Just Publishing Advice

justpublishingadvice.com/des… To describe a night vividly in writing, you must move beyond weak adjectives like “dark” or “quiet.” Instead, use a sensory noun phrase followed by a strong action verb to show the setting. Focus on elements like moonlight, shadows, or shifting temperatures to create an immersive, atmospheric scene for your reader.

justpublishingadvice.com/pin… If you’re an author, have you investigated Pinterest to promote your books and blog? You might already use social media platforms like Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram. But why use Pinterest?

justpublishingadvice.com/but… Deciding when to use but and however in your writing might seem like a small detail, but your choice can affect clarity and tone. The subtle differences between them can help you write sentences that flow smoothly or create a deliberate pause, depending on what you want.

justpublishingadvice.com/lit… Literary devices are essential tools writers use to bring language, stories, and ideas to life. They add depth, emotion, and subtle layers of meaning, transforming simple writing into vivid mental images that stay with the reader.

justpublishingadvice.com/dra… If you’re almost ready to self-publish your first ebook or book, choosing between Draft2Digital or Amazon KDP will likely be one of your first decisions. Both publishing services have advantages, but you want to choose the one that’s right for you and your needs.

justpublishingadvice.com/fre… Free AI tools can help you with brainstorming, outlining, editing, research, and improving accuracy, while still staying true to your writing voice and style.

justpublishingadvice.com/wei… Grammar is one of my pet topics, and I never stop learning about it. But every now and then, I come across some weird grammar terms that make me scratch my head. Not so much because they are strange structures but because the terms to describe them are so difficult to remember, let alone pronounce sometimes.

justpublishingadvice.com/str… Is it straight-laced or strait-laced? While straight-laced is now commonly seen and often accepted, the historically correct spelling is strait-laced. The word “strait” means narrow or tight (think of a “straitjacket” or a “strait” of water).

justpublishingadvice.com/leg… It’s a relatively simple process to publish a book or ebook today, but with it comes certain legal aspects and responsibilities of self-publishing you need to consider.

justpublishingadvice.com/how… When you are preparing to self-publish a new book, one important element to include is a disclaimer in your front matter. You’ve probably got a lot of other things on your mind as you get ready to publish. However, a disclaimer is a vital precaution that will offer you some degree of legal protection.

justpublishingadvice.com/wri… Writing rules are useful guides, but they are not fixed laws. In fact, many writing rules can be broken without damaging your style or your clarity. Knowing the rules of grammar and writing is important, but skilled writers also know when to bend or break them.

justpublishingadvice.com/sle… Is it sleight of hand or slight of hand? The correct spelling is sleight of hand. While the movements of a magician might be “slight” (small or thin), the word sleight is an old noun meaning skill, dexterity, or trickery.

justpublishingadvice.com/dea… Dead words in writing is a catch-all expression to describe words and phrases that are unnecessary, weak, or overused. Every word has its place. But in writing, the words you choose should be in the right place and for the right reason.

justpublishingadvice.com/one… Is it one fell swoop or one foul swoop? The correct phrase is one fell swoop. Originally coined by Shakespeare in Macbeth, the word “fell” here is an old-fashioned term for “fierce” or “deadly.”

justpublishingadvice.com/whe… Correction tools are a quick and easy way to check your writing, but sometimes you need to ignore a grammar checker tool’s suggestions. Nothing is perfect, and that’s particularly true for automated or AI-based writing tools.

justpublishingadvice.com/fre… The correct phrase is free rein. It comes from the world of horse riding, where a rider would loosen the reins to allow the horse to move freely. While “reign” (meaning to rule like a monarch) sounds like it might fit, it is always a misspelling in this context.

justpublishingadvice.com/mod… 📷 Yes, it’s absolutely grammatically correct to modify an adverb with another adverb. However, being grammatically correct doesn’t necessarily mean that a phrase sounds natural or is easy to read.

justpublishingadvice.com/del… When someone says something was delivered in spades, they refer to an experience or service that exceeded expectations. It’s a phrase that suggests generosity or excellence far beyond the normal. But what are the origins of the expression? And how does it compare to other ways of describing excess or plenty?

justpublishingadvice.com/cha… One of the skills you need as a writer is to be able to change a sentence to add more variety to your writing. When you find too many simple subject-verb-object sentences, you have to find alternatives. Sentence transformation helps you avoid texts that readers might find a little bit boring because your sentence forms are too similar.

justpublishingadvice.com/des… When you need to describe pain in writing, relying on adjective phrases alone often isn’t enough. Pain is complex because it is more than just a feeling. It’s a mixture of emotional and physical sensations that lie unseen below the surface. That’s why metaphors can be useful in making pain more relatable for readers.