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: clabber…. I had never heard the word clabber until I read the novel The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Here is how […]
What is ‘clabber’? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do you have any bad habits with writing? Here’s how to demolish them so you can learn to write with ease, grace and pleasure… When people tell me they cannot write, I never suggest they get more disciplined or work harder. Instead, I try
How to break bad writing habits Read More »
In 2006, Princeton University psychology professor Daniel Oppenheimer had an article published in the Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology. The title of his paper was: “Consequences of Erudite Vernacular Utilized Irrespective of Necessity.” But that was a joke. His subtitle gave the game away: “Problems with Using Long Words Needlessly.” Here is the link to
Replace overly complex words Read More »
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 blog post about better email etiquette… The email manoeuvre I dislike the most occurs when
How writers can display better email etiquette Read More »
Viewing time: 4 mins 22 secs The Write Question is a weekly video podcast all about writing. Today’s question? Should you write on spec? If you have a question you’d like me to answer you can email me, tweet me @pubcoach, or leave a message for me at the Skype
Should you write on spec? (video) 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 similes and metaphors from Brit Bennett…. Brit Bennett (pictured above) was born and raised in Southern California and graduated from Stanford University. Later,
The figurative language of Brit Bennett 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: xeric…. In addition to being a famous and highly successful novelist, Barbara Kingsolver is also a botanist. Her novels tend to incorporate
What does the word ‘xeric’ mean? Read More »
If you are writing a book, understand that, eventually, you will need an author website. Here’s how to go about creating one. Step 1: Decide on your platform. As of 2021, the two easiest-to-install ones are WordPress and SquareSpace. I use the former and many people use the latter. Just be aware that if you’re
How to prepare your author website Read More »
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 blog post about how to sound more human….. Are you a writer who sounds like
How to sound more human Read More »
Viewing time: 5 mins 7 secs The Write Question is a weekly video podcast all about writing. Today’s question? How can you start writing better in English? If you have a question you’d like me to answer you can email me, tweet me @pubcoach, or leave a message for me
How can you write better in English? (video) Read More »
