Many people don’t even realize that these two words do not share the same meaning and therefore cannot be used interchangeably. As a result, both fewer and less are often used incorrectly.

The difference may be subtle but it’s significant and remarkably easy to remember. When using fewer or less as adjectives (words that modify nouns), deciding which to use in a sentence poses an interesting dilemma.

Let’s see what Dictionary.com has to say about it:

fewer: adjective 1. of a smaller number: fewer words and more action.

less: adjective 1. smaller in size, amount, degree, etc.; not so large, great, or much: less money; less speed.

Now, let me break it down for you.

Fewer? Less? Which is Correct?

Fewer and less respectively refer to a number of items, or an amount of something. The easiest way to remember which of these adjectives to use in a given situation is this:

Fewer should be used when the items in question can be counted.

She has fewer books than her brother.

Less is used when the amount of something cannot be counted.

She has less interest in reading than her brother.

Note that books can be counted item by item. However, interest is not a thing that can be counted, though we can discuss how much of it someone has.

The basic difference here is countability. Use fewer for countable nouns like individuals, cars, and pens. Use less for uncountable nouns such as love, time, and paper. Do note, however, that there are some sticky spots to watch out for when determining whether you should use fewer or less. For example, you might need less paper but you will need fewer sheets of paper.

Fewer? Less?

Now you know how to tell the difference.

Do you have questions about fewer, less, or any other word pairs? Maybe you have something to add to this linguistic look at tricky adjectives. Share your thoughts, knowledge, and let’s discuss.

Read More Like This:

• Word Pairs: That and Which
• Word Pairs: Who vs. Whom
• Word Pairs: i.e. and e.g.
• Word Pairs: Lay or Lie
• Word Pairs: Farther? Further?

Eat, Pray, Love

But this post is not about Eat, Pray, Love.

This post is about creativity, and the pressure that creative professionals are under to constantly and consistently produce brilliant work.

I encourage you to watch the video below in which Elizabeth Gilbert gives a talk on creativity and the unique pressures that creative workers are under. She offers some pretty creative and original solutions.

After the video, share your thoughts about creativity and let’s talk about how creative people are viewed and treated both in creative circles and in the larger culture.

Enjoy!

Editor’s Note: I’ve already watched this video several times and I’m also planning to go see Elizabeth Gilbert in person this fall, since she happens to be visiting my area. She’s an engaging speaker with some interesting words of wisdom and here at Writing Forward, we like to learn from people who are smart and successful. Elizabeth Gilbert possesses both of those wonderful traits and a whole lot more.

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So I’m ready to pack up a tasty lunch, lots of cold drinks, an armful of books, and just go veg out on a beach somewhere. Preferably a beach that slopes into warm, salty waters.

Last month, we unveiled the new design at Writing Forward and announced a new service for writers – the writing coach program. This has given way to plenty  of questions about the program, so sometime this month I’ll publish a post that addresses some of the questions that are coming in consistently. Other than that, since there are no more monthly themes, we can all look forward to a well-rounded month covering lots of writerly subject matter from better writing to good grammar.

The 10th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition

The 10th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition is accepting entries! They’re looking for fiction that’s bold, brilliant … but brief. Send your best in 1,500 words or less. But don’t be too long about it—the deadline is December 1, 2009.

The Grand-Prize winner will receive $3,000 (that’s $2—or more—per word).

Get the full guidelines, learn more about prizes and enter online.

Book a Brighter Future

Reading is Fundamental (RIF) is launching an exciting campaign in partnership with Macy’s: Book A Brighter Future (TM). From July 1 through August 31, Macy’s customers can give $3 and receive a coupon for $10 off a $50 in-store purchase at any Macy’s nationwide. Macy’s will give 100% of every $3 to RIF.

For every $3 gift, $1 will support local RIF programs near the Macy’s store; $1 will support RIF’s Multicultural Literacy Campaign; and $1 will help RIF’s ongoing efforts to provide reading resources to millions of underserved children across the country. Macy’s has already helped RIF provide over 3 million books to 1.2 million kids and has donated 750 hardcover multicultural book collections to schools, Head Start centers, and libraries in every state and U.S. territory.

Macy’s is also RIF’s lead partner for volunteer engagement and has supported the development of an interactive map on RIF’s website. This tool helps connect local RIF programs to local volunteers. The map also allows users to learn about RIF’s impact both in their community and nationwide. To view this online tool, go to: http://maps.rif.org.

Have a happy July and keep on writing!

