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Cutting Back: Simplifying Words
Almost everyone in my writing classes believes (maybe in secret) that writing is a task that should not take a lot of time. After all, we all talk easily enough. Why should writing be hard? Writing is...
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Pick Your Word for 2016 (Giveaway)
Sure, a lot of people do this “Word of the Year” thing. And I’m a fan. I’ve loved the idea for years, choosing a word that will help keep you on track or blow up your track and set you free. A word of...
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Poems and Postcards
It’s time for another iHanna postcard swap. (You still have time to sign up.) Alcohol inks are still providing a lot of fun for me, so I thought, “Well, that’s what I’ll do.” But I changed my mind. I...
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Pencil Joy
The package from CW Pencil Enterprise Pencils are a thing of the past. But I’m a fan of the past, and a fan of pencils, too. They no longer have lead, they are filled with graphite. They are portable,...
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Handling Changes After a Training Class
Usually the furrowed brows and frowns come early in my business writing training classes. Maybe it’s when we discuss the convoluted phrases that won’t die, but don’t serve either the business writer or...
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Life Off-Screen, or, Communicating With Life
A tree died, fell, and new trees came out of the fallen trunk. Maybe not as dead as I thought, but unusual. © Quinn McDonald, 2017 Homeless people, travelers, strangers, grocery shoppers–when I write...
View ArticleRunning a Successful Class: Tips for Participants and Instructors
After 20 years of teaching, I have a few suggestions for both participants and trainers. Indulge me, please. Participants, prepare yourself: 1. Bring something to write with and something to write on....
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Habits Run Your Life
You know all the rules already: we need to build good habits and get rid of bad ones. Wait, not so fast! Habits are a lot more subtle than that. Helping dog owners habituate their dogs to using a fire...
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The Crossover Life of Training
Yes, I run training programs in business writing. And in How to Deal With Difficult People. Grammar and punctuation. Technical writing. Monsoon Papers. Wait, what? What does Monsoon Paper mean? And how...
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The Query Letter: Asking to Write for Someone
In the last blog post, you read about mistakes writers make when approaching a prospect to ask for a job. Here are some points that will help you develop interest in your work. You will have to get...
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