, 20172 min read
Writing Instruments I Have Known
It’s funny how the anniversaries of certain historic events make you reminisce. Today, I’ve been reminiscing about the typewriter, a...
Dennis L. Peterson
Apr 21, 20173 min read
How Many Words Are Left?
The other morning, while I was toiling through my regular routine on the treadmill and struggling with arthritis-pained knees, toes, and...
Dennis L. Peterson
Feb 17, 20171 min read
And the Nominations Are In
My publisher, McFarland & Company, has informed me that they have submitted my book in nomination for the following two awards. The 2017...
Dennis L. Peterson
Dec 2, 20163 min read
Catch Me If You Can!
For example, perhaps you’ve heard about the hapless headline writer and his (or her) editor who allowed the following blooper to slip...
Dennis L. Peterson
Mar 18, 20163 min read
The Good Editor, a Rare Breed
Reading about editors the other day reminded me of two things: my own experiences as an editor and the editors with whom I’ve been...
Dennis L. Peterson
Sep 4, 20152 min read
Change and Continuity Revisited
Today, I take a brief glance backward to August 28, 2015, when I posted this article, my first effort at blogging. Much has changed since...
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