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 writers. Today I discuss a New York Times article by songwriter Darrell Brown… I love the New York Times “Opinionator.” A daily essay, online, on a wide variety […]
Why you should lower your standards Read More »
Reading time: About 1.5 minutes 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 discuss an article about science writing by Michelle Nijhuis… Believe me when I tell you I know nothing about science. I was an Arts student
Better science stories put results in context 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 writers. Today I discuss the 22 rules of story-telling from Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coats… I like Pixar films (Up is my absolute favourite), but even
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 of interest to writers. Today I discuss the book Punctuation..? published by the UK company User Design… When I very briefly worked in book publishing many years ago, colleagues
Book review: Punctuation..? 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 writers. Today I discuss a New York Times article by Marie Myung-Ok Lee. Marie Myung-Ok Lee teaches writing at Columbia University in New York and is also the
There are a zillion data points of light out there 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 writers. Today I discuss an amusing and educational post that appeared on the Bigstock Photo blog. As a Canadian, I live in a country that sees itself
Unexpected challenges of cross-cultural 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 writers. Today I discuss an article written by Erik Schneiderhan in which he talks about dealing with mean editors…. I don’t think I’d know a Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s advice about mean editors 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 writers. Today I discuss an article that appeared in the Guardian newspaper describing novelist Philip Hensher’s unwillingness to write for free. Do you expect to be paid
Would you write for free? 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 writers. Today I discuss the blog Rejected and Alone: A Writer’s Life by Jon Stark….. Jon Stark is not as negative as his blog title —
Rejected and alone…really? 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 writers. Today I discuss a New York Times Opinionator column by Carol Kaufmann. I love to walk while I write. But before you envision me clutching
Why do we try to write while held hostage… Read More »