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In fact, learning poetry terms is essential if you want to be able to discuss poetry. It’s far better to say rhyme instead of having to explain – you know, those words that sound alike but not exactly alike?

Developing a vocabulary of poetry terms will help you better understand the composition techniques and tools that are at your disposal. It may not occur to you that you can build rhythm by repeating consonant sounds. But when you know what alliteration is, then this idea is more likely to come to you as you make a poem.

Poetry Terms for Non-Poets

Though poetry terms are especially useful for poetry writing, these terms (like poetry itself) offer a number of benefits to all writers.

Whether you write fiction, scripts, nonfiction, or song lyrics, learning these poetry terms will help you infuse your writing with literary prowess. You’ll be able to craft sentences that ring bells, paragraphs that float, and entire pieces that flow smoothly and beautifully.

Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the initial consonant sounds of words in close proximity to one another. Examples of alliteration include “black and blue,” “we walk,” or “time after time.”

In some cases, people will use alliteration to refer to any repeated consonant sounds, even if they don’t occur at the beginning of words. An example of this would be “blue arbor,” where the b sound is repeated at the beginning of blue and in the middle of arbor.

Alliteration might also be used to describe the repetition of a consonant sound nestled in the middle or even at the end of words. Blueberry, for example, contains alliteration in a single word.

In some cases, alliteration will be used to refer to words that start with vowel repetition. An example would be “Alliteration is always interesting.” In this example the a (vowel) sound at the beginning of alliteration and always is repeated.

Poetry terms aren’t always clear and distinct, and general use of the language means words like alliteration get used loosely to describe things beyond the original meaning.

Keep in mind that the strictest meaning of alliteration is when the consonant sounds at the beginning of words are repeated. However, it’s not as important to differentiate between what is and isn’t alliteration as it is to understand how to use repetition of sound in your writing.

Using Alliteration

So, how is alliteration used for effect? Well, think about repetition in general. When you repeat something over and over, it becomes embedded in memory. Alliteration works the same way, but in this case, sounds are being embedded rather than strings of words, phrases, or entire written works, such as a song or poem. If used correctly, alliteration enhances the rhythm of a piece. It makes a phrase or even an entire piece more memorable.

Alliteration also happens to be the cornerstone of tongue twisters.

Do you consciously use alliteration in your writing? Are there any other poetry terms you’d like to learn more about? Share your thoughts and suggestions by leaving a comment.

Read More Like This:

• An Introduction to Poetry Terms
• Poetry Terms: Meter and Musicality

And then we wait some more.

Writer’s block is the state of being uninspired, but it’s just a state of mind, and that can be changed at will, which is a good thing, because when it comes to creative writing, state of mind is pretty important.

Years ago, when I used to draw and paint, I often listened to a particular mix of music. It made for great artistic background audio. As a result, every time I hear the music from my art mix, I get an urge to pull out my watercolor pencils and sketchbook, because I have built a psychological association between a certain kind of music and a creative activity.

Can you see where I’m going with this?

Creative Writing with a Talisman

Talisman: anything whose presence exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human feelings or actions. (Dictionary.com)

In a sense, a talisman can be used to program your muse to come out and get to work — on cue. Imagine having the ability to command your own creativity, to sit down and engage in your writerly work and automatically trigger inspiration.

Here’s how it works:

1. Choose your creative writing talisman - It could be a hat or a piece of jewelry. It might be something that sits on your desk, like a picture or a statuette. It can even be a CD or playlist (classical and jazz are great for writing). Choose a talisman that you won’t use in any other capacity except for your creative writing, and make sure it’s not something that will distract you from the task at hand. Also, pick something you can store easily, but which is also accessible. Things that fit in your desk drawer or pocket are ideal. Also, try to find something that already makes you feel inspired.
2. Charge your talisman - Don’t start using your talisman until your muse is in high gear. You should have it ready for when creativity strikes and when it does, pull out your talisman and focus on it for a few minutes as ideas bounce around in your head. Leave it out as you work on your creative writing during those times when you’re feeling extremely inspired.
3. Believe in your talisman – If you believe in magic, you might say that you’re infusing the talisman with your creative writing energy. Or, a more scientific explanation would be that you’re training your mind to associate the object with creativity, so that whenever you engage the talisman, that creative energy is triggered.
4. Use your talisman - Once your talisman starts putting out an inspirational vibe, make it a point to use it whenever you’re stuck with your creative writing. You’ll know it’s ready because you’ll get the urge to write every time you look at your talisman.
5. Keep your talisman charged - Even if months down the road, you’re feeling giddy with creativity, and you don’t feel like you need it, take out the talisman. This will help keep it charged and maintain the psychological association between the talisman and your creative writing.

