Reading time: About 4 minutes Looking for some recommended books in time Christmas gift-giving? Here’s my semi-annual roundup — this time of books I’ve read since June. I aim to read 52 books every 12 months and my habit is to post the names of them for you, twice a year. This past June, I told […]
Recommended books: Winter 2016 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 the Brain Pickings website… I’ve longtime been a fan of the website Brain Pickings — what owner/curator Maria Popova describes as, “a one-woman
Lessons from 10 years of Brain Pickings Read More »
Reading time: Just over 1 minute Are you being undone by your own busy-ness? Here’s what some productivity experts have to say about the subject and what I have done to change my own working schedule as a result… Do you have any idea how busy you are? I know, I know. You eat your
Is your busy-ness getting in the way of your work? 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 simile and a metaphor from Andre Alexis…. I’ve always been more of a cat person than a dog one. I grew up with cats and I appreciate their intelligence and their aloof
The figurative language of Andre Alexis… 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: 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 also failed to read any
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 by someone else. I like
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 it turns out he’s the
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 you will sometimes see TV
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 hand to many tasks. I
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 a couple of big awards
What’s a ‘fo’c’s’le’? Read More »
