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For immediate questions or assistance, authors can also check out our FAQs.  Or contact Melissa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

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Melissa Pai Ling

NVC Library Editor

With a talent for developing creative solutions and bringing a high level of attention to both “big picture” and detail in her work, Melissa's background includes:

  • Implementing over four years of NVC leadership, in various contexts - including her work as former board director at the BC Network for Compassionate Communication, and NVC Facilitator
  • Honing her seven years of writing and editing experience
  • Applying collaboration and customer service in various organizations since 1996
  • Developing and running entrepreneurial ventures since 2001, and
  • Consistently incorporating NVC learning and practice since 2012

Besides deepening her NVC integration and questioning NVC culture, what are some things that bring her joy? Dance flash mobs, improv games, mutual inspiration, empowerment, and daydreams of “being in a serene, cuddle-snuggle pile of chubby kitties and bunnies”. 

Checklist to

Prepare Your Work for Submission, and to

Increase Your Readership & Therefore Commissions




Have I followed the Writers’ Guidelines?

  • Where in my writing can I bring in more direct and meaningful value to my reader?
  • Have I written in simple, straightforward English?
  • Where does my writing need to be fact-checked for accuracy (for legal reasons, and to build readership trust)?
  • Have I revised, proofread and edited?  Have I made changes based on:
    • My spellcheck and grammar-check software?
    • Editing software (such as grammarly.com)?
  • Have I added the publishing date to the body of my written work?

 

 

How can I make my writing more interesting and easier to read?

  • How can I rework my title and opening sentence so that the reader is more intrigued?  (Here are some ideas.)
  • Does my title and opening paragraph let the reader know what the piece is about?
  • Where can I add subheadings, bolding, numbered lists, sidebars and bullet points to break up chunks of  text so that readers can scan, skim and identify important takeaways?

 

 

Where can I strengthen clarity to convey meaning more effectively?

Precision & Concreteness

  • How could I tweak my expression so that my meaning is more exact, concrete and precise?  
  • Where could I use relatable examples (hypothetical or real) to illustrate my point(s)?
  • How can I more clearly state my main idea?
  • Where in my writing can I turn passive voice into active voice?
  • Where are there new or unfamiliar words that I can explain to increase understanding?

 

Concision

  • If I had to pay a dollar for every word, what words would I eliminate? What is least relevant to my thesis that I can cut out? (Fewer words can lead to stronger clarity).

 

Unity & Coherence

  • For each paragraph, how can I tweak things to increase each sentence’s ability to advance, support and explain the main point stated in the topic sentence?
  • How can I increase the capacity of each paragraph to advance the main topic of the document?
  • Where does a sentence or paragraph struggle to clearly relate to the one before it and the one following? Where can I coordinate sentences to sharpen the relationship between ideas, or show where ideas belong together?  Where can I subordinate sentences to show which one is the main statement?

11 Ways to Create Immediate Intrigue
in Your Headline and Opening Sentences

To increase your readership,
and thus also your commissions

 

  1. Communicate what’s new, or different

  2. Use a compelling or insightful quote

  3. Open with a thought-provoking question

  4. Say something that goes against conventional wisdom; or that’s controversial; or surprising (but not offensive)

  5. Find a way to arouse curiosity

  6. Start with something humorous

  7. Speak to why your document is worth reading.  Highlight relevance to the reader’s life.

  8. Include the words “why” or “how” in the lead-in

  9. Answer the question “Why would a reader care about this?”

  10. Include relevant imagery

  11. (For opening sentences, specifically) Start with a brief anecdote that clearly supports your main thesis



 (Note: You can also access more Author Support pages in the menu on the upper right hand side of this page.)