<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></title><description><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com</link><image><url>http://direct.ecency.com/logo512.png</url><title>RSS Feed</title><link>http://direct.ecency.com</link></image><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:32:26 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="http://direct.ecency.com/@smackit/rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Are Writers Born or Made]]></title><description><![CDATA[One some shape or form, this question is one of the oldest in recorded history. “Are writers born or are they made?” This is a great debate that has eluded scholars, historians, writers, and brilliant]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/are-writers-born-or-made</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/are-writers-born-or-made</guid><category><![CDATA[story]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 18 Nov 2018 23:51:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/3auKdN6FdQE2nCfjqy2PkLByq7azyXVtiUE9srwaUHTrGwf1gKfkDbs44c3nzA?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Invest in Yourself Finding Your True Talent:]]></title><description><![CDATA[     Each and every one of you has a gift you can use to create your life and impact the lives of other people. Inside of us are hidden abilities, talents, and skills that can]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/life/@smackit/invest-in-yourself-finding-your-true-talent</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/life/@smackit/invest-in-yourself-finding-your-true-talent</guid><category><![CDATA[life]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2018 23:50:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/3q52Dkr5nBe4KquGwpuJoBKnVLRdG7itv1AtbPhWpTUQpG3yh2wx9mCnmGkP5Wb2iT6N7cF4yXfzN?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Writer: Creating Personalities For Your Characters]]></title><description><![CDATA[  Read any great book and you will discover dynamic characters with unique personalities. A character without a personality is a dead and dull character. Personality gives the reader a sense]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/the-writer-creating-personalities-for-your-characters</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/the-writer-creating-personalities-for-your-characters</guid><category><![CDATA[story]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 17 Apr 2018 17:48:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/x7L2VSNEiyAFDtS644Un7SxFwuVRkzvqk45SeM49d2NP7LDE6eNzNrSkeuBc1Y6HYWftinL3t6W8Njg?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Writer:  How to Self-Edit Your Story]]></title><description><![CDATA[  Learning to self-edit your manuscripts will polish your work and make it shine, giving it a professional and presentable look.  3 Stages  Content  Style  Line Edit   ]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/2f1dfv-the-writer-how-to-self-edit-your-story</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/2f1dfv-the-writer-how-to-self-edit-your-story</guid><category><![CDATA[story]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2018 19:38:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/eAyTuXc4toTaitigA3LSR6AQBkBwB8gTihBWpSKJoAfgtfisDMRAMJc5of5NnGTbp6EfuwzarTg?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Quotes on writing by Bertrice Smalls]]></title><description><![CDATA[     1. “Whether you like or dislike a book is a personal taste. I love the reviews that are favorable, and am grateful to those reviewers.  Bad reviews are as I've said.  The]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-bertrice-smalls</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-bertrice-smalls</guid><category><![CDATA[quotes]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 08 Apr 2018 18:43:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/S5Eokt4BcQdoHSzkNWZQsq52fW1BBpnyiVmHAkz7i14j2FHpYmPs9pRe4A5u9VzzMKQWRdg?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Quotes on Writing by F. Scott Fitzgerald]]></title><description><![CDATA[1. “You must begin by making notes. You may have to make notes for years.... When you think of something, when you recall something, put it where it belongs. Put it down when you think of it. You may never]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-f-scott-fitzgerald</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-f-scott-fitzgerald</guid><category><![CDATA[quotes]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2018 16:37:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/5CEvyaWxjaEsomt1jJWMc7TYtyLgc9tWcpcbPg7gTRYpzviGHZy7xzWkjpe4G4jzD7gTXJpr59Gd1yNR4?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Writer: Writing Poetry]]></title><description><![CDATA[          When I feel the need that something I want to say needs special attention, shape, and sound, I write poetry. Giving me the ability to decide where]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/poetry/@smackit/the-writer-writing-poetry</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/poetry/@smackit/the-writer-writing-poetry</guid><category><![CDATA[poetry]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2018 01:38:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/eAyTuXc4toTaitigA3LSR6AQBkBxNvYrEnLSvkjMZSxVrcw8nX1qMDRqcQZtrS8WqrFbJwT2PCA?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Quotes on Writing by H.P Lovecraft]]></title><description><![CDATA[        1. “It is necessary … to caution the beginner to keep a reliable grammar and dictionary always beside him, that he may avoid in his compositions the frequent]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-h-p-lovecraft</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-h-p-lovecraft</guid><category><![CDATA[quotes]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 04 Apr 2018 16:20:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/S5Eokt4BcQdoHSzkNWZQsq52fW1BBpnyjDWSmg1Wt4PGmf4NWVHmRnExxgjpGmtbecKkWFp?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Writer: Plotting Suspense]]></title><description><![CDATA[  “I couldn’t stop reading. I couldn’t put the book down. My heart was thumping; I had to know what was going to happen.” Every writer of fiction has dreamed of this scenario from their audience.]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/2tvbdx-the-writer-plotting-suspense</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/2tvbdx-the-writer-plotting-suspense</guid><category><![CDATA[story]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 04 Apr 2018 00:43:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/3q52Dkr5nBe4KquGwpuJoBKnVLRdMRmMaKJ36eCB7hKkKg4Gv22wXBRCswpsXri6QTqYEJi9XSWpe?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Quotes on Writing by Dan Brown]]></title><description><![CDATA[1. “I begin the process with some general ideas and themes—for example, Dante, Florence, overpopulation. Before beginning to write, I spend a lot of time researching the topics I’ve chosen. Once this initial]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-dan-brown</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-dan-brown</guid><category><![CDATA[quotes]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 2018 16:03:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/HuuaCwcKuiEnqhkyiLsSdkzsUowZmcYgqhHt6oy6kF1pjpCipmBPDhDyLUHNy3MtaHk?