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: anomie… Steven Heighton is a Canadian novelist, short story writer and poet. I’ve never read any of his books — the most famous of which is Afterlands (2006) currently being […]
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Ignoring advice may seem like a misguided idea, but sometimes it makes sense to do that. Here’s a description of when to go against what you’ve been told… After my blog post about an easy productivity hack last week, I received an email from a reader. “I’ve been doing five
When ignoring advice makes sense 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 an article about Vancouver lawyer and writer Kate Bond… Can you write something meaningful on a city bus? For Vancouver-based lawyer
Can you write during a bus commute? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of similes and metaphors from Nell Stevens… One of my favourite books so far this year has been the memoir/travel book/novel Bleaker House by Nell Stevens. It tells the story of her three-month,
The figurative language of Nell Stevens… Read More »
Reading time: Just over 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: miasma… Inspired by a mostly positive review on NPR, I recently read the novel The Devil and Webster, by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Described by some as a “thriller,” I found it more of a
What is a ‘miasma’? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do you know how to boost your productivity? It starts with making a list… I started writing lists when I was 10 years old. I recall sitting at the whitewashed student desk in the corner of my childhood bedroom and itemizing all the tasks I wanted to accomplish that
How to boost your productivity with one easy hack 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 and video about sharing on social media….. Some young American researchers have now documented the decision-making process that takes place
Why we share on social media 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 similes and metaphors from Rose Tremain… I hadn’t read anything by British author Rose Tremain until I happened to pick up her most recent book, The Gustav Sonata, at my
The figurative language of Rose Tremain… Read More »
Reading time: Les 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: hectic… I recently enjoyed a very fine piece of historical fiction, The Gustave Sonata, by Rose Tremain. Set in Switzerland, largely during the Second World War (the end
What does ‘hectic’ mean? Read More »
Reading time: Just over 6 minutes Here is everything I know about how to write a better speech and some detailed thoughts on how to deliver a better one as well…. I love TED talks, and perhaps you do as well, but be aware of the significant problem they’ve created in our society. Everyone now expects all public speakers to
Your complete guide to writing a better speech Read More »
