Reading time: About 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: penumbra. By the time I hit grade 11, I’d mostly opted out of maths and sciences and, instead, focused on literature and social studies.
What’s a penumbra? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes My husband and I just returned from a three-week trip to Europe. Here is part 1 of a three-part series on each of the cities we visited. Today I focus on Amsterdam with a piece on biking and writing. I didn’t own a bike
Biking (and writing) like it’s no big deal Read More »
Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Preparing myself for the holiday I’m on right now has reminded me about the value of deadlines… When you read this column, I will be in Vienna enjoying the sights and sounds of a city that was either the birthplace or burial site of Brahms, Schubert,
Why you need to understand the value of deadlines Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes How long does it take you to write something? How you answer this question may be one of the most important decisions you make… Our society lavishes praise on anything involving time and money. Is something expensive? It must be really good. Did you
How long will it take you to write this? Read More »
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 song about word crimes written by Weird Al Yancovic… I was charmed when my friend Marcelle
What does Weird Al know about word crimes? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute Have you ever had to work with someone who can’t manage to meet his or her deadlines? I think you’re going to find my post today very useful…. I don’t miss deadlines. I grew up in the newspaper business (my parents owned a weekly
Why you need fake deadlines 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 metaphor from Jack Hitt. I started reading the New York Times on my iPhone a few months ago. I love it! It’s relatively inexpensive ($3.75/week).
The figurative language of Jack Hitt… Read More »
Reading time: About 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: boffin. I lost interest in most popular music around 1979 when I graduated from university. I didn’t lose interest in all music, mind
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes When I say there’s value in writers collaborating I DON’T mean “writing together” as Google suggests. I’m referring to a more generic type of collaborating — more like helping and supporting each other. My kids inducted me into the Nerdfighters club, curated and executed by best-selling
The surprise value in collaborating as writers 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 on messy desks written by David Burkus… I’ve long advocated that writers clear their desks
The benefits (?!) of messy desks Read More »
