Posts on Writing Techniques

WHY SOUND MATTERS FOR MEANING   How often have you said a sentence “sounds right” or “doesn’t sound right”? It’s a telling description because language is all about sound . . .  

BECOME A CONNOISSEUR OF REVISION   Discriminating palates savor vintage cognacs and Cuban cigars. Discriminating writers relish the refinement of revision . . .
  

FOR EMPHASIS, SHUFFLE THE WORD ORDER   Break out of the monotony of routine sentence patterns . . . 

FORGET ABOUT WRITER'S BLOCK   Sometimes we don’t really know what we want to say – but we don’t know it . . .

HOW TO BS LIKE A PRO   How do expert BSers craft such silken obscurity? Find out how . . . 

THE DRIVETRAIN OF MEANING   The two essential elements of sentences are like the engine and transmission of your car’s drivetrain. Without them, the rubber of meaning can't get to the road . . . 

MAKE THE MOST OF MODIFIERS  Put the well-chosen modifier in the right sentence slot . . . 

PITHY AND PUNCHY  Like a magnifying glass focusing sunlight into a hot beam, tight writing concentrates meaning . . .  

DON'T BE SHEEPISH AROUND GIBBERISH   A tale of a hocus pocus parody that hoodwinked readers and academic reviewers . . .