Methodical Writing
Writing for You | Writing About You | Writing WorkshopsThe Fascinating Thing About Punctuation Is …
... that it did not exist I get questions all the time about the 'right' way to use punctuation, as if there are universal, inherent, absolute and naturally correct ways to use punctuation, as if punctuation has 'laws' in the same way that physics...
For Tongue-Tied Lovers, a Lesson in Writing a Valentine’s Day Message
William Butler Yeats wrote one of my favorite love poems of all time. It’s called “A Drinking Song,” and it’s only six lines long: Wine comes in at the mouthAnd love comes in at the eye;That’s all we shall know for truthBefore we grow old and die.I...
A Lesson on the Physicality of Editing
On why you have to ‘do editing’ to become a better editor.
Start Your Next Story with the “I am here” Pattern
Use this technique to get a draft story going.
Why Writers and Marketers Don’t Agree on the Nature of Good Storytelling
Brand storytellers could do better if they focused customer needs.
One Billion or 1B? You’re Asking the Wrong Question
Make sure your writers see the forest from the trees.
There’s More to Thought Leadership Than Aphorism
Aphorisms are short statements, usually in the form of observations or instructions, that express a general truth. The best aphorisms are effective attention-getters, and they’re easy to memorize. Two of my favorite examples are “Measure twice, cut...
Should Every Marketer Demo Coffee at Costco?
A part-time job taught me some valuable marketing lessons.
A Writing Lesson in Sentence Length
Good writers vary the lengths of their sentences to achieve specific effects.
What Is a Sentence Anyway?
If you’re into the intersection of writing, language and philosophy, I recommend this book.
A Meme About Copywriters
It may not be the best meme I've ever made, but it's my favorite. I can't help but poke a little fun at the way we use language in marketing contexts, even if exaggeration is a powerful rhetorical device.