Word count: 319 words Reading time: Just over 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 Sam Anderson, who writes about Anne Carson. I had never heard of Anne Carson until I […]
Neither “novel” nor “verse” quite seems to apply… Read More »
Reading time: Just over 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. Today’s comes from Dr. Steven Zeitels. Every week I read the New Yorker. It is, by far, my favourite magazine and I enjoy both the writing and the subjects it covers, many of which I had
The figurative language of Dr. Steven Zeitels… Read More »
Word count: 190 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: palpable. I learned the word palpable in grade 8 when my English class studied the play Hamlet. The line “A hit, a very
What does palpable mean? Read More »
Word count: 732 words Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Some people don’t think they’re creative enough to write. If that feeling plagues you, be sure to consider these five tips on how to boost your creativity. I was reading the book Imagine by Jonah Lehrer last week and had the deeply weird experience of
5 more ways to boost your creativity for writing Read More »
Word count: 241 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 provide a link to a blog post by prolific writer Vivek Wadhwa. I want to thank my reader Edith Kurie
Speak fearlessly, from the heart… Read More »
Word count: 287 words Reading time: Just over 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 Jonah Lehrer. I know. It’s not de rigueur to like the writing of Jonah Lehrer
The world is full of natural outsiders… 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 New Yorker movie reviewer Anthony Lane. I have never seen a single James Bond film, or any of the Die Hard franchise. (By the way, I’m not suggesting that these movies are
The figurative language of Anthony Lane… Read More »
Word count: 209 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: simony. Although Christine Pountney’s writing has been described by the Toronto Star as: “confident, precise and readable,” I did not enjoy her novel Sweet
Word count: 654 words Reading time: Less than 3 minutes You probably learned the difference between past, present and future in preschool. But how hard do you think about tense when you’re writing? Perhaps, not hard enough…. I am fascinated by tense. Not becoming tense, of course. Just tense. What do I mean? Well, tense
Are you tense over your verbs? Read More »
Word count: 353 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 focus on a remembrance of Nora Ephron. When my mother died in 2005, I wrote about her. But here’s
About Norah Ephron’s final act… Read More »
