So are elevator speeches completely useless? On the contrary, I think you need to develop several of them.
Read More20 autobiographies: excessive? On the contrary
Bits & bobs
quotation marks, by Terry Freedman
Quote styles
in Bits & bobs
Quote styles
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Ogam inscription on a stone seen at the British Museum. Photo by Terry Freedman
Writing, but not as we know it
in Bits & bobs, Language
Have you ever heard of Ogam? Me neither. This article gives provides some information about this ancient writing system.
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The Brick Lane Bookshop -- Photo by Terry Freedman
Bookshops I like: The Brick Lane Bookshop
If you can get to Shoreditch in London, be sure to visit the Brick Lane Bookshop. Thiis article tells you why.
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Hatchards, St Pancras, London, by Terry Freedman
Bookshops I like: Hatchards
How an experience at one of my favourite bookshops warmed me up on a freezing day.
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Photo from Stencil. Licence: CC0
Too tired to write?
If you're too tired to write, AND you wear glasses, maybe this is the solution. One of these days I'll learn, and I'm hoping this post will serve as a reminder -- to myself!
Read MoreWriting and maps: some ideas
How might writers make use of maps to convey information (besides geographical information)?
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Lend me an ear...
Are publishers starting to listen?
Welcome news on the publishing front.
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An old typewriter
John Steinbeck's advice to writers
John Steinbeck on writing.
Read MoreThe place where I like to write
The café I like to write in is full of books and magazines, which not only creates a fine bibliographic atmosphere but also encourages me when my self-doubt starts winning. There is a slight problem though...
Read MoreHandwriting on the web
So, you’d like to use a handwriting font on your website or blog? It’s pretty easy, but you ought to think about the impression you want to create. And perhaps use it sparingly, unlke in this article.Victorian Humour
Victorian humour? A contradiction in terms, surely? Not according to Bob Nicholson, a lecturer in history who is on a mission to make Victorian jokes funny again (which presupposes they were funny in the first place, of course, but one assumes they were!).
Now, you may think this has nothing to do with writing, but it has. Bob is using a computing technique known as “text mining” to trawl through loads of Victorian publications held by the British Library, and extract jokes.
The best laid plans and all that
I have to say that I am becoming increasingly cynical about writers who give advice on how to write all the time, regardless of circumstances. I am happy with advice like, "Always carry a notebook so you can jot down ideas while waiting at the supermarket checkout", or "Get up an hour before the rest of the family so you can write in peace", but sometimes life just, well, takes over.
Read MoreLanguage as a window into human nature
in Bits & bobs, Video
Fascinating video from the RSA. Well-worth watching by any writer, any student of language and nuance.
Read MoreClear Communication
This classic sketch illustrates the importance of clear communication. Although it’s spoken, not written, there are interesting lessons to draw from it.
Read MoreHow Tech-Savvy Are You?
in Bits & bobs
JRNHY9797BXF This is a terribly unfair question, but hey! Life is unfair! I've decided to use the question below as a proxy for the question in the title of this post. I'm not sure if it's a good proxy, but it should achieve a few things: