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“I love, love, LOVE David Ogilvy,” D. said to me. “You know that Rolls-Royce ad?”

“Yeah,” I mumbled.

“An analysis by you would be soooo good,” said D. “I’d love to understand what makes his writing so persuasive.” Pretty, please? Read more »

Do you ever find yourself struggling to understand a text?

After reading a text a few times, you may find yourself scratching your head. Your brain is hurting. What is the author trying to communicate??!!??Read more »

What are the hallmarks of a good sentence?

When I come across a good sentence, I highlight it. I’ve done this for years but I don’t always look back at what I’ve highlighted.

So, I wondered … What would I discover if I traveled through my highlighted sentences? Read more »

Let me ask you a question …

Which of your school teachers do you remember?

I imagine your favorite teachers were full of passion for their field. Their enthusiasm made their teaching sparkle, and it made you curious to learn more.

As bloggers, we’re teachers, too, and our enthusiasm breathes life into our writing, making our readers come back for more.
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What makes you a better writer?

You may have heard the advice to read more and to write more. And that’s, of course, good advice. But there’s more …

To be a good writer, you also have to practice the art of noticing. Here’s how …Read more »

Which stories do you remember? And how have they influenced your life?

Intuitively, we all know the power of stories. They teach us what’s wrong and what’s right, who are heroes and who are villains. Stories help us make sense of who we are (or who we want to be).

Years ago, a powerful story embedded itself into my mind, influencing how I view the world …Read more »

Sometimes, you know, I feel like we’re getting distracted.

We focus on writing beautifully. We pick our words with care. We pay attention to punctuation. We try to avoid grammar and spelling goofs.

But do we forget the basics of writing well?
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Sometimes, I worry whether my writing is at risk of going stale.

I start to feel like I’m going around in circles. Sound familiar?

The most useful trick I’ve found for fixing creative staleness is to find fresh inspiration. So, I decided to read something completely different. Something outside my comfort zone …Read more »

Do you ever read a text and wonder … Why can’t I use words like that?

Some writers have a knack for dreaming up words that perfectly sketch an idea and paint a vivid image. How do they do it? Read more »

Do you ever wonder whether writing is easier for others?

You see people publishing new blog posts every week. Some people even publish a new book every year.

And it seems like they write without agony, without stress, without procrastinating.

But here’s the truth … Read more »