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Tiffany Trent

Expert Guru
Tiffany Trent is a freelance writer in North Carolina, who has spent years perfecting her craft. All through her education, she was in Honors English and has done extensive study on the craft of writing.

Tiffany is the mother of three children, one of which has Asperger's syndrome and another who has sensory integration syndrome. She has done extensive study in these areas as well to assist her children and other children and families affected by the same disorders.

She is a Girl Scout troop leader and the press representative for Alexander county Girl Scouts-A United Way Agency, working closely with the local newspaper to cover what the local girls are doing to make a difference in their community. Tiffany makes it a point to learn something new everyday and advocate for children and writers in every way that she can.

She has been published in a short story collection and has several poems published in numerous different anthologies and collections. To Tiffany's credit, she has several articles on varied topics published as web content.




3 Tips from Tiffany Trent

The Little Word That Packs a Big Punch

Everyone has at one point or another in their life used one little word that caused them a lot of worry or possibly grief. Sometimes we view this word as a good thing, something that will bring us joy and happiness. Other times, we view this word as terrible...something to fear and hide away from.

The little word I speak of that packs such a big punch is the word, "If". Yes, we all know it. We have all used it in everyday life as well as in our writing. Now let's take this idea one step further and focus completely on the writing aspect of the word “If“.

There are many ways we can use the word in a phrase to spin different approaches to an idea. Doing this small exercise will also help us gain different perspectives of the same idea. This is a way to view something from all sides, and perhaps help flesh an otherwise floundering story out.

The following are is a list of different ways to use the word "If" to get that creative grind stone rolling. Answer each as it pertains to your story idea or to an already existing story and see what you come up with.


If my character makes this choice/follows through with a certain action...what are the possible outcomes?

If my character feels (insert emotion here) what will happen? Note: Go through several emotions with your character and idea.

If I want to convey a certain message in my story or poem, what are the different ways I can do this?

What If this idea were seen through the eyes of a different character? In other words, from the outside looking in.

What If this idea were seen through the eyes of your main character? In other words, from the inside looking out.

If I tried to write this piece in a different genre how would it change?

If this work I am doing is to be a short story, is it possible to develop it into something longer?

If this work I am doing is to be a long piece, is it possible to spin off a shorter piece from this idea?

If this work I am doing is to be a poem, what style and form will I use? If I use a different form, how will it change the piece as a whole?

If I change the opening line to a different perspective, how will it change the story as a whole?

If my character chooses one action over another, how will it change the outcome of the story?



Of course, these are just some of the "If" questions you could ask yourself about your writing. Experiment. Think outside the box. Try new things and ask yourself these big questions with such a little word. You will be surprised and more than likely pleased at how much it helps in the development of an idea along with your overall writing performance!

Creating a Well-written Press Release

A press release is a valuable marketing tool in the publishing world. It is one of the first tools you need to get your book into the hands of your readers and a way of announcing the news of your publication to the media. A press release should be written in a professional manner as any publication ready material and is definitely worth the effort to make it the best it possibly can be.

You aren’t trying to sell your book with a press release; you are only making it known that you are published. Be sure to give a general overview of your book in a straightforward, journalistic style. It should be informative and easy to read. Also be sure to write your press release in third person, not first. In other words, don’t say, “My book.” Say, “This book.”

Make sure you have a great headline for your press release and your first paragraph should have a good hook. You want critics and readers to get the basics of your book and why it’s interesting. The end of your press release should have important details such as when the book will be on the market, your availability and your contact information.

Listed below are a few more tips you’ll want to keep in mind when creating a great press release:

- Write in an active voice. Don’t use passive sentences.

- Quote authorities or reviews of your book.

- Use short, concise sentences.

- Date your press release with either ‘For immediate release’ or with an actual date.

- Write -30- or # # # at the end of your press release.

- Be sure to include a contact name and information.

You want your press release to be attention grabbing and well-written so that you are ensuring the best coverage you possibly can for your publication. Remember that a press release is one of the first tools you use as a published author to get the news out to the public about your book. With a little time and effort, you can write a great press release that will turn the critics and public’s eye on your new book.

Writing Articles for the Internet

When writing for the internet, whether it is web content, a newsletter or anything else, there are some tips you need to know in order to ensure that you are writing attention grabbing articles that will be seen as well as read.

Always use short paragraphs. People who surf the internet like to read in small chunks. This will leave a lot of white space but that is the key to really grabbing your readers attention on the internet.

Asks questions that your reader will want to read on to find out the answer to. This keeps your reader interested and their attention focused on your article.

Be sure you put a bit of thought into your heading or title. The heading or title is the first thing your readers are going to look at and you want to ensure that it grabs their attention from the start. If it's not attention grabbing and interesting, your article is less likely to be read.

Be sure to research your article and use facts instead of opinions. This means targeting your article to a specific market or topic and sticking to it. Focus on one topic and you will have more success in gaining readership.

Keeping these tips in mind as you write your article will help to ensure your internet readership and help your writing craft to really stand out among the crowd.





 
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