Word count: 323 words Reading time: Just over 1 minutes This is my weekly installment of “writing about writing,” in which I scan the world to find websites, books and articles to help writers. I figure I hit my 10,000 hours of writing a couple of years ago. But […]
How Malcolm Gladwell helps writers Read More »
Word count: 293 words Reading time: Just over 1 minute If you build your vocabulary, you’ll not only benefit your reading, you’ll also become more precise in your writing. Here is my word of the week, carapace. When I started reading the novel The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff
What’s a carapace? Read More »
Word count: 496 words Reading time: Less than 2 minutes Let me give you the reasons why you shouldn’t be terribly eager to accept the label “good writer.” Our society is pretty funny (funny-strange, not funny-ha-ha) when it comes to the word “good.” This one-syllable, four-letter word is both vague
Are you a good writer? (I hope not!) Read More »
Word count: 691 words Reading time: Less than 3 minutes I know this will make me sound horribly old-fashioned, but I’ve been convinced that all writers — even non-fiction ones — should read poetry. Here’s why…. My relationship with poetry has been troubled. It didn’t start well. When I was
Why every writer should read poetry Read More »
Word count: 752 words Reading time: About 3 minutes Here are some writing tips if you ever need to change your style…. I remember walking by my daughter’s bedroom some four years ago and catching her at her computer, weeping. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” I asked with concern. “I c-c-c-can’t write
How to switch your writing style Read More »
Word count: 234 words Reading time: Less than 1 minute The best way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. For this reason I regularly write down sentences I’ve picked up in my own recent reading. Here is one by Michael Ondaatje. Although I liked
Sleep is a prison… Read More »
Word count: 203 words Reading time: Less than 1 minute Every week, I tell you about a book or a piece of technology for writers. Today I focus on a terrific organizational tool, Shovebox… Do you have a junk drawer anywhere in your house? You know what I mean —
Take this Shovebox and use it! Read More »
Word count: 206 words Reading time: Less than 1 minute If you increase your vocabulary, you’ll not only benefit your own reading, you’ll also become more precise in your writing. Here is my word of the week. Whenever I encounter a word that interests me I jot a quick note about
What does prosaic mean? Read More »
Word count: 656 words Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Did you smile when a host of Mary Poppinses floated down from the ceiling during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics? The Games have writing tips to teach us as well… My summer sport is walking – not a competitive event,
Are you an Olympic writer? Read More »
Word count: 212 words Reading time: Less than 1 minute Each week I scan the Internet to identify websites of particular interest to writers. I’ve told you before that when I’m asked to name my hobbies, I always include reading and cooking. And it seems there are a lot of
Finding intellectual nourishment from food writers Read More »