Do you have a creative writing talisman or some other ritual that you perform either before, during, or after your writing sessions?

Keep on writing!

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• Where to Find Inspiration for Creative Writing (Art Begets Art)
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• 10 Tips for Creative Writing Submissions
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• From Creative Writing to Creative Marketing

There’s a lot to learn, and in order to establish the skill set that every successful writer needs, we must foster beneficial writing habits.

Better Writing

Better writing simply doesn’t happen overnight. Sure, there are quick tricks and fast fixes that you can use, but developing smart, long-term writing habits is a much more effective way to generate better writing.

So, what habits can you foster to continuously improve your writing over time?

There are lists, articles, and entire books that will tell you countless ways to cultivate better writing, and most of the suggestions out there are legitimate. But I’ve scaled all that advice down into just five simple ways that you can refine and build your writing skills.

Tips for Better Writing

1. Write every single day.
2. Proofread. Edit. Repeat.
3. Read as much as you can.
4. Collect useful writing resources, including grammar and style guides.
5. Get feedback from other writers, and from readers.

Foster Better Writing Habits

Most of these tips are beneficial to all writers – whether you’re a poet, a novelist, or a copywriter. In creative writing, we often lose sight of the technical aspect of writing because we’re so heavily focused on making our work compelling and coming up with interesting writing ideas.

But by mastering the mechanical stuff, like spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and by taking in a whole lot of writing (reading a lot), our creativity will be more at ease and will flow more naturally.

It would be an impossible challenge to try and work all of these habits into your daily life immediately. You are likely to become overwhelmed. Instead, work each practice into your schedule slowly.

Start by setting aside ten or twenty minutes to write every day. After a week or two, make revising and proofreading a regular step in your writing process. Set aside time each week to read – either in the evenings before bed or on the weekends when you have time to relax with a good book. When you visit bookstores, make it a point to stop by the writing resources section, and when you have questions about writing, find the answers. Finally, when you’ve polished a piece to perfection, show it around and get feedback.

Before you know it, your writing habits will be ingrained and you will be on a steady path to better writing.

Feel free to share your ideas for better writing in the comments.

Read More Like This:

• Better Writing with Critiques and Feedback
• Proofreading Tips for Better Writing
• More Reading Means Better Writing
• Collect Writing Resources for Better Writing

The Writing Show

The Writing Show is a weekly podcast that features interviews with writers, publishers, editors, agents, and other professionals who work in the literary and publishing industries.

It’s one of the best writing resources out there, and all you have to do is listen.

The show explores every aspect of writing, from generating ideas to collecting royalties. Host Paula B. delivers original, entertaining, and informative content that is designed to help writers better understand writing as a profession.

The Inside Scoop on Writing Resources

Whether you’re just starting out as a writer or already an established professional, The Writing Show will provide you with news, information, and insight that you simply can’t get anywhere else. Paula B. leaves no stone unturned, and gives attention to a wide range of writerly topics and writing resources:

• Freelancing, web writing, fiction writing, poetry writing, and more
• Agents, editors, and publishers
• Business management and royalty collections
• Every genre imaginable from greeting cards to novels to comic books
• Tips that will lead to you even more great writing resources

Paula and her guests explore writing challenges and how to overcome them, the ins and outs of the publishing world, and writing within a genre. On any given episode, the guest might be an agent, a professional copywriter or editor, or ambitious young writer who tackled NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).

That’s what I love best about this show – it doesn’t focused solely on published authors and agents (although interviews with authors and agents are also immensely helpful). Paula B. has featured freelance web writers, professional greeting card writers, and book editors, cover designers, even comic book authors. Basically, anything connected to writing is fair game.

After listening to almost every episode of The Writing Show, I realized that interviews with writers are incredibly educational as well as fascinating writing resources because they give you an inside perspective on different angles of the writing life.

Listen Up

One of the best things about The Writing Show is that unlike most writing resources, it’s a podcast, which means it’s published in audio format. You can listen to it anytime, and if you own an mp3 player, you can download and listen to it in your car, at work, or at the gym. That’s what I call convenient!

Check out The Writing Show online at www.writingshow.com or download directly from

And keep on writing!

Got any favorite writing resources of your own? Share them in the comments!

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One of the most common grammatical mistakes is the practice of unwittingly using lay or lie incorrectly. This error is so common, it even slips past professional writers, editors, and English teachers — all the time.

Maybe eventually these two words will morph into one and have the exact same meaning, but until then, it’s worthwhile to learn proper usage. But for now, their meanings are completely different.

