Writing tip:

Don't hide behind your words with phrases like "I believe" or "in my personal opinion." All opinions are personal, and they will likely be understood as such. If you are addressing an issue that may have a factual basis, research the topic and back up your conclusions.

Creative and General Writing

Creative writing, as opposed to technical or journalistic writing, is an art form that draws on the writer's imagination and literary skills. Although most people think of popular fiction, creative writing includes scriptwriting, poetry, and creative non-fiction. General writing is a catch-all category that includes some creative forms, as well as business and expository writing.

Ghostwriting and Collaboration

When someone has a story to relate, he or she may not have the necessary writing skills to tell that story in a clear, logical manner. A ghostwriter will collect the information and actually write the story, giving authorship to the client. In contrast, a collaborator may assist in writing the story while taking co-authorship. Payment and royalty sharing depends on the nature of the relationship.

General Business Writing

Marketing communications covers a broad range of topics, yet it does not address myriad other writing needs of the organization. Executive speeches, training documents, and policy statements may all require the skills of a seasoned professional. Technology has done much to improve the channels of communication, but we must be careful not to neglect the message for which those channels were built.

Non-Fiction Articles

The majority of consumer periodicals in circulation primarily consist of non-fiction articles. These articles, which usually range from 1,200 to 3,000 words, may be written on practically any topic. While this work most often is performed for commercial publications, a number of other organizations find a need for non-fiction content. Payment and rights granted depend on how the article will be used.