“All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence you know.” – Ernest Hemingway
Regular readers of the Brilliant Blog know that we have a massive writer’s “crush” on Ernest Hemingway. Not only was he an incredible author, but he also has a great way of sharing his writing advice with others. I recently came across this quote, which really hit home for me. So often, I find myself sitting down to write and struggling to get started. But if you follow Hemingway’s advice and start with one straightforward and honest sentence, the rest just flows from there. It’s really that simple.
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Here on the Brilliant Blog, we periodically take time on Fridays to celebrate some of our favorite words. You know the kind – those words that just feel good rolling off your tongue, but that you never seem to find enough opportunities to use. We always get great feedback on these posts, but we need your help to keep them going. Please tell us your favorite words in the comments below, and we’ll be sure to feature them in a future post.
Here are our latest and greatest favorite words:
Bucolic – rustic, pastoral
Furtive – done with stealth, obtained underhandedly
Scrumptious – delightful, delicious
Ameliorate – to improve, make better
Burgeoning – growing, flourishing
Have a ... Read more »
| Date: October 23, 2009 | Author: Ann Melinger | Category: Our Favorites |
It’s become apparent that companies can’t ignore social media. In fact, it seems companies large and small are finally realizing the power of social media to help them strengthen relationship with customers, employees and the general public. But before jumping in, it’s critical that companies think long and hard about which social media tools are most appropriate for their company, brand image and the audiences they’re trying to reach.
There are countless articles out there touting the benefits of Facebook and Twitter for businesses, and some that argue which is more appropriate. We touched on this topic in a post on the Brilliant Blog late last year, when we discussed whether ... Read more »
Who gives a f%*k about an Oxford comma, I've seen those English dramas, too.
Recently, I’ve become obsessed with the band Vampire Weekend. They have a song called “Oxford Comma,” which refers to comma use in a list of three items – you can imagine why it would appeal like a word nerd like me! The song starts off with this lyric (WARNING: explicit language ahead): “Who gives a f%*k about an Oxford comma, I’ve seen those English dramas, too.”
Besides the fact that it’s an irreverent, catchy line, the song references a topic I’ve discussed with a number of clients recently. The whole issue of a serial comma – and whether it’s needed at the end of a series of words or phrases before ... Read more »
When I was a freshman in college, in PR 101 class, I was forced to memorize and recite a lengthy definition of public relations – if memory serves, it was about a half page long. My professor’s intentions were good, but the whole exercise seemed a bit futile.
However, even with 10 years of industry experience under my belt, I find that I still struggle to explain public relations to people outside the industry. And apparently I’m not alone. I recently came across a couple of blog posts that discuss the definition of PR. The comments are the most interesting parts of these blog posts – it seems people have pretty ... Read more »
My bookshelf is stocked with a couple of really great writing-related books and I thought I'd share a couple of my favorites.
We spend a lot of time on the Brilliant Blog talking about fantastic online resources, but sometimes it’s nice to just sit down and open up a good book. My bookshelf is stocked with a couple of really great writing-related books and I thought I’d share a couple of my favorites:
“Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation,” by Lynne Truss – Highly readable and entertaining, this book takes a conversational approach to educating readers about punctuation basics.
“Keys to Great Writing,” by Stephen Wilbers – The author offers 10 keys to great writing, with a chapter devoted to each, as well as guidance on the writing and editing ...
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“I think we’re in the midst of a literacy revolution the likes of which we haven’t seen since Greek civilization.” — Andrea Lunsford, professor of writing and rhetoric at Stanford University
It’s a familiar refrain – young people are so reliant on technology and so comfortable with the short-hand language they use in text messages and e-mail that they just don’t write as well as the generations before them. We’ve even discussed it here on the Brilliant Blog. But a recent article in Wired magazine turns that assertion on its head.
The article highlights the findings of a five-year study conducted by Stanford writing professor Andrea Lunsford. Lunsford analyzed thousands of writing ... Read more »
Imagine – an electronic, fully searchable version of the “journalist’s bible” right in your pocket, any time you need it.
I suppose it was just a matter of time. Earlier this week, the Associated Press announced that a 2009 AP Stylebook “app” is now available for purchase, allowing you to take the Stylebook with you on your iPhone or iPod touch. Imagine – an electronic, fully searchable version of the “journalist’s bible” right in your pocket, any time you need it.
For now, I’m sticking with my online subscription, but the announcement got me thinking about how often I find myself referring to the guide – there are certain entries that trip me up every time. Here’s a quick rundown of my oft-referred-to sections:
Always use figures for percentages, and always write ...
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