Poynter. » Writing Tools

How to master the parts of speech, before they master you

Roy Peter Clark — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:01:56 +0000

You thought you learned them in grade school. You know, the parts of speech, those eight basic elements of making meaning. But here’s a little secret: Those seemingly demure parts of speech are, in practice, naughty cross-dressers.

In his book,… Read more

5 reasons Tom Brokaw & NBC News should stop whining about Romney ad

Roy Peter Clark — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:12:36 +0000

Not long ago, I had the opportunity to introduce Tom Brokaw to a group gathered at The Poynter Institute for a community conversation about politics and the news business. I have thought of him as one of the most… Read more

10 reasons Newt Gingrich is right about John King’s first question

Roy Peter Clark — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:18:08 +0000

Let me begin by expressing my biases: Newt Gingrich would make a bad president. And I don’t want him anywhere near my three daughters, especially if his current wife takes ill.

That said, I am on his side in Read more

What are your writing resolutions for 2012?

Roy Peter Clark — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:01:55 +0000

I have made seven writing resolutions for 2012. I may not fulfill them, but that’s OK. For me to be most productive, I need to set some trajectories for my writing, including some that imagine what things look like beyond… Read more

A tribute to Christopher Hitchens: How to write like a wise guy

Roy Peter Clark — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:54:58 +0000

I’ve been reading a lot of Christopher Hitchens lately — and not just in anticipation of his death. As a writer and a public scholar, Hitchens scared me. I tried to imagine what would happen if I had the… Read more

Grammar Girl explains which grammar ‘rules’ can you break & why?

Roy Peter Clark — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:01:07 +0000

In this week’s writing chat, we talked with Grammar Girl, aka Mignon Fogarty, about the creative connections between writing and grammar. Topics included:

Which grammar rules you can break, and why.
How readers and writers make meaning in

What writers can learn from the new translation of the Catholic Mass

Roy Peter Clark — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:34:25 +0000

If you have ever tried to translate a passage from one language into another, you know how challenging the task can be. A word in Italian or Danish, for example, may look very much like an English cognate, but mean… Read more

How to capture more scenes, details & dialogue when reporting

Roy Peter Clark — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:01:30 +0000

Because I am a “clever” writer, it is easy for me to fall into the biggest trap in journalism: To write with words rather than information. Another way of putting it: If there is nothing great in your notebook, there… Read more

With so many distractions, how do you make time to write?

Roy Peter Clark — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:01:13 +0000

Ever find yourself getting distracted when you’re supposed to be writing? I’ve been having this problem a lot lately. I have a deadline in May for a book manuscript, and I’m not making my usual progress.

For most of my… Read more

How to incorporate tone, rhythm & voice in your writing

Roy Peter Clark — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:01:07 +0000

A powerful force in writing is the imagery of sound.

Editors tell us to “make it sing.” Good sentences are said to have a “rhythm.” Our lead strikes the “right note,” creating just the right “tone” for the rest. We… Read more