Nicholas C. Rossis

dream-protecting author

The Adverb Strikes Back

Nov 29, 2021 | Writing

We all know how adverbs are supposedly an author’s archnemesis. They are to be avoided like, well, passive voice. We’re to go through our manuscripts, find each and every one of them, and kill them while crying out, “die, rebel scum!” Hemingway...

My Platinum Rules of Writing

Nov 14, 2014 | My Guest posts, Writing

Exciting stuff! The prestigious Indies Unlimited published a guest post by me a couple of weeks ago, titled “My Golden Rules of Writing.” I’m republishing here under a new name, to separate it from my previous Golden rules post. It’s nothing...

My 4 Golden Rules of Writing

Aug 26, 2014 | Writing

I’ve been wanting to write this post for a while now. The main reason is that I keep coming across several writing rules that make little sense to me. Then, I came across a gem of a post by Constance Hale, “When Shakespeare Committed Word Crimes” on...

Finding your Voice: the Whole Works

Jun 20, 2014 | Writing

I was reading a lovely post on Points of View by my friend Nat Russo and it occurred to me how easy it is to tear apart a book – and writing in general – in our effort to improve our craft. Since deciding to become an author, I’ve studied countless...

Writing Lessons You Need to Unlearn. Or do you?

May 26, 2014 | Writing

Happy Memorial Day, to my American readers! You see, I may live in Greece, but I know it’s Memorial Day today.  Likewise, English is not my first language.  I was taught English at the tender age of two and a half, alongside Greek.  I had English-speaking au...