Word count: 269 words Reading time: About 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: picaresque. I don’t typically look at either Time Magazine or Macleans. But there I was, sitting in a doctor’s office, […]
What does picaresque mean? Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Most people don’t deliberately do things wrong. But if you really thought about it, what would you try to do differently? I admit it. I borrowed this column idea (and headline) from someone else. Her name is Penelope Trunk. I read her blog weekly and
Writers: are you making bad decisions (like me)? Read More »
Word count: 300 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 I discuss an article written by novelist Silas House… I’ve not yet written any fiction,
Give them what’s in a character’s brain… Read More »
Word count: 280 words Reading time: Just over 1 minute A great way to improve your writing 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 Ruth Ozeki and her novel A Tale for the Time Being.
Her fingers press against the rag surface of her dream… Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. Today I present an image from novelist Linda Spaulding. I’m not sure I fully understand the bubble-bath of praise in which Linda Spalding is reclining. Her book, The Purchase, won
The figurative language of Linda Spaulding… Read More »
Word count: 202 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: bespoke. My husband and I had a dinner party last weekend and the word bespoke came up during
What does bespoke mean? Read More »
Word count: 748 words Reading time: Less than 3 minutes If you’re looking for the secret formula to making writing easier, it’s time to give mindmapping another try… I was speaking at a conference several years ago and talking about mindmapping. (If you don’t know what mindmapping is, check out
Why you should try this magic bullet for writers Read More »
Word count: 314 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 I discuss an article written by Lee Gutkind. When my coaching students tell me they
Word count: 306 words Reading time: Just over 1 minute A great way to improve your writing is to emulate the work of others. That’s why, every week, I present a sentence that I’d happily imitate. Today, I’ve chosen one by Jess Walter. I know, I wrote yesterday about Jess
Like a single raindrop… Read More »
Reading time: About 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. Today I present a metaphor from novelist Jess Walter. I first encountered the writing of Jess Walter thanks to a Valentine’s Day gift from my husband. (He knows enough to give
The figurative language of Jess Walter… Read More »
