Blog
Where I write about writing.
Except that my full posts are now on Substack.
Think of Your Nonfiction Voice as Verbal Microexpressions
In writing, we can unwittingly betray emotions and true feelings or opinions–even ones we’re not aware that we have–through word choice, syntax, cadence, pacing, etc. If left undetected, these “verbal microexpressions” can completely defeat the purpose of what we’re writing. Learn how to work with them.
Ditch the Jargon
A friend sent me a job posting from a well-known technology company the other day. The first sentence included the phrase “creates top-of-the-funnel content to drive form completes, engagement and establish thought leadership status.” I nearly broke out in hives. My aversion to corporate jargon is exactly that strong. The position objective was to make the brand more “human, accessible and relatable.” Free advice, superstar tech company: You want to sound human? Be human. Relate to your audience. Ditch the jargon.
The Multitasking Myth
(This post was originally written for Resonance Consultancy in October 2012) Multitasking is more destructive than we think. And the best antidote is a practice we perfected when we were two. We’ve been hearing for a couple of years now that multitasking can reduce...
How to Kill Your Darlings Without Destroying Your Ego
The phrase “killing your darlings” refers to the process of deleting exquisitely crafted, beautifully told lines and sections. This can be particularly painful when you’re writing memoir. Here’s how to do it in a comfortable way.