by Dave BrickerExplore this soon-to-be-released Speakipedia AI tool. Load one of the demos and view the AI-generated results. Intro Setup…
Foreshadowing can appear in subtle clues or explicit warnings within a dialogue, setting descriptions, or through a character’s thoughts or…
Since time immemorial, clichés have sneaked in the door when we least expect them to. They're low-hanging fruit for writers…
Two-word clichés are perhaps the least obvious kind. Unless we’re vigilant, they sneak into our prose, steal color, mask our…
This article explains the tab ruler found on every word processor and typesetting application. Understanding the simple and elegant split…
Once you have your book cover design looking spirited and professional on your computer screen, how can you ensure that…
So many writers get discouraged. This stinks. I quit. Others are overconfident. They've always had "a gift for words" so…
In my work with writers, I come across many common technical problems with manuscripts. These usually spring from the best…
"Passive writing" refers to a specific set of grammatical circumstances where emphasis switches from subject to object. The money was…
Generic descriptions are telltale signs of lazy writing. Add color to your writing by replacing overused and boring words. It's…
Dialogue presents challenges for writers. Some prefer to simply declare what was “said.” Many authors feel that “said” is both…
As a graphic designer, I see numerous parallels between the values that create engaging imagery and the values that create…
The word "that" is often abused. "That" is a perfectly useful pronoun but it's often the useless fat that slows…
Nothing screams “amateur” like a poorly crafted book cover. The standards for book design aspired to by trade publishers are…
Book reviews are critically important. Have you ever read a book hoping it would get better, only to find that…
Colloquialisms are informal words or phrases that people use in everyday speech but which might not be suitable for formal…
A monologue is a long speech given by one person.. In a theatrical context, a monologue allows a character to…
Malapropism—the misuse of a word by confusing it with a similar-sounding word, resulting in nonsensical, often bituminous statements. A classic…
By Dave Bricker Great words fail without great delivery, yet so many speechwriters deliver a manuscript and leave the performance…
Words and Terms related to speaking and speechwriting: Adynaton [ad-uh-NAY-ton]: A form of hyperbole in which the exaggeration is so…
Don’t Leave the Stage Until the Clapping Stops. I’ve done it. Most experienced professionals have done it. (sounds of applause)…
Dialogue… So many speakers miss this fantastic opportunity to engage the audience. When it’s time for dialogue, they narrate it.…
If you want to discover what the human voice is capable of, listen to Humphrey Bower narrates the audiobook version…
Sometimes you can get a lot of mileage on stage when you leave half the conversation to the audience’s imagination.…
So many speakers miss out on a huge opportunity to engage audiences when they narrate dialogue in past tense. He…
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