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 a Guardian article about the value of plot… I wrote a piece, many years ago, for an online magazine, in which […]
What’s the value of plot? Read More »
Reading time: less than 1 minute Do you overcommit yourself? Regularly take on too much work? Have a “to do” list that manages you (instead of you managing it?) Here’s how to get better to do lists… I love my “to do” list but some days it grows to monstrous proportions. I readily admit that
How to develop better ‘to do’ lists… 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 Rebecca Solnit… If you’re familiar with my blog you’ll know that I am an inveterate walker. Not only do I always walk to get my groceries, go to the library
Three notes suddenly making a chord… 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: porcine… I don’t know that I’ve ever used the word porcine, but when my colleague John Friesen emailed me about it, I knew what it meant. You can
What does ‘porcine’ mean? Read More »
Reading time: About 5 minutes Looking for some recommended books in time for summer reading? Here’s my semi-annual roundup of books I’ve read so far 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 June and December.
Recommended books: summer 2016 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 blog post by Seth Godin… If you need to improve your writing you might think about improving your reading. The fastest, least
Read more blogs, says Seth Godin Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute In the face of some serious hacks, here’s what you can do to improve your own password security… When Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg had his social media accounts hacked earlier this month you probably knew it was time to get serious about your computer security. That fact was underscored a
How to improve your password security 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 Melissa Hill… I’m glad to be in my 50s rather than my 20s. This thought crosses my mind frequently, as it did when I read the article “Can Tylenol
Calmed by the metronome of his heartbeat… Read More »
Reading time: Just over 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: forfend… I don’t think I had ever encountered the word forfend before reading a delightfully snarky Gail Collins column in the May 26/16 New York Times. Under the
What does the word ‘forfend’ mean? 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 new summertime feature in the New York Times… Back when I worked in the newspaper business, I learned the practice of
