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: panoply. I’ve known for some years that the noun panoply means an impressive array or collection of things. For example, you might have […]
What does “panoply” mean? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 4 minutes Looking for some recommended books in time Christmas gift-giving? Here’s my semi-annual roundup — this time of books I’ve read since June. I aim to read 52 books every 12 months and my habit is to post the names of them for you, twice a
Recommended books: winter 2015 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 an article on how to beat procrastination with advice from psychologist Alexander Rozental…. Many Most writers suffer
Advice on how to beat procrastination Read More »
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes This idea may sound obvious but you’d be surprised to learn now many people fail to do it: You need to start writing notes to yourself… This week I delivered a class on how to re-energize yourself after completing a big project. Although my
The benefits of writing notes to yourself… 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 simile from Helen Humphreys… I’m not typically a fan of “war” books but for some reason I’ve read two of them in the last few months and,
The figurative language of Helen Humphreys… 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: procrustean… Earlier this year I enjoyed reading A Story Larger Than My Own, a collection of essays (Janet Burroway, ed) that had been
What’s the meaning of the word procrustean? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes How do you improve creativity? Neuroscientists suggest that you embrace the concept of messiness. I can’t write if my desk is untidy. That’s why I obsessively jam everything into my large wire inbox so my desktop at least gives the appearance of being clean.
Is your mind messy enough for writing? 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 New Yorker article written by George Saunders… I try to read the New Yorker every
A story should be honest, direct, loving, restrained Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute Everyone who works for a company is responsible for effective communications… Communications goes by many titles. Sometimes it’s call PR, or public affairs or promotions. At other times it’s called the press office, customer service or even marketing. But whatever the title, it’s a
Does your company have effective communications? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of metaphors from Rachel Cusk. I wasn’t terribly impressed by the plot of the novel Saving Agnes by Rachel Cusk. The story of a young naive young
The figurative language of Rachel Cusk… Read More »