Let’s take a look at this interesting word pair and find out whether we should be using lay or lie based on each word’s definition.

Lay

Dictionary.com lists 42 different definitions for the word lay. Of these, 28 are categorized as a verb used with an object, eight as verbs used without an object, and six are simply nouns. Plus, there are 15 verb phrases that use the word lay, as well as nine idioms. This is a word that can be used in a lot of different ways!

Let’s keep things simple by focusing on what differentiates lay from lie.

In short, lay is something you do to something else. You might think that sounds funny, especially considering idiom number 58 (get laid), but it’s true and of course “getting laid” is exactly what you should use to remember that you lay something (down).

Lie

Lie only has 27 definitions, so that’s a relief. Though, that’s not taking into consideration the nine additional definitions that deal with falsehoods.

Again, we’ll keep it simple. Just remember that you should use the word lie when there is no object involved.

Lay or Lie

Here are some tips to help you remember whether to use lay or lie in a sentence:

Every sentence has a subject and a verb. An example would be:

I write.

“I” is the subject, and “write” is the verb. Many sentences also have an object:

I write blogs.

In this example, “blogs” is the object. The object in a sentence receives the action of the verb. The subject is taking or making that action.

Subject: I (does the action)

Action: write (the action)

Object: blogs (receives the action – i.e. gets written)

Learning Word Pairs is Easy!

The word lay should be used when there is an object receiving the action, i.e. something or someone is getting laid (down) by something or someone else.

• I always lay my pencil down by the phone.
• I laid the book on that chair.
• I am laying down the law.

Conversely, the word lie is used when there is no object involved, i.e. the subject of the sentence is doing the lying.

• I lie down every afternoon.
• The kitten lies there, dozing.
• The dog is lying down.

That was easy!

Do you have any tips for remembering whether a sentence calls for lay or lie? Are there any word pairs that confuse you? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Read More Like This:

• Word Pairs: Who vs. Whom
• Word Pairs: That and Which
• Word Pairs: Farther? Further?
• Word Pairs: i.e. and e.g.
• Word Pairs: Fewer vs. Less

Need a writing coach?

There are countless types of writers, from the Pulitzer Prize winning novelist to the small child who pens poetry about his puppy.

Some people write for a living. Some people write for art. Others just do it for fun.

There are serious writers, and then there are hobbyists.

Hobby writers enjoy writing and generally write for personal reasons. They keep journals and may write short stories, poems, or essays. They might be blogging. Maybe someday, they’d like to become a serious writer and think about getting their work published, but for the most part, they write for the sheer enjoyment of writing, or perhaps for personal development.

Are You a Hobbyist or a Serious Writer?

If you’re serious about your writing, you have goals. You want to become a published author, a freelance writer, or you’d like to land a job on the writing staff of a publication or production team. You have projects you want to complete, and you’re consistently trying to improve your writing.

You pay attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You work to make each piece you write better than the last piece you wrote. Writing is your life’s work so you take pride in your craftsmanship, and you make every effort to generate work that is coherent and captivating.

But just because you’re serious about your writing doesn’t mean that you’re reaching all of your writing goals or that your work is consistently improving. You’re human. Sometimes you get distracted. One novel idea overtakes another and before you know it you have three or four half-written, unfinished novels piled up and you’re getting ready to toss yet another one on top of the heap.

Or maybe you’re tirelessly sending your work out for publication. You have sent it to literary magazines, agents, and editors. But no luck. You know that every writer should expect plenty of rejection letters before getting a big break, but you’re starting to suspect that your break won’t come at all unless you make some kind of breakthrough in your writing.

Enter the Writing Coach

Every person who has achieved success has done so by enlisting the help of others. Some of us were lucky enough to study writing at university. We enlisted the help of experienced and educated instructors and peers who were traveling a similar path toward becoming established writers. Our classwork and assignments kept us on task and helped us develop good writing habits.

Others are self-taught, but they too enlisted the help of others. They studied works by successful authors and absorbed books and other resources on the craft of writing.

We all need a little help crossing the finish line. If you can’t attend classes and workshops because they don’t fit with your schedule or budget, or if you have exhausted your self-help-for-writers resources, then hiring a writing coach may be a smart option.

What a Writing Coach Does

A writing coach does not stand on the sidelines, holding a stopwatch while counting your laps. A writing coach gets in there and runs laps with you.

Your coach should be able to relate to your struggles, but also should be able to offer solutions to help you overcome your challenges. A good writing coach will hold you accountable and firmly, but gently, encourage you to stick to your goals and make sure you complete your projects.

