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: demersal… When I read Casey Cep’s marvellous non-fiction book — Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud and the Last Trial of Harper Lee — I learned about voodoo, racial […]
What does ‘demersal’ mean? Read More »
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Is procrastination the thief of YOUR time? Here’s a clever and easy idea for how to beat procrastination…. Are you looking for a sure-fire way to stop procrastinating about writing? My tip may surprise you. I suggest that you write every day — or, at least, five days each
How to beat procrastination for good Read More »
Many writers mismanage their email. (In fact, many people mismanage their email. But the issue is more important for writers because email takes place at the computer — where we need to write.) When I meet with new members of the Get It Done group, I often ask about email. Many writers confess to opening
Do you manage your email — or does it manage you? 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 Casey Cep…. I was introduced to writer Casey Cep (pictured above) when I read her New Yorker article headlined, “We can’t afford to lose
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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: syncretic… You may find it odd to see a Halloween type of photo on top of a post running in July, not October. But the reason relates
What does ‘syncretic’ mean? Read More »
Reading time: About 6 minutes (but very scannable) Looking for some recommended books in time for summer reading? Here’s my semi-annual roundup of books I’ve read this year. I aim to read 52 books every 12 months, and my habit is to post a complete list of the names of them for you, in early summer and
Recommended books: Summer 2020 Read More »
Many of you registered for my Zoom-based webinar on becoming a better self editor. I know how painful — and slow — it can be to listen to audio, so for your hidden post today, I’m providing a copy of my script from the call. Here you go! I’ve been a professional editor for more
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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 and similes from Mark Salzman… There are two reasons to read the excellent 2012 book The Man in the Empty Boat written by Mark Salzman. First, it tells
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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: blag…. As soon as I heard about the 2018 book with an almost irresistible title — My Sister, the Serial Killer — I knew I was going
What does the word ‘blag’ mean? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 6 minutes (and very scannable) Here are my 10 favourite articles or posts from last month, focusing on the most useful, helpful and healthful pieces for writers. As summer starts to settle in, I’m feeling sun on my face and arms, going for socially distanced picnics and making tentative plans to
PubCoach Top 10: June 2020 Read More »
