A four-step method to my madness

Not all writers are created equal. I’ve spent most of my career editing the work of writers with varying degrees of skill. Some articles that cross my desk need a complete rewrite; others don’t require a single change. Through the years I’ve created a process that helps me edit on different levels. Editing to improve the structure of an article is different from editing for style and usage. Here’s a four-step method to my madness: 1. Read, and read only This may seem obvious, but I can’t stress enough how important it is to read the article before making...

5 ways to focus so you can write

I have a confession to make. I’m not actually very productive when it comes to writing — at my day job, that is. For three weeks I’ve been trying to write an article about a business initiative, and I can’t get to it. I open a blank Word document with every intention of starting the article, and then the emails start. Or the phone rings. Or someone stops by. Everyone experiences this. We are all doing more with less time and fewer resources. But in the “age of distraction” how do you find time to focus on the task of researching a topic and writing about...

Sometimes it take more than adding an &#...

In the English language, there are exceptions to every rule. Some of the most maddening exceptions occur with spelling rules. For instance, it’s “i before e except after c”—unless it’s the fourth Thursday and there’s a full moon, right? So, let’s look at “weird” plurals. And I say “weird” because pluralization is not always about adding an “s.” With the singular form listed first, here are some words you can’t make plural just by adding an “s”: • syllabus • syllabi • diagnosis • diagnoses • radius • radii • stratum •...

Colon or semicolon? Follow these simple ...

Two of the most misused and abused punctuation marks in the English language are colons and semicolons. They each have specific functions and cannot be used interchangeably. To help cut through the confusion, remember these simple rules: • Semicolons replace commas in a list whose items themselves contain commas. For example: Liz tried several things to treat her allergies: taking over-the-counter medications such as Chlor Trimeton, Zyrtec, and Claritin; alternating those drugs; wearing mosquito netting over her head; and, finally, swearing never to go outside in the...

3 unusual exercises to improve your writ...

It’s January, so naturally we’ve heard a lot about new-year resolutions — not to mention all the advertising for weight-loss programs, gym memberships, and smoking-cessation products. If one of your resolutions is to improve your writing skills, consider these tried and true writing exercises. 1. Turn your writing process upside down. Do you plan, outline, and organize before you start writing? Or do you “just write” and put things down without considering how to organize the content? Whichever you prefer, do the opposite. Try writing without an outline, and see...

There’s a word for that?

Several of my previous posts have been dedicated to the power of words. I’ve written about words that describe words, confusing word pairs, and words that make writers swoon. Let’s dive down even further by looking at examples that will make you say, “There’s a word for that?” Hypergraphia: a compulsion to write, sometimes uncontrollably. She was disappointed that her hypergraphia did not yield anything worthy of being published. Mysophobia: an abnormal fear of dirt. Don’t let a little mysophobia keep you from enjoying the camping trip. Lissotrichous: having...

10 more signs that you might be a word n...

In a previous post, I wrote about 15 telltale signs of word-nerdiness. On the list were attributes such as correcting the grammar in children’s stories and quoting from Eats, Shoots & Leaves. At the end of the post, I asked PR Daily readers to share their word nerd giveaways. Here are a few of those responses: • “I love to find typos in books/articles/pamphlets, not because I love that they’re there, but more so because it’s a weird dim-witted victory for me. Strange, I know. Nerd alert for sure!” • “My latest pet peeve? The rampant and...

15 unusual words that make writers swoon

In a previous post, I wrote about the value of using simple words in place of complex words. Readers are not impressed by the use of complex words; they’re frustrated by them. Though I strive to use simple, clear terms in my own writing, there are some words that I am just dying to use. Archaic, unusual words that I have stumbled upon in fiction. Words that have drawn me in. I like the ways these words sound. I like the way they look. If I could only find a way to work them into my next article on surgical checklists. Vex. To cause someone to feel annoyed,...