Have you ever wondered why some people write easily and fluently, while others struggle and strain as if trying to squeeze a 185-lb body into a size six pair of jeans? In 30 years at this trade, I've noticed that effective writers tend to share seven traits. So, with apologies to Stephen Covey, here is my list.

These sites offer a smorgasbord (love that word) of writing tips, advice and inspiration. So grab your dinner plate and dig in!

Handbook of Rhetorical Devices

Creative Writing Prompts

Writing Time

40+ Tips to Improve Your Grammar and Punctuation

We occasionally ask writers about books they've read that have inspired and informed their own work. This week, we contacted novelist Katharine Weber, author most recently of the award-winning Triangle. She graciously sent us these picks:

Krazy & Ignatz: The Kat Who Walked in Beauty by George Herriman. "The early years of Krazy and Ignatz and their complex relationship as shown in the first daily strips, in the years before Offissa Pup arrived to enforce the law. Think of Krazy as Ego, Ignatz as Id, and Offissa Pup as the Super Ego -- or just enjoy this incredibly beautiful volume as an introduction to the fantastically intriguing world of Krazy Kat."