Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Have you ever struggled to figure out your best time for writing? Here’s how to calculate that total, scientifically… In an effort to make lemonade out of the big fat lemon that’s the COVID pandemic, let me suggest you try a small experiment related […]
Figure out your best time for writing Read More »
Here is my first instructional video for the Get It Done program. (Thanks to Ann Gomez for introducing me to the software.) My topic? How to use the software ProWritingAid. Because this video depends on seeing what I’m talking about, I’m not going to provide a transcript. If you have ever struggled with ProWritingAid —
Instructional video for ProWritingAid Read More »
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes A research diary can take a number of different forms, but it will help you declare your opinions about your research AND allow you to stay connected with the writing process…. After reading The Diary of Anne Frank, at about the age of 11, I started keeping a diary.
Why you should consider keeping a research diary Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute This is my weekly installment of “writing about writing,” in which I scan the world to find websites, books and articles to help other writers. Today I discuss a blog post about why we should stop refreshing the news… Have you heard? There’s a
Are you still refreshing the news? Read More »
Reading time: Just over 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about similes and metaphors from Casey Cep… Typically, when I find figurative language, the writing is somewhat flowery. I mean that in a good way of course,
The figurative language of Casey Cep Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute Increase your vocabulary and you’ll make your writing much more precise. That’s why I provide a word of the week. Today’s word: demesne…. Mark Haddon is a fine novelist with one bestseller behind him, and a new book in the offing. The celebrated 2003
What does the word ‘demesne’ mean? Read More »
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Social distancing is sending many of us scurrying to our screens. But is that a good idea? How can we cope when our lives are governed by screens? If you’re a writer, odds are high you’re an introvert — someone who regains energy by
How to cope when your life is governed by screens Read More »
I consult with many writers who have more than one project on the go. Sometimes they get frustrated that one project is “taking off” while another is dragging behind. “What’s the solution?” they ask me, with enormous frustration in their voices. You may find my answer surprising, but the solution is to work on both
How to juggle more than one project Read More »
Reading time: Just over 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of images from chef and writer Gabrielle Hamilton… I read a piece in the April 23/20 New York Times that knocked my socks off.
The figurative language of Gabrielle Hamilton…. Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute Increase your vocabulary and you’ll make your writing much more precise. That’s why I provide a word of the week. Today’s word: hornswoggle… When I encountered the word hornswoggle in Elizabeth Gilbert’s new novel City of Girls, I knew exactly what it meant: to
What’s the origin of ‘hornswoggle’? Read More »
