I wanted to hear any stories you guys have come across as it relates to "writing." That is, interesting writing routines you've heard of, what writing does for the mind. Why/why not you should write, etc. If you have any ideas, would appreciate any links or stories.
I then set out to create After the Deadline (http://www.afterthedeadline.com) and it has changed my writing in two major ways.
1) Having a good tool in my corner gave me the confidence to focus on the content of my writing and not the mechanics. I knew I could run my writing through my tool later and get rid of the passive voice and complex expressions.
2) Having software beat me over the head with my bad habits forced me to notice them and what they were. I then stopped making some of these same mistakes. My writing is not perfect (and I'm in the position where some people find meaning in their life pointing this out), but it's passable. :)
So my recommendation for writers:
Know that not all spell and grammar checking software sucks. There are solutions beyond Microsoft Word. Find something that matches the style of writing you're going for and use it to help with the mechanical things.
I also recommend turning off the "as you type" spell and grammar check as it's a distraction.
Have you seen a new product called http://scribeseo.com
You could perhaps get a bundle deal going with those guys? However, the trick would be balancing seo and writing for the reader.
Anyways, great stuff. Thanks a lot.
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=778108
(P.S. thanks, searchyc!)
http://www.petermichaud.com/essays/the-secret-about-writing-...
Stephen King - On Writing:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0743455967?tag=0596800673-20&c...;
This is what Roger Ebert said about the book:
"A lot of people were outraged that he [King] was honored at the National Book Awards, as if a popular writer could not be taken seriously. But after finding that his book On Writing had more useful and observant things to say about the craft than any book since Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, I have gotten over my own snobbery."