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
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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,
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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