Let Abe Lincoln become your writing coach
Tomorrow, Nov. 19, turns out to be the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. To…
November 18, 2013
Writing Chats
How to turn hard facts into easy reading
I was recently hired by a department of the federal government to conduct a workshop…
October 31, 2013
Have you lost that writing feeling? Is it gone, gone, gone…?
The dialogue with a stranger on a plane often goes something like this: Stranger:Â "What…
October 16, 2013
Why stories need a focus … or do they?
If there is one writing lesson that Poynter has taught for more than three decades…
October 2, 2013
How to write longform stories
You knew it was only a matter of time until the author of "How to…
September 19, 2013
Are you a happy writer or a sad writer?
Yesterday was a happy day for me as a writer after I received an enthusiastic…
August 22, 2013
Tips for writing short and well
With official publication date three weeks away, I am happy to hold in my hand…
August 8, 2013
How to practice ‘escapist writing’ this summer
It's a standard of American culture that we use the summer for both enrichment and…
July 11, 2013
How to write the ‘perfect’ sentence
The best way to write a perfect sentence is to lower your standards. I hope…
June 13, 2013
How to include narrative elements in a hard news story
During this week's writing chat, we talked with Boston Globe reporter Eric Moskowitz about his…
May 2, 2013
From ancient Greece to modern Boston, how stories help us survive
The events of recent days -- from the bombing of the Boston marathon to the…
April 24, 2013
How to influence reader response to your work
All writers learn that it is not possible or desirable to control how a reader…
March 21, 2013
Tips for improving your writing on National Grammar Day
Today is National Grammar Day, a special holiday for someone -- namely me -- who…
March 4, 2013
How to solve your most difficult writing problems
Every writer faces problems. In the most recent  I'll help you figure out solutions. Much…
February 21, 2013
How and when to break the rules of writing
The recent passing of former New York mayor Ed Koch reminded me of one of…
February 7, 2013
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