Link Your Ideas
“Don’t shorten sentences by leaving out words such as that, which or who.” Plain Language: Clear and Simple, page 23 It’s very popular advice to go through your text and… Read More »Link Your Ideas
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Welcome to Plain Language Book Club
“Are you trying to change people’s behavior? Make sure you mention how even small changes can bring benefits that are important to your reader.” Plain Language: Clear and Simple, page… Read More »Welcome to Plain Language Book Club
Help, My Book Is Terrible!
Three Ways to Move Forward First of all, I doubt that your book is terrible. It’s got some of what you know and feel in it, some of who you… Read More »Help, My Book Is Terrible!
On Swears and Other Polarizing Language: Building Better Word Habits
Crumbs. Jam it. Holy Canasta! So, I had to unlearn some words when I moved back to Kentucky from Boston (with a detour through Germany). The culture around swearing in… Read More »On Swears and Other Polarizing Language: Building Better Word Habits
Avoid the Big Oops Feeling When Applying for Academic Jobs
It’s academic job application season again, and horror stories are coming in from applicants who are new to the process and missed something important. Typos and other mistakes happen to… Read More »Avoid the Big Oops Feeling When Applying for Academic Jobs
Six Narrative Frames for Memoir and Personal Essays
How do you decide what goes in a book or essay? You’ve been writing, but now it’s time to impose some sort of order on your personal stories. Narrative frames… Read More »Six Narrative Frames for Memoir and Personal Essays
Memoir Is Fan Fiction
Write About Yourself as a Character & Capture Your Voice on Paper When you’re writing about yourself for your family and friends, you step onto the page a fully formed… Read More »Memoir Is Fan Fiction
Getting Started: 5 Prompts for Writing About Your Life
Writing can be a process of discovery. Explore pivotal moments in your personal story with these writing prompts. Write a list of situations in which your oldest friend would know… Read More »Getting Started: 5 Prompts for Writing About Your Life
Writing Meditation: Visualize Your Audience, Connect with Your Voice
This exercise draws on a visualization similar to lovingkindness meditation to help you tap into your authentic voice. You’ll need an essay or chapter from your memoir, and a device… Read More »Writing Meditation: Visualize Your Audience, Connect with Your Voice
Is EFA membership worth it?
I just renewed my membership. Editors new to freelancing often ask if membership in the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) is worth it. So this year I tracked the membership benefits… Read More »Is EFA membership worth it?