Taking a break…
I’m away from my office and taking a break from my blog to read, relax and regenerate. I’ll be returning Tuesday, May 9. See you again, then. Happy spring!
How to write a good headline
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 New York Times article about how to write a good headline… I spent roughly 10 years of my life working in a
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The figurative language of Joyce Carol Oates
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about figurative language from Joyce Carol Oates… I generally consider myself pretty well-read, in part because I received a good education and also because I’m a voracious reader. Nevertheless, I recognize there are huge
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What does ‘cack-handed’ mean?
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: cack-handed… I get a great deal of pleasure — and useful information — from my online subscription to the New York Times. Installed, as it is, on my cell
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Work on your personality before you work on your writing
Reading time: Just over 2 minutes There are many routes to becoming a better writer. Here’s one I favour: become a better writer by improving your sense of well-being… My brother-in-law, Doug — who’s a civil engineer — likes to tell a joke about people in his own profession. What’s the difference between an introverted
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Why you should read books you hate
Reading time: Just over 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 New York Times article on reading by Pamela Paul… I love reading. It is my favourite hobby and my number
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The figurative language of Elif Batuman…
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 metaphors from American writer Elif Batuman… Elif Batuman (pictured above) was born in New York City to Turkish parents. She graduated from Harvard College, and received her doctorate in comparative literature from Stanford University. She
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What does ‘effulgent’ mean?
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: effulgent… I can no longer remember how I discovered the heartbreaking New York Magazine story “The Day I started Lying to Ruth,” written by cancer doctor Peter Bach.
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Is it worth paying for Grammarly?
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Grammarly is a free app with a paid-for premium option. Is it worth spending the money for the more expensive option? One of my clients has a subscription to the grammar-checker service Grammarly. The basic function offered by Grammarly — identifying most spelling and grammar errors — is no charge. But if you
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Could soul music inspire your writing?
Reading time: about 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 BBC podcast called Soul Music… I worry that I’m veering ever-so-slightly off topic in today’s blog. The podcast I want to recommend to
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