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
-
Category Archives: Everyday writing
Simplify
Here’s an exercise you can try this week: Make everything you write as simple as possible. Think Shaker furniture. Don’t add words. Cut them. Pare your message to its core. Don’t use big words. Use the simplest words you can. … Continue reading
Spot the Error: Pawn shop edition
From an article in the local newspaper: Bahls said popular television shows like “Hardcore Pawn” and “Pawn Stars” have helped business because many people are exposed to what it is pawn shops really do, and it peaks curiosity in new … Continue reading
Look your reader in the eye
Copywriter Nick Usborn says that the fundamental advice given to speakers applies to writers: Look your audience in the eye. So far, as I sit here writing, I’m looking you in the eye. Hopefully, you can hear my voice through … Continue reading
Posted in Business writing, Everyday writing, Good advice from here and there
Tagged Nick Usborn, voice
Leave a comment
Don’t fear contractions
Are you still fearful of using contractions? Don’t be. They have a long and storied history. For more, see my article “Contractions and how not to abuse ‘em.” (Hat tip to Ray Ward.)
A call for help: Teaching unmotivated learners to write better
I recently received this plea for help from P, a friend and former writing colleague, and with her permission, I’m sharing it with you: I am being asked to come up with some course or online topics or some such … Continue reading
Posted in Business writing, Everyday writing, Queries, Teaching writing
Tagged Chip Heath, Dan Heath, motivation, teaching
1 Comment
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
Leave a comment
From the mailbag: How do I hyphenate that?
Phil asks: What advice do you have for where to place the hyphen in a long word that wraps to the next line? For example, should the word “transformational” be hyphenated transform-ational or tranforma-tional? Is there a rule on that?
Posted in Everyday writing, Style manual
Tagged Chicago Manual of Style, formatting, hyphenation, justification
1 Comment
Advice for effective e-mail: Slow down!
E-mail dominates our workplace communications largely because of its speed. You click a button and WHOOSH! Within seconds, your message pops up in the recipient’s inbox. Just as quickly, they can respond and WHOOSH! Their reply is back in your … Continue reading
What’s the cost of content?
Before you begin writing something, ask yourself this: What’s the cost, and what’s the value? Everything you write has a cost. This cost matters more in a business context, but it’s still present, regardless of what you’re writing, and why. … Continue reading
Posted in Audience, Everyday writing, Growing as a writer
Leave a comment
Why use more words than you need?
I subscribe to an e-mail list called Freecycle—it’s like an online swap-meet, where people post messages listing items they don’t need, and others request items. (Go here for more info: http://www.freecycle.org/.) I’ve noticed that many people, when they’re requesting something, … Continue reading
Posted in Everyday writing
4 Comments
