Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Being more focused as a writer means you’ll be able to finish your work faster and with far less angst. Here’s how you can improve your focus… How do you stay focused when you’re writing? There are some basic moves. Turn off your email, for a start. You can collect […]
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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 written by Nick Ripatrazone… I had never heard of writer Nick Ripatrazone (pictured above) but it turns out he’s the
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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 newspaper article about writing anxiety… If you ever feel anxiety about your writing or even the hint of a suspicion that
Are you riven with writing anxiety? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute When you’re faced with a challenging problem or something that’s difficult to write do you give up or do you keep trying? Rube Goldberg (1883 – 1970) was an American cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor best known for his zany machines that attacked simple tasks in as complicated a fashion
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Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Do you have bad writing habits? Check out this list and resolve to give yourself a fighting chance to become a much better — and more relaxed — writer… I never learned how to write when I was a journalist. My habits were already too dysfunctional. Years of higher
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Reading time: Less than 1 minute The prospect of human knowledge doubling may excite you or terrify you but be aware that it’s happening. Here is how smart writers might adapt to this prospect… I delivered another training workshop this week and, while waiting for my turn, I sat in the audience observing another presenter.
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Reading time: Less than 3 minutes How often do you write? If you’re not a professional your writing habits may be weak and flabby. Here’s why you should write every day… Here are three things you almost certainly do every day: Sleep Eat food Drink water And here are three you likely do (or are nagged
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Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do you ever long to engage in a couple of days of binge writing? If that kind of practice holds any appeal for you, read on to learn why you should change your mind… Right now my husband and I are binge-watching the period TV show The Americans. Set
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Reading time: Less than 3 minutes “That’s bad writing” is a phrase I hear a lot, whether applied to a book, magazine article or blog post. But what, specifically, makes writing “bad” and what can we do about it? When I recommended the Gregory Maguire novel, Wicked, to a neighbour of mine, I had no idea
‘Bad writing’ — what deserves that label? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Writing something stupid makes sense when the alternative is simply staring at a blank computer screen… When I was a teenager, I used to babysit a girl I’ll call Michelle. She lived directly across the street from me and she was famous in our neighbourhood for always asking “Why?”
Why it’s better to write than to BE right Read More »
