Word count: 741 words Reading time: About 3 minutes How did it get so late so soon, asked Dr. Seuss. Whether I’m walking or writing, I often marvel at the amount of time that’s slipped by. But is writing time worth it? Let’s see. When I was a child, our […]
Why I spend precious hours writing Read More »
Word count: 321 words Reading time: About 1.5 minutes 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 discuss a New York Times “Opinionator” piece by Rachel Howard. When I attended my first-ever writing
Why we should find the gesture Read More »
Word count: 212 words Reading time: Less than 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. That’s why, every week, I present a sentence that I’d happily imitate. Today’s comes from Sebastian Barry. I’ve gone on a bit of a splurge
A sort of dark, private crying… Read More »
Reading time: About 1.5 minutes I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. Today’s comes from Emily Nussbaum. Several years ago I enjoyed many guilty laughs over the British film, In the Loop. A crass and funny black comedy about British politics during the
The figurative language of Emily Nussbaum… Read More »
Word count: 208 words 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: spruiking. I had never before heard the word spruiking. I won’t pretend I stumbled across it in my
What is spruiking? Read More »
Word count: 756 words Reading time: About 3 minutes Do you habitually leave everything until the last minute? Or are you smart enough to plan your writing time? Here’s how you can plan it in reverse…. Last week I was out for breakfast with friends when I received an urgent
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Word count: 296 words 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 writers. Today’s comes from Jim Sollisch. When my mother died in 2005, I helped clean out her apartment.
The answer turns out to be almost infinite Read More »
Word count: 235 words Reading time: About 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. That’s why, every week, I present a sentence that I’d happily imitate. Today’s comes from Ian Parker. I hadn’t heard of the American writer, director and
He has a long, square-chinned face… Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. Today’s comes from Sebastian Barry, author of The Secret Scripture. Following a recommendation by my readers Margaret and Seamus, I just finished reading the novel The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry.
The figurative language of Sebastian Barry… Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Today’s post is a letter I’ve written to one of my coaching students (I’ve changed her name to preserve anonymity.) I think you might find these thoughts helpful, as well. Dear Sarah, I’m writing to follow up on our last coaching call. I think you’re
Why you should stay longer with your writing questions Read More »
