Improve your writing in one easy step
After Melbourne author Anh Do won a few prizes recently for his book The Happiest Refugee, there was a bit of media eyebrow-raising when it came to light that Do had had the assistance of a ghostwriter...
View ArticleTwo ‘rules’ you need to unlearn – period.
How much have you retained of the grammar you learnt at school? I’m guessing not a lot – at least not in a formal sense. ‘Dominant clauses’, ‘past participles’ and ‘future perfect tense’? If you can...
View ArticleBeat the NYE rush. Resolve now.
True, most of us are still coming to grips with the fact of Christmas decorations having been up for weeks. But before we know it, Xmas ‘11 will have been and gone and New Year’s Eve will be upon us....
View ArticleMaking your ideas stick
Like many of you, I have a lot of books on the shelves of my office, not to mention beside my bed. I’m a sucker for a snappy title which, combined with the instant gratification offered by online...
View ArticleAre you committing Capital punishment?
If you spotted the deliberate extra capital in the title of this post, you may not need to read on. If, on the other hand, you think there should be more capital letters, then you should keep reading....
View ArticleWhat’s your style? (Don’t tell me you don’t have one!)
Recently our family has been watching the new TV dramatisation of the 1979 novel Puberty Blues. The girls watch the girls and notice how little has changed; my wife and I watch the fashions and are...
View ArticleHow broken English led to rhythm in writing
On holiday in the south-western Pacific recently, I sent David a text that read: ‘English already broken. Don’t tell boss! Tetepare as wonderful as hoped.’ As a writer, of course I chose my words...
View ArticleUnderstand audience
While on holiday in the Solomons I sent David a text saying that my English was broken, but that he shouldn’t tell the boss! This tired old jibe worked because I understood my audience. Imagine telling...
View Articlee-ssentials of e-readers and e-books
In this year’s seriously silly shopping season, e-book reader (e-reader) is shaping up as the star. As a technology junkie and writer I try to stay on top of such things, so I thought it might be...
View ArticleThe news is dying … long live the news
If you, like me, still live in the dark ages in which your news is delivered via a rolled up newspaper thrown over the garden fence every morning, you have probably noticed that the thud associated...
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