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The Zebra Communications Blog

Creative writing tips and other information for writers

Why Do You Write?

Many writers contact me regarding something they wrote—a poem, short story, memoir, novel, self-help book, family history, or something else. Some of those folks ask…

Bobbie ChristmasJuly 12, 2021

Blog

At What Point Can You Call Yourself a Writer?

Someone recently wrote the following email to me: "A question came up during a guild meeting recently regarding published writings, such as letters to the…

Bobbie ChristmasApril 26, 2021

Blog

Hard-Copy Editing Versus Electronic Editing

What is Hard-Copy Editing? What is Electronic Editing? People have asked me what I mean by hard-copy editing or electronic editing, so clear explanations are…

Bobbie ChristmasMarch 4, 2021

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How to handle cultural issues in creative writing

by Bobbie Christmas Q: In light of racial and LGBTQ issues, various terminology is changing to more sensitive language, avoiding words and phrases such as…

Bobbie ChristmasOctober 5, 2020

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Find Your Fresh Voice

Bobbie ChristmasSeptember 8, 2020

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On My Editing High Horse

I’m not a grammarian, a teacher of grammar. I’m merely an editor who has to deal with grammar issues daily. As such I feel that…

Bobbie ChristmasJuly 31, 2020

Blog

Birth of a Baby

Completing a book has often been described as giving birth, and as one who has given birth to babies and books, I fully understand the…

Bobbie ChristmasNovember 6, 2019

Blog

Reading for Fun

One of the possible drawbacks to being a book editor is that I read manuscripts as a necessary part of my business, which leaves almost…

Bobbie ChristmasOctober 21, 2019

Blog

Starting Over

I spent all day recently rewriting from memory a children's story I had written years ago, because I could not find it on any of…

Bobbie ChristmasMay 11, 2019