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: 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 book written by Bárdur Oskarsson… Even though I’m a fully grown adult, I love children’s literature. Young adult novels, such as […]
Incubation and the flat rabbit 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 useful blog post by Susan Weinschenk. I’m a big fan of Susan Weinschenk AKA the Brain Lady, a PhD psychologist who writes about how to
Four magic questions… 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 about Virginia Woolf… It makes me feel both guilty and inept to admit that I have never read a
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 an interview with novelist Jane Smiley. I’ve never been a fan of the writer Jane Smiley. I don’t think she’s a bad writer. She’s
You cannot be judging yourself as you write 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 novelist Zadie Smith’s 10 rules of writing. I read and was impressed by Zadie Smith’s 2000 novel White Teeth many years ago.
Zadie Smith’s 10 rules of writing Read More »
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 other writers. Today I discuss a new book written by the scholar Steven Pinker. I read and enjoyed Steven Pinker’s 2003 book How The Mind Works several years ago.
Steven Pinker addresses ‘bad’ writing 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 suggested reading list from David Bowie… As a teenager in the early 1970s, I remember hearing — and buying — the
David Bowie’s books… 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 Slate article on fingerprint words… Have you ever heard the term “fingerprint word?” It refers to a slightly unusual word that
Do you use fingerprint words? Read More »
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 other writers. Today I discuss an infographic about how long it takes you to read a variety of popular books….. My husband recently suggested I had the “super-power”
How long does it take you to read… Read More »
Reading time: Less than two minutes 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 about Italo Calvino… I once worked for an editor who believed that Italian journalist Italo Calvino (1923 to 1985)
Are you a hedgehog, fox, eagle or hummingbird? Read More »
