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 »
Word count: 243 words 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 writers. Today I give you a link to a story on the history of words, found in the
Uncovering news about the history of words Read More »
Word count: 217 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 Anakana Schofield. It’s hard to believe that Malarky is a first
Under the rubble that’s himself… 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 Johanna Schneller in the Globe & Mail. I remember seeing a photo of Robert Redford about 10 years ago and being shocked by how much he’d aged.
The figurative language of Johanna Schneller… 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: carmine. I’ve known for decades that the word carmine means “red.” But I didn’t know any more than that. So, I decided
What, exactly, is carmine? Read More »
