Writing Blog

Articulate speech is something that floats in the atmosphere, far out of reach for so many of us. It’s extremely difficult to grab hold of and master. So many of us would like the ability to speak in an articulate manner, but if you’re like me and have tried, you surely know how truly challenging it can be. It’s tough enough to think with any amount of clarity. It’s even more challenging to write clearly and coherently. It’s nearly impossible for the unpracticed to speak with consequence in a manner that’s efficient and has meaning. This is a long post. In it, I tried my best to achieve a few goals. First, I attempted to define articulation. Then, I offered some goals a person might have if they endeavor to become more articulate. I offer activities to improve articulation and I share a few personal stories about my own struggles. Toward the end of the post, I introduce you to two gentlemen who will always speak more articulately than I will. I simply don’t have it like they do. It’s amazing how some people’s minds work, really. Please click through to read this post. Even if you’re not interested in the topic, I think you might learn a little something about the struggle so many of us face. Continue reading…

There’s a distinct connection between thinking and articulating and having the ability to use words to do both. Thinking has been on my mind lately. Fall is coming. The same thing happens every year. I begin to forget about all the sweat and discomfort the summer is beginning to leave behind and I sit back in my chair to write about what bubbles to the surface. This time around, it’s vocabulary. When I was a kid, I thought “vocab” was about the simple process of learning what new words meant. Boat means a thing you hop into so you can float around a lake. Or something like that. Sure, words mean things, but to go a step further, they also convey emotions and have the ability to change people’s behavior and alter their trajectory of life. What I’m trying to say here is that words are much more than the sum of their parts. When applied correctly, they can add depth and nuance and understanding and beauty to much of what we see and experience in this world. In today’s post, I offer a few things; I explain why expanding a person’s vocabulary is a worthy endeavor. I then explain the benefits of having a large vocabulary and then I offer tips for growing a vocabulary; how to do it. I know, the topic of vocabulary might not be on your reading list today, but please give this post a chance. Perhaps it’ll spark an interest in something most all of us do on a daily basis – think, read, write, and speak. Continue reading…

There are many guides that teach the proper form for writing a personal letter. There are even other articles and posts with the same name as this. I’ve read through a few of them and found them practical and purposeful. But they weren’t mine. When I first came up with the idea of posting about letter writing, I thought I’d merely write about the nostalgia of it all. And I suppose I did – at the beginning. The more I got into my writing though, I found myself wandering from place to place in the letter writing world, making discovery after discovery. This is what I love so much about blogging. I learn as I write and after I’m finished, I think I’m just a little bit different than when I began. Please read through this post. If you’ve never written a proper letter to a friend, family member, acquaintance, perhaps you’ll give it a thought. And if you’ve ever received a personal letter from someone, perhaps you’ll give some consideration to returning the favor. Why, you ask? Well, I tell you all about that in this post. Continue reading…

Have you ever wondered what top authors read themselves? If you’re a reader and are anything like me, you have trouble finding good books to sink your teeth into and enjoy. Sure, there are millions of books available, but only a handful (okay, a big handful) of them are worth the time invested. Like so many others, I love a really good book. One I can become attached to and fall in love with. Unfortunately, those types of books have been few and far between. I can’t seem to find them. Because of this, I decided to do some hunting around to find what my favorite author reads. I found the list and after an introduction from yours truly, I share it in this very post. So, if you’re curious to see what one of the world’s most wonderful authors reads himself, click on through. Continue reading…

A simple book review isn’t terribly difficult to write. A proper book review, however, can be a work of art. It requires intellect and effort. Mostly effort. Luckily there’s enough information available out there to assist in this effort. I wrote this post because I’d like to begin writing proper reviews, something that’s eluded me up to this point. I’ve always wanted to do this and for some reason, I feel now is the time. In this post, I discuss what it takes to write a good book review – one that’s worth reading. I talk about about three things; what a book review is and what its primary purpose is, how to assess a book that’s to be reviewed, and what a book review contains; it’s parts and pieces. I hope I’ve done a thorough job with what I’ve shared, but as with every other post I write, if you’ve got something to add, I’d certainly welcome it. Continue reading…

Maeve Binchy is a wonder to the literary world. She’s a gift. Maeve was born in May of 1939 in Dalkey, Dublin, Ireland. She’s written 16 books, short stories, plays, and a novella. She passed away in 2012. While she was alive, she talked a lot, so she wrote a lot. That’s what she said. This author isn’t one I’ve heard of up until a few weeks ago. As I mention in this post, I’ve never been attracted to reading the stories of Irish folks set in Dublin in the 70s and 80s. It just hasn’t been my thing. I suppose that’s because I never gave these types of writers/characters a chance. In early January, I began reading a book of Maeve’s called Quentins. It’s a good book – a great one actually. One that’s inspired me to discover who Maeve Binchy was. In this post, I discuss this author and what brought me to her. I also share a few of her nuggets of wisdom as they pertain to successful writing. Click through to take a look. Continue reading…

To me, cultivating the ability to write well is one of the most important and rewarding things a person can do for their well being. It’s so important, in fact, that I believe writing well can change a person’s life. I’m sure there has been story after story about how a note, letter, or some sort of passage has brought two people together, closed a business deal, or began a political or religious movement. Good writing is one of the most powerful forces on earth – yet it oftentimes goes so unnoticed. In this post, I discuss some of the reasons I think writing is important and then I give some tips for how to get better at it. Continue reading…

Economics is an insanely interesting topic. It concerns every single life on this planet and everyone contributes to it in some unique way. While everyday economics is somewhat simple to understand, the study of deeper economic theory is obviously much more complex. In this post, I touch upon the basics of economics. I’ve written each section in easy to understand language because I’m no fan of making something that can be clear, difficult to understand. I hope you enjoy the post. Click through to learn a bit about what makes the world go round. Continue reading…

I grew up in the town called Brewster, New York. I lived there for 22 years and have many memories of the area; some fond and some I’d rather forget. Nevertheless, the memories are there and my life today has been shaped by them. In this post, I look back (mostly in a nostalgic sense) on a few short slices of what I experienced on a few select occasions. I had a great childhood and I often think of those days gone by. What’s inside is merely one such example of a time I thought out loud. Continue reading…

If you’re interested in fine writing, I think you’ll enjoy this post. To me, quotes and literature and writing that make you take a step back and think are a big part of what makes life so worth living. I’m not sure where I’d be without them. In this post, I share some thoughts on what makes a beautiful quote and then I share a healthy handful of my own personal preferences. Please read what’s inside and then share some of your own favorites in the comment section at the bottom of the page. Continue reading…