Word count: 733 words Reading time: About 3 minutes Looking for some book suggestions? I’m on track for reaching my year-end goal of reading 52 books and here is my semi-annual accounting. My habit is to post for you the names of ALL the books I’ve read, twice a year – once at the end […]
Recommended books: Summer 2012 Read More »
Word count: 227 words Reading time: Less than 1 minute Here is a blog on crisis communications that will interest certain corporate communicators. I do a little bit of crisis communications — that is, advising people who are facing media problems. I stumbled into this sort of work mainly because of my background in newspapering
Meet Mr. Media Training! Read More »
Word count: 269 words Reading time: About 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. Here is a sentence by Edmund Wilson I read recently that I’d happily imitate. I LOVE witticisms. Anything that’s clever gives me an abiding sense of satisfaction that somehow seems
Reading mysteries is a “vice” Read More »
Word count: 305 words Reading time: Just over 1 minute Building your vocabulary is always a good idea. It benefits your reading and it also helps you be more specific and precise in your writing. Here is my word of the week, doyen. The vocabulary used in the magazine The New Yorker does not typically
Word count: 758 words Reading time: About 3 minutes Have you ever noticed how much nature has to teach you about writing? Read on for five useful writing tips…. I like collecting quotes about writing. A while ago, I stumbled across this one from Albert Einstein: “Look deep into nature and you will begin to
5 writing tips revealed by nature Read More »
Word count: 197 words 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 writers. Today, I introduce you to Constance Hale. I’m a big fan of the American journalist Constance Hale. Based in San Francisco, she is
Meet Marion the librarian on a Harley Read More »
Word count: 328 Reading time: About 1.5 minutes A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. Here is a sentence by Katrina Onstad I read recently that I’d happily imitate. I spent my early working life toiling in the field of journalism (my father owned a struggling
The city…low brick and resigned… Read More »
Word count: 350 words Reading time: About 1.5 minutes Need help? Here I tell you about a piece of technology or software for writers. Today I write about Wordflex. If you’ve been a reader of mine for more than a few weeks you’ll know I’m a big believer in mindmaps. They are my magic bullet for
Want to flex your words? Read More »
Word count: 232 words Reading time: Less than 1 minute If you increase your vocabulary you’ll not only help your reading, you’ll also make your writing more precise. Here is my word of the week. I had always thought that disgraced newspaper baron Conrad Black had the largest vocabulary of anyone I’d ever heard. Then
What does deliquescence mean? Read More »
Word count: 255 words 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 writers. Today I tell you about Caitlin Muir. I’m an incredibly productive writer — not because I’m particularly smart or even a hard worker,
Looking for Internet advice? Read More »