Finally, a writing coach is more than a productivity expert. A writing coach knows good writing, and will work with you to make sure your writing is the best it can be.

Do You Need a Writing Coach?

Before you hire a writing coach, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I have writing goals that I am consistently NOT achieving?
• Do I regularly drop the ball on my writing projects?
• Do I need to work on improving my grammar, spelling, or punctuation?
• Do I need to develop a stronger voice, more realistic characters, or better plots?
• Could I benefit by enlisting the help of someone who will provide thoughtful, honest feedback?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then a writing coach just might knock the wind back into your sails.

Luckily, I know a writing coach who might be able to help you.

Your Writing Coach

You don’t have to read Writing Forward for very long before you realize how passionate I am about helping other writers. Sure, I do my own writing and I work as a full time, freelance copywriter, but I actually get the biggest thrill when I know an article I’ve written genuinely helped someone with their writing.

I love to write and I’m good at it. Plus, I love to help people, especially writers. Being a writing coach only makes sense. As your writing coach, I will help you:

• Set writing goals and then achieve them.
• See your writing projects through to completion.
• Overcome challenges that interfere with your writing progress.
• Improve the mechanics of your writing (grammar, spelling, and punctuation).
• Become a better writer through insightful critiques on your written material.

If you’re a serious writer and interested in becoming an accomplished writer by getting published, or if you just want to improve your craft, check out my writing coach program and let’s talk about your writing goals.

And if you’re not ready to hire a writing coach, then just stick around for more creative writing tips and ideas here on Writing Forward.

But before you click away, consider the vocabulary of a writer – not just a poet or a fiction writer – but any writer.

Have you ever noticed that some writers string words together seamlessly and beautifully? Have you ever read a sentence or paragraph and wondered how the author thought to put those words together in that order?

Poetry Terms and Literary Devices

Many poetry terms identify literary devices that will enhance your writing. By learning a few basic terms, you will gain a better understanding of how to use language in a compelling way. Plus, you’ll be able to speak more intelligently about writing as a craft.

A writer’s vocabulary needs to be stocked with words that help us understand and discuss our skill set. We should be able to talk about parts of speech, sentence structure, and punctuation the way scientists and doctors discuss organs, skeletons, and cells. Copywriters, fiction writers, and bloggers can step up their language skills by learning a few simple poetry terms.

Poetry Terms

Unfortunately, many writers ignore poetry completely. Yet reading and writing poetry is one of the best ways you can build your vocabulary and turn up the creativity in your creative writing. Today, we’ll just do a brief overview of a few, choice poetry terms.

Assonance

Assonance is all about vowel sounds. In the example phrase, assonance allows literary writers to create catchy phrases, there are several occurrences of assonance. The a sound in assonance and allows as well as in catchy demonstrate one run of assonance. We can underline the sounds where another run occurs:

Assonance allows literary writers to create catchy phrases.

There’s at least one more run of assonance in this phrase. Can you find it?

Assonance often evokes a sense of rhyme without serving up a direct or technical rhyme. A common phrase, fancy pants is an example of this. One final note about assonance: the vowel sounds can have siblings or cousins (such as the two different a sounds in the word assonance).

Onomatopoeia

Most writers are familiar with the phenomenon that is onomatopoeia, which occurs when a word represents the thing that it defines through sound and sense. Most such words are verbs, and many deal with the world of nature. For example, cows moo, bees buzz, and rain pitter patters. These words most often mimic sounds, such as thump or boom. See if you can come up with some words that exemplify onomatopoeia. And if you think onomatopoeia is just for poets, think again. Does the phrase snap, crackle, pop ring a bell?

Fun and Games

These poetry terms explain different effects that you can use in your writing, similar to the way filmmakers use special effects in their movies.

Though these poetry terms belong mostly to the world that poets inhabit, other writers can harness the power of their special effects to generate writing that is more musical and mesmerizing.

But understanding these poetry terms is not enough. You should also read poetry and even try writing it on occasion. When you immerse yourself in poetry, these effects of language tend to leak over into your other writings, and pretty soon your fiction, blog posts, and articles will start coming alive with assonance and onomatopoeia. That, by the way, is a good thing.

NOTE: This post was originally published in April, 2008. However, it has been updated with new information and therefore has been freshly published for your reading pleasure.

Are there any poetry terms that you’d like to share or learn about? Leave a comment and share your thoughts and questions.Read More Like This:

• Poetry Terms: Alliteration
• Poetry Terms: Meter and Musicality