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: portcullis… I have certain gaps in my reading and one of the large ones is that I’ve never read any Barbara Tuchman. (I’ve […]
What’s a ‘portcullis’? Read More »
Reading time: About 5 minutes Do you write relatively easily but find yourself overwhelmed when it comes to editing? Here is a complete self-editing checklist to make the job easier… I do many different kinds of work, but I have one favourite job. Editing a 750 to 1,200-word piece written
Your complete self-editing checklist 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 written by Nick Ripatrazone… I had never heard of writer Nick Ripatrazone (pictured above) but
How to trick yourself into writing Read More »
Reading time: Just over 1 minute If you ever do any media interviews it’s essential that you learn how to dress for TV. Here are some important tips… Are television cameras on their way to you? Here’s some advice about what not to wear. Avoid wearing white or black. Yes, I know
What not to wear (for TV interviews) Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of metaphors from neurosurgeon Henry Marsh…. Henry Marsh is a neurosurgeon, not a professional writer. But like many Renaissance Men, he seems able to turn his
The figurative langue of Henry Marsh 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: fo’c’s’le… I read the novel Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis because a friend highly recommended it and, to be honest, because it had won
What’s a ‘fo’c’s’le’? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Has the handwritten thank you letter died a quiet death? If you were hoping the answer is yes, you’re wrong. The value of thank you notes is still significant to people who can help you… My mother seldom favoured arbitrary rules. I never had
The value of thank you notes 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 newspaper article about writing anxiety… If you ever feel anxiety about your writing or even the
Are you riven with writing anxiety? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute When you’re faced with a challenging problem or something that’s difficult to write do you give up or do you keep trying? Rube Goldberg (1883 – 1970) was an American cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor best known for his zany machines that attacked simple tasks
Why we should all keep trying 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: ontogeny… I discovered Ms Magazine when I was a teenager in the 1970s and I’ve long been interested in the work of Gloria Steinem. This
What does ‘ontogeny’ mean? Read More »
