How can we get into grant writing for other people? I've had good luck getting money out of the Canadian government for my screenwriting, I've done successful book proposals, and my wife has done all sorts of other successful applications. I am told a grant writer can claim 30-35% of a successful grant. How do we get into this line of work?
posted by musofire on Nov 29, 2009 - 8 answers

Is English much more difficult than most languages to speak and to write? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano on Nov 23, 2009 - 37 answers

My goal is to have a career as a successful researcher in the biological sciences; however, I do not like writing. Is my goal unobtainable? [more inside]
posted by Lord Force Crater on Nov 16, 2009 - 18 answers

How can I talk to children? [more inside]
posted by meadowlark lime on Nov 6, 2009 - 12 answers

I've recently begun work on a children's book. It is inspired by my granddaughter. I was wondering if anyone had any information on how to get a children's book published? Suggested Publishers? Also, any other information pertaining to this process, would be appreciated. ***I realize that children's books are a dime a dozen...but mine just might be spectacular ;)***
posted by gypseefire on Oct 17, 2009 - 4 answers

What well-known novels lack any character descriptions aside from names?
posted by odinsdream on Oct 9, 2009 - 17 answers

A friend of mine is writing a memoir about traveling to every country in Europe at the age of 23. He wants to compare being stuck in a crappy part of Romania to a well known literary or film hellhole. We can't think of any. [more inside]
posted by Jason Land on Oct 8, 2009 - 25 answers

I'm trying to think of ideas for creative-writing-related fundraisers [more inside]
posted by Holygrail2 on Oct 8, 2009 - 7 answers

Improve your writing by imitating the greats. [more inside]
posted by ekpyrotic on Oct 1, 2009 - 27 answers

How to break into speech-writing, specifically political speech-writing? [more inside]
posted by roxie5 on Sep 30, 2009 - 4 answers

Journalists' notes: how do they take them, store them and reference them later? [more inside]
posted by Brittanie on Sep 25, 2009 - 9 answers

What should an extended abstract (in the humanities) look like? This is for philosophy in particular, though I assume it might be a similar style for other disciplines. [more inside]
posted by JoshSmith on Sep 20, 2009 - 2 answers

You are a subscriber to McSweeney's and/or The Believer. Convince me that [either magazine, or both] is worth the not-insubstantial subscription costs. [more inside]
posted by the NATURAL on Sep 17, 2009 - 11 answers

Got space-related idioms and phrases? "Cool your jets", "Jumpin' Jupiter!", "Heavens to Mergatroid!", "Over the moon!", "Off like a rocket!", "Out of this world"... [more inside]
posted by Muirwylde on Sep 16, 2009 - 44 answers

My wife and I are interested in writing and illustrating kids books and getting them published. I realize there are plenty of neat books great illustrations, so what's the best way to find out what we'd be getting into if we were to pursue this as a hobby, or even as a main source of income?
posted by filthy light thief on Sep 15, 2009 - 17 answers

I need help finding something Miss Manners said about budgets and guest lists. [more inside]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero on Aug 28, 2009 - 7 answers

Is there a web site which recommends the best writing on the net on a periodic basis? [more inside]
posted by jpg15 on Aug 23, 2009 - 11 answers

There is a literary journal currently asking for a $1 "handling fee" to fast-track submitted stories. Is this okay? What really, is the point of asking for a dollar?
posted by uans on Aug 22, 2009 - 20 answers

Does anyone know of a free, online program that, for lack of a better phrase, I'll call a random sentence scrambler? I see there are a lot of anagram makers but I want one for about 500 word bodies of text. Theoretically I could paste in the text and it would spit it out with all the words intact, the sentence structure preserved, just arranged into a new sequence. Thanks.
posted by holdenjordahl on Aug 16, 2009 - 10 answers

I've picked up a freelance job writing simple financial-advice articles, but now and then the topics they give me to write about don't always work. Sometimes it's easy for me to spot the ones that don't make sense -- but not always, because I don't have a financial background. Can someone who does tell me if this statement (inside) about loans makes sense? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos on Aug 4, 2009 - 6 answers

Help me be a better writer in English (as a second language) [more inside]
posted by papalotl on Jul 30, 2009 - 16 answers

How to read this date written in French? [more inside]
posted by rom1 on Jul 29, 2009 - 14 answers

I'm looking for a Firefox add-on that would open a note pad into a new tab. [more inside]
posted by FunkyHelix on Jul 24, 2009 - 5 answers

can i write a valid, effective will without a lawyer? are there helpful, free models?
posted by LittlePumpkin on Jul 11, 2009 - 12 answers

