Communication
How Journalism Teaches You to Write
I was once a journalist. Now I’m more or less not. It’s because I realised that journalism is not as compatible with writing as we’re led to believe. Still, the skills I learned as a journalist have been hugely helpful in my writing. Here are a few of lessons that our friends from the media […]
Why the English Language Isn’t Going Down the Drain
In the 15th century, there were 50 different ways to spell church. People wrote words down as they heard them, and they heard them in a multitude of different ways. So why are grammar Nazis getting in a twist about how words are being spelt on Facebook and in text messages? Language Revolution We’ve all […]
Why Self Published Writers Need Editors
Are you interested in self publishing a book, or have you self published already? Are you fed up with not being taken seriously by the literati? One of the ways of ensuring that your book competes with the top titles produced by traditional publishing houses is to hire an editor. A […]
The Manglification of the English Language
A few weeks ago, I heard a member of the Irish Arts Council say that her organisation was “FOI-able,” meaning that it was possible to look up Arts Council documentation under the Freedom of information Act. When I heard it, I shuddered. On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with the phrase. It’s not grammatically incorrect. […]
Apostrophic Errors
A fellow apostrophe warrior tipped me off to this tragic case of apostrophe abuse.l Such a misunderstood little mark.
How to Sell Yourself Without Selling Out
Throughout history, artists have always had a special place in society. It was recognised that their contribution to society went beyond the financial and people were willing to support them so that they would have the space to create their masterpieces. Let’s face it, it made the rich patrons feel good to have an artist […]
Why Teenagers Make Great Writers
I’ve been giving creative writing workshops on and off for the last three years. Anyone who has dealings with teenagers may wonder if I’m mad. But I believe there’s more to teenagers than hysterical headlines and temper tantrums. I believe they deserve to be taken seriously and that the time is ripe to harness their […]
Tell Your Story in Four Ways
When I tell people that I write content that helps people tell their story, they say to me, ‘I’ve been sending a newsletter out and it’s had no response,’ or “I went on the radio to talk about this event I have coming up, but I didn’t get a single phone call.” So why didn’t […]
Read it Out Loud
When people ring to book my creative writing classes, one of the questions that bubbles up is: ‘Will I have to read it out?” It’s usually asked with a little quaver in the voice. Unfortunately for them, I have to crack the whip and say yes. There is a method in my madness. Allow me […]
