Writing
Remembering Tom Wolfe, the master of the long sentence
Greeted this morning by the news of the death of Tom Wolfe — a founding…
Yes, Virginia, it is okay for a writer to play with the form
Editor's note: This story was first published on Dec. 25, 2014.
Why it worked: A rhetorical analysis of Obama’s speech on race
An X-ray reading of the allusions, patriotic associations and parallel constructions in the speech.
7 ideas for writing blog posts
Even the best writers struggle from time to time in generating story ideas.
4 ‘breath test’ questions to diagnose your story leads
The first words of any story are critical. With that precious beginning, you offer your…
7 ways to avoid jargon in your writing
Anyone who has tried to read a legal document or a technical manual understands how…
9 ways to end your stories
There are endless ways to end stories, but few hard and fast rules. Yet every…
2 types of leads that get right to the news
Whether you’re reporting news or telling a story, you know you have to entice your…
How to avoid clichés in your writing
Roy Peter Clark writes, “Clichés can multiply and take over your story like text-eating bacteria.”…
6 tips for writing broadcast stories
Great stories hang in the viewer’s ear and catch the viewer’s eye. Here are some…
How to turn your notebook into a camera
Good writers use their notebooks as they would a camera. They change their distance from…
4 strategies for writing story endings
A writer can face many problems in ending a story. Time may run out, or…