by Linden Gross | May 14, 2026 | Editing, Language, Writing
Every writer has a natural tendency to sprawl. We fall in love with words, we hedge our statements, we add “just,” “really,” and “very” as if they were seasoning. But as Jack Smith noted in The Writer magazine’s article “Lean and Clean,” writing gets stronger when it...
by Linden Gross | May 7, 2026 | Writing Life
After more than 25 years of having pups in my life, I have largely figured out how to make that work. The two operative words: Being prepared. Before we go on a walk, I slip Moke’s ear protection—think stretchy headband with ear pockets—over his head. “Do...
by Linden Gross | Apr 30, 2026 | Writing
Books need chapter hooks. Whether you’re writing a novel, memoir, self-help, or investigative journalism, each chapter must make the reader think, I’ll just read one more section. A hook is not a gimmick; it’s a promise—a reason to keep turning pages. You earn that...
by Linden Gross | Apr 23, 2026 | Publishing
As a writer building a website, blog, book mockups, social media posts, or even promotional materials, you’ll often need images or illustrations. The easiest, safest route (budget-wise and legally) is to use public domain images or pictures found in free-use...
by Linden Gross | Apr 16, 2026 | Uncategorized
When I sit down with a client who’s about to start a novel, I can usually tell which camp they fall into: the “I’ve got an outline longer than War and Peace” camp or the “I’ll just wing it and see where the characters take me” camp. Both approaches can work—but both...
