As a former journalist and a communications consultant for more than 30 years, I devour books and articles about writing the way other people might eat bowlsfull of potato chips. If there is a book about writing, I’ve likely read it. (And if there’s a new one, I’m reading it shortly.) I also read about 90 blogs daily and scan the Internet voraciously, looking for new material about writing or related areas such as creativity, time management and freelancing. Writing about writing is a special pleasure for me because it helps me unite my core interests – reading and writing – and my lifetime of experience as a professional writer.
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 other writers. Today I ask: Why are you talking? Not infrequently, clients will ask me to help them burnish their interviewing skills.
Writers: Why are you talking so much? Read More »
Reading time: About 1 minute This is my weekly installment of “writing about writing,” in which I scan the internet to help other writers. Today I discuss a post about using too many big words… Every once in awhile, I will admire a big or unusual word. But far more
Are you using too many big words? Read More »
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 other writers. Today I discuss a blog post about getting enough sleep to be creative… The majority of people in the US
Are you getting enough sleep to be creative? Read More »
Reading time: About one minute This is my weekly installment of “writing about writing,” in which I scan the internet to help other writers. Today I examine a new app that isolates questions in your writing… What role do questions play in your writing? Do they make it better or
Pulling out questions in your writing Read More »
Reading time: About 1 minute Writers are often told they should join a critique group. I have never done this because I know when critiques become dangerous… Some writers get a great sense of satisfaction from belonging to a writing group. I don’t. While I’m 100% in favour of peer support,
What to do when critiques become dangerous Read More »
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 other writers. Today I discuss how to write about difficult topics…. My video editor emailed me a few moments ago. She was
How to write about difficult topics Read More »
Reading time: Less than 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 other writers. Today I discuss an article on the space between sentences… I hesitate to reopen the debate about space between
The correct space between sentences? Science thinks it has the answer Read More »
Reading time: Less than 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 other writers. Today I discuss a blog post by Chris Bailey…. I’m a longtime fan of productivity expert Chris Bailey (pictured
Chris Bailey has some good advice for lazy writers Read More »
Reading time: Less than 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 other writers. Today I discuss a blog post by Derek Sivers on the upside of self-employment… I have been my own
What’s the upside of self-employment? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 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 other writers. Today I discuss some research relating to 30 lost words…. I’ve written before about lost writing — how to cope
Could you use any of these 30 lost words? Read More »