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Quotes on writing by C. S. Lewis]]></title><description><![CDATA[    1. “Always write (and read) with the ear, not the eye. You should hear every sentence you write as if it was being read aloud or spoken. If it does not sound nice, try again.”   ]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-c-s-lewis</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-c-s-lewis</guid><category><![CDATA[quotes]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 01 Apr 2018 20:46:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/4qEixipsxSf1sTTH2DCt7yBr3gBYto7j79iHRx1Z1pY3E6veZQmTjZfHufkSG5AcCv?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Quotes on Writing by David Baldacci]]></title><description><![CDATA[1. “I’m not a words-per-day kind of guy. I always felt that if you have an artificial number, it probably means that you don’t want to be writing, anyway. If you say, okay I do 2000 words, but what if]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-david-baldacci</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-david-baldacci</guid><category><![CDATA[quotes]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 31 Mar 2018 16:19:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/9RTqgzgfVW72JCGLJ15QRwe2B8yQRTBPV2aHgV1WXWYf9x5TSH6migSH8HSBagSyHgf4LZzTn6?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Quotes on Writing by Dr. Seuss]]></title><description><![CDATA[   1. "So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads."    2. “Writing simply means no dependent clauses, no dangling things, no flashbacks,]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-dr-seuss</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-dr-seuss</guid><category><![CDATA[quotes]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2018 16:52:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/sML2JBPsdAyPJmvUTnHZqyqGZSVybTu8jbWuwLTU6xBtVcqWwsdZDvg5Dt72uPRp?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Writer: The Writing process]]></title><description><![CDATA[     All of us have the ability to write, and to learn and explore out thoughts and feelings. Writing allows the transfer of knowledge from person to person, and from generation to]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/6qg2wl-the-writer-the-writing-process</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/6qg2wl-the-writer-the-writing-process</guid><category><![CDATA[story]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2018 00:19:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/5CEvyaWxjaEsomt1jJWMc7TYtyLgc9tWciXyjJJNVGfQkrVWm5YJs3chi9E3STMogW2MkvdjKy75tMbUr?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Quotes on Writing by R.L. Stine]]></title><description><![CDATA[      1. “An editor once wrote on the top of a manuscript I’d written: ‘Needs more lore.’ MORE LORE is the best advice I ever got.”    2. “I think of the titles first.]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-r-l-stine</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-r-l-stine</guid><category><![CDATA[quotes]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2018 13:12:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/4qEixipsxSf1sTTH2DCt7yBr3gBYto7j73d8o2k44291GTvhemLPCDinjcrGV1AgHc?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Quotes on Writing by John Sandford]]></title><description><![CDATA[   1. “If readers tell you that stretches of dialogue or narrative were too long, that they couldn’t tell who was talking, that’s something that can be fixed.”    2. “You can get too]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-john-sandford</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-john-sandford</guid><category><![CDATA[quotes]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 Mar 2018 23:05:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/6gUbcKN7Uxenq8hiztZGNwPfSVKcqfvTu8hHEfiVurmGQ7FAFQCJSpV8SP4Vx6v7r7opxe?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Quotes on Writing  by Nicholas Sparks]]></title><description><![CDATA[1. “I also think it’s important to realize that to get published, you’re not competing against me, or Stephen King, or John Grisham—we have spent years developing audiences that we bring to the table.]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-nicholas-sparks</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-nicholas-sparks</guid><category><![CDATA[quotes]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 27 Mar 2018 18:20:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/2ufhwNgM3qHKRHbjtRwU4PMAnLw1mxmwwLFKEXDSNMGewWma3zUqNVzzxmuGbVBA1sQTnqTVQ?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Writer: How to Punctuate Dialogue]]></title><description><![CDATA[      Learning how to punctuate dialogue will give your manuscript a polished and professional look. It sets a tone to the editors, publishers, and agents that you have went through]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/659xvw-the-writer-how-to-punctuate-dialogue</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/659xvw-the-writer-how-to-punctuate-dialogue</guid><category><![CDATA[story]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2018 17:17:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/KWcVEiwEzuiFFT6ADiGZwyWBnPfspAEMj7djrrk9jUCfFX6PrKDFdn6AS2DEwE5of4fsSYEUPi2T5mXnPg?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[THE WRITER: Eliminate Time-Based Adverbs]]></title><description><![CDATA[     Banish these Time-Based Adverbs from your narration. They are needless words that hold no value. The writer must take caution, and be aware of their writing. There are exceptions]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/6bq5iy-the-writer-eliminate-time-based-adverbs</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/story/@smackit/6bq5iy-the-writer-eliminate-time-based-adverbs</guid><category><![CDATA[story]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 25 Mar 2018 19:35:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/eAyTuXc4toTaitigA3LSR6AQBkBxNvYrEfJUv186hB35xvJispD52BW1S9yjAB9VWoc7JQMer9C?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Quotes on Writing by John Steinbeck]]></title><description><![CDATA[  1. “Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper. Never correct or rewrite until the whole thing is down. Rewrite in process is usually found to be an excuse for not]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-john-steinbeck</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/quotes/@smackit/10-quotes-on-writing-by-john-steinbeck</guid><category><![CDATA[quotes]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[smackit]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 25 Mar 2018 15:51:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/S5Eokt4BcQdoHSzkNWZQsq52fW1BBpnyj9MhXcYxfARphREkGhHS2DuuPmHUauRLn7pkGAS?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item></channel></rss>