"If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write."
Martin
Luther
Only You Can Write about
Your Unique Stories and Ideas
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Getting ideas
When you write an essay, article, or non-fiction book, you normally have a specific idea you want to get across (very similar to the theme or thesis you have when you write an essay). Many writers have an idea they want to get across. However, unless you’re writing a teaching article with three easy points,
Many writers get ideas from listening to the news, reading newspapers or the internet, watching programs about current affairs, noticing topics that are trending… In fact, being alert to what’s going on in the world is usually a great way to get started as a writer. Many local or regional newspapers are interested in stories
Most people are passionate about something. That passion often leads them to learn a lot about that particular subject, and gives them a desire to pass on their knowledge or understanding to others. This is one of the most common ways people find their ideas. Out of their lives, and values, they think of something they
Most of our writing revolves around people in some form or another, so it makes sense that many of our ideas come from people. It might be someone we know, or it might be a total stranger we happen to run across once. The idea could be as comprehensive as discovering something about your mother
Yes, you are allowed to steal ideas. That’s because you can’t copyright an idea. And what I would do with an idea might be very different from what you would do with it. Now, there are some common sense boundaries. If I tell you I’m going to query a specific editor about an article on
Have you ever had one thing remind you of another? Maybe it’s a smell that reminds you of a similar smell from the past. A person who makes you think of another person you know. A line from a poem or story that makes you recall an event that happened to you…. That happens to
About Me
Hi,
I'm N. J. Lindquist
I'm the award-winning author of various kinds of books, short stories, personal experience stories, newspaper columns, blogs, and more.
I'm also the editor and co-publisher of the Hot Apple Cider Books.
Since 1992, I've been teaching workshops for writers across Canada. I created this website so I could pass along some of my thoughts on writing here.
What People Have Said About Me
Comments from Anonymous Surveys
Fast-paced, very organized. Provided helpful tips.
Informative and understood.
Not long enough, very good.
Very practical.
Very warm and helpful.
Great—very encouraging!
Well-organized, very helpful, excellent practical help!
Very good!
The most helpful part of the conference.
Excellent handouts!
Well-organized and prepared.
Fantastic! This workshop could easily have been a continuing class, very helpful material, encouraging, inspirational!
She was quite thorough and gave out very good hand-outs. I appreciated her input from her own experiences and organizational techniques.
Her straightforward way of presenting ideas and tips gained from her experience was the best!
You are a great writer and teacher!
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