Word count: 327 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 article comes from Geoffrey O’Brien, general editor of the 18th edition of Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations. For a time, when I was […]
Are we what we quote? Read More »
Word count: 295 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 Susan Orlean. I’ve been a Susan Orlean fan for years. I met her on the
Pining at a closer proximity… Read More »
Reading time: about 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. Today’s comes from an opinion piece written by Jessica Soffer in the New York Times. Have you ever read the spritely Opinionator column billed as an “exclusive online commentary from the Times” — meaning, of course
The figurative language of Jessica Soffer… Read More »
Word count: 246 words Reading time: 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: rapacity. I’ve always enjoyed the acting of Gerard Depardieu. I saw him first in the film My American Uncle in 1980. I can no longer recall
Word count: 741 words Reading time: Less than 3 minutes We are all good at something. Too bad we don’t get to choose our talents. I’d like to be able to sing….or to learn languages easily…or even to write… My triplets turned 19 on Saturday. The family milestone has set my rapidly graying head spinning:
Why your writing talent doesn’t matter Read More »
Word count: 311 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 offer information on the illiteracy rate in America. My son didn’t learn to read until he was 12 years
Illiteracy is a “disease” that can last generations… Read More »
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 »