Help me understand the writing industry, specifically as it relates to Hollywood, etc. [more inside]
posted by arniec on Jun 5, 2009 - 19 answers

Looking for independent news sites and journalists' blogs [more inside]
posted by reenum on Apr 16, 2009 - 8 answers

Who are the best magazine and newspaper feature writers, past and present? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Apr 8, 2009 - 20 answers

Tips on sub-contracting to friends? [more inside]
posted by pauldonato on Apr 6, 2009 - 11 answers

I want to write a story in a nationally syndicated magazine about a friend to draw attention to childhood cancer. Where do I start? [more inside]
posted by monkeyman82 on Apr 6, 2009 - 6 answers

How do I improve my writing style? [more inside]
posted by Ziggy500 on Mar 20, 2009 - 16 answers

I'm thinking of preparing the DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera, or official Spanish Language Diploma) exam. My spoken Spanish is OK, my listening is fine, and my reading skills are good. What I can't do, because I've never practiced, is write essays in Spanish, and essays are a part of the DELE. [more inside]
posted by Holly on Mar 18, 2009 - 9 answers

Interview and note organization tips for journalists and non-fiction writers? [more inside]
posted by NikitaNikita on Mar 7, 2009 - 8 answers

Will I ever be able to draw an excellent marginal brace without going to graduate school? [more inside]
posted by fantine on Feb 10, 2009 - 20 answers

Recommendations for books that teach argument composition? [more inside]
posted by Sova on Feb 6, 2009 - 10 answers

I write like I talk and so my writing is not great but my spoken stories are magnetic. Help me put these stories to paper! [more inside]
posted by parmanparman on Dec 27, 2008 - 10 answers

How do I learn to write crisp, short and in-depth memos? [more inside]
posted by l33tpolicywonk on Dec 18, 2008 - 14 answers

Firetheclientfilter: I did a deal for freelance writing, agreed to a flat rate, have found the client to be unreasonable and inflexible, feel like this is fast becoming a bottomless pit of time and frustration. Politely pull the plug? [more inside]
posted by ambient2 on Dec 7, 2008 - 11 answers

How can I be less long-winded? [more inside]
posted by contessa on Dec 5, 2008 - 36 answers

How to break into science writing for magazines? What are the strengths/weaknesses of using a traditional vs non-mainstream approach (eg, a blog). [more inside]
posted by Wolfster on Nov 26, 2008 - 3 answers

I'm working on a historical postcard exhibition and one of our postcards has some type of shorthand as the message. I was wondering if anyone could translate it? I don't know what type of shorthand it might be written in. [more inside]
posted by sweetmarie on Nov 20, 2008 - 13 answers

What does the word "pegamoid" mean? Context inside. [more inside]
posted by crossoverman on Nov 12, 2008 - 2 answers

Are there any organizations like 826michigan in Minnesota? [more inside]
posted by sciapod on Nov 5, 2008 - 2 answers

I'm looking to create a competitive writing site, does such a thing exist? [more inside]
posted by The Power Nap on Oct 14, 2008 - 7 answers

Does anyone know Dick Hoyt's date of birth? [more inside]
posted by Felicity Rilke on Oct 14, 2008 - 2 answers

What does the Chinese character in Fae Myenne Ng's Steer Towards Rock frequently used to mark chapters mean? And what writing style is it in? You can see the character in the Amazon look-inside feature for the book (click excerpt on the left to see the character).
posted by Kattullus on Sep 30, 2008 - 5 answers

Don't servers hate it when people camp in coffee houses and cafes for hours to write? [more inside]
posted by TheManChild2000 on Sep 23, 2008 - 35 answers

I'm looking for short stories/poems/creative non-fiction and the like about school, schooling, education, and/or learning to write/self-expression. Should be suitable for college freshpersons.
posted by Saxon Kane on Aug 24, 2008 - 4 answers

Why do novelists use "________" in place of a character's name? [more inside]
posted by serazin on Aug 11, 2008 - 10 answers

I really want to get away from my house to finish up some screenplays for a May 1 deadline. So where can a not-so-rich person go for the last two weeks of April that will allow much peace and quiet while being both safe and warm enough to wander around in short sleeves night and day. Suppose a cost of around $1500--the cheaper the better--including return airfare to Toronto. Note that I like seclusion but I also don't drive so it needs to be someplace close to the necessities.
posted by dobbs on Feb 25, 2008 - 17 answers

A paraphrased quote: 'As one creates (writes?), it's meaning is known to only two - himself and God. When one finishes, the meaning is only known to God.' So, where did this quote derive from? Who originally said it? [more inside]
posted by evadery on Jan 5, 2007 - 5 answers