51. Strengthen your sentences with 4 easy tips

What makes a sentence strong? How do you create concrete images for your readers? How do you make sure your prose won’t put your readers to sleep?  

In today’s episode, you’re going to learn the answers to those questions with four easy tips that have a powerful impact on your sentences. In fact, they’re so easy that you can start implementing them today.

So tune in to learn how to strengthen your sentences—and discover how zombies can help you.

Topics discussed in this episode
  • Watch out for filler words
  • Eliminate abstract words
  • Get creative with the word it
  • Watch out for zombies
  • When to worry about these 4 tips
About Erin

Erin P.T. Canning has worked for more than 15 years as a magazine and book editor, encouraging each writer’s individual voice and strengthening their writing goals.

She always planned to write a book. Then she had kids. While she focused on them, she stopped writing—for six years. Something deep inside was missing. Depression, anxiety, and anger forced her to search for herself, both for her sake and her family’s.

Despite fearing her skills had atrophied, Erin started writing again. One journal entry led to one blog post that led to her creating her podcast, Parents Who Write. Erin’s current role as a podcaster and writing coach enables her to help others pursue their writing dreams.

Finally, she finished writing her own shitty first draft and released her first novel, Ruins and Redemption, in 2023. She earned her MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University, and she lives with her husband and their two boys in Maryland.

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Looking for a community of passionate writers who understand your goals and struggles? Join my exclusive Facebook group, Parents Who Write, where you can attend weekly group writing sessions and find writing prompts, writing resources, and free weekly tutorials.


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ABOUT ME

Erin P.T. Canning has worked for 20 years as an editor, encouraging each writer’s individual voice and strengthening their writing goals.

She always planned to write a book, but life had a tendency to distract her. After dedicating six years of her life to motherhood and discovering her ADHD, she started writing again, even though she feared her writing skills had atrophied.

After letting go of her perfectionism, Erin finally finished her own shitty first draft and released her fantasy romance novel, Ruins and Redemption, in 2023. Her current role as a podcaster and book coach enables her to help writers pursue their author dreams.