What they’re saying:
“Deft, generous, wise and insightful, Roy Jacobsen’s experience-based blog is one of the best bangs for the click that any writer will find on the Internet.”—Arthur Plotnik“Writing – Clear and Simple proves that it doesn’t take a professional to write clearly and with impact.” —Top 100 Blogs to Improve Your Writing in 2010
One of “The Top 30 Blogs on Writing” according to the Delaware Employment Law Blog.
"Your website rocks!"—William Van Benschoten
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Category Archives: Elsewhere on the Web
Why worry about good writing? Because appearances matter!
We love the truism “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” We all want the world to appreciate our “inner value” without taking external appearances into consideration. But human nature does not work that way. As Stacy London and … Continue reading
Cringe-worthy words
There are some things that seem to naturally make us cringe. Fingernails across a chalkboard. The whining whirl of a dentist’s drill. The unmistakable chunky splat of a child upchucking on the bedroom carpet at 1 a.m. And then there … Continue reading
The impotence of prooreading
Submitted without comment: Correction: This blog post originally stated that one in three black men who have sex with me is HIV positive. In fact, the statistic applies to black men who have sex with men. From tbd.com. (Hat tip … Continue reading
Handwriting: Cross-training for your brain
The Wall Street Journal points out several recent research projects that show that handwriting is good for your brain: Using advanced tools such as magnetic resonance imaging, researchers are finding that writing by hand is more than just a way … Continue reading
Posted in Elsewhere on the Web, Everyday writing, Writing is good for you
Tagged handwriting, neuroscience
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What’s happening on the blogroll
A few posts from the Friends of Writing, Clear and Simple: Nancy Friedman has found some delightfully punny business and blog names. Wordplay isn’t a requirement for a successful name; most of the time, in fact, attempts at punning fall … Continue reading
Posted in Elsewhere on the Web
Tagged contractions, Kathryn Lyons, Kenneth Davis, Nancy Friedman, puns, revisions
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Slightly off-topic: Your friendly local bookseller
If you’re a writer, you are also a reader. Q.E.D. If you are a reader, you occasionally visit a bookstore. My dear eldest daughter works at a bookstore, and has recently started a blog—Between the Pages—on which she has book … Continue reading
Why write? Seth Godin answers
“I don’t write books because I want to, and I don’t write books to make a living. I write books because I have no choice. I have to do it because this idea—whatever it is searing a hole in my … Continue reading
A reader’s advice to writers
Laura Miller has started reading far more books than she’s finished. Over at Salon.com, she offers her list of the things that keep her reading. I can tell you why I keep reading, and why I don’t, why I recommend … Continue reading
Posted in Audience, Elsewhere on the Web
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One more simple step to better writing
Courtesy of Ray Ward, here’s one more thing you can do to improve your writing: If you’re a multi-tasker, here’s something you can do to improve your writing: Stop multi-tasking, and instead focus. Good advice.
Cutting unneeded words
Spotted this one over at Matthew Stibbe’s Bad Language blog: (Click for a larger view.) I thought this ad was clever; by using the red strike-through, the key message—“BlueMotion saves you money”—is emphasized, but readers who want to know more … Continue reading
