Category Archives: Writing

5 Lessons from The Great Gatsby School of Writing

Posted on May 8, 2013 by

If you should ever fall out of love with writing, read a little F. Scott Fitzgerald. That will surely rekindle the flames. I’ve been reading The Great Gatsby in preparation for this week’s film premiere. There’s nothing like re-reading a … Continue reading →

Posted in Language, Presentations/Speeches, Writing | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

To Be a Better Writer, Accept Edits with Grace (5 Steps)

Posted on April 30, 2013 by

When co-workers offer comments about something you wrote, do you accept their feedback with grace and ease or do you bristle like a threatened porcupine? If it’s the latter, be careful. You could get tagged as “difficult” — the Sean … Continue reading →

Posted in Editing, Review & Approval Process, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Stop Misusing This Everyday Word!

Posted on April 3, 2013 by

I wrote about this issue nearly a year ago. And still, it persists. To review: Everyday means ordinary or commonly occurring while every day means each and every single day. Sly Stone assures us that in spite of his fame … Continue reading →

Posted in Grammar & Usage, Quotes, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Sharpen Your Storytelling — A Quick Lesson from Ronald Reagan

Posted on March 29, 2013 by

Whether you think Ronald Reagan was a great communicator or THE great communicator or simply a decent one, the man knew how to tell a story and land a joke. A great example is the now-legendary moment during a 1984 … Continue reading →

Posted in Storytelling, Using Humor, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Cut Your Writing to the Bone: 6 Tips

Posted on March 18, 2013 by

Editing your own material is one of the hardest things for a writer to do. And it is a must-have skill in this attention span-challenged age. I was reminded of this as I prepare a couple of upcoming speeches. “Where … Continue reading →

Posted in Editing, Presentations/Speeches, Review & Approval Process, Writing | Tagged | 4 Comments

Write in the Morning

Posted on February 18, 2013 by

Last week I urged people to do less quoting and more original thinking. So this is me taking my own advice. I always write best in the morning. I feel like as the day goes on we get steadily beaten down … Continue reading →

Posted in Editing, Quotes, Review & Approval Process, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment