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Advice to Other Writers
What do you say when a writer friend asks you to read their work and you don’t like it? Recently I went to the Content Marketing World conference for work. There were a ton of great presentations, and...
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Why I Hate the Present Tense Right Now
I don’t actually hate the present tense in all instances or at all times. But there are two uses of it that often bug me. 1. On history shows. OK this one I do hate in all instances and at all …...
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How to Get 156 Retweets and 324 Favorites in 52 Minutes
Our content strategy at CPI is straightforward. Produce content that’s relevant to our customers and prospects, publish it to the website, and share it on social and in eNewsletters. What we write...
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My Room in Roscoff
Travel is a beautiful thing. When I was 17, turning 18, I went with my mom to England and Scotland to celebrate my high school graduation. We were based in London in the flat of a friend of my mom’s,...
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How Margaret Atwood Helps Me Write
It’s April in Wisconsin, so it’s like it’s still winter. Well, it’s been raining a lot, so maybe it really is spring. But it’s been cold, so before the rain started it felt like nothing was moving....
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How to Not Get Published in the Huffington Post (or Anywhere)
Want to get published? Don’t read this expert advice from a professional writer with 20 years of success with rejection. When I was starting out as a writer, I studied publications like The Writer and...
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A Surprising Trick to Get Your Writing Juices Flowing
Collaboration can seem counterintuitive to solitary writers. But here's why it works--and how to avoid pitfalls. Continue reading →
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The Archetype of the Little House
I’ve long had a love for little houses, and have always been fascinated by their appearance in books and things I admire. Little houses are often magical dwellings, places where people, unencumbered by...
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“There’s No Such Thing as Original Music Anymore.”
I have a friend who has a friend whose dad said this in 1989 about The Stone Roses: “Oh they’re just ripping off The Beatles and The Byrds.” I’ve always found that sad. Of course that’s not an isolated...
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Book Spine Poem: The Journey
I’m about to share a writing exercise that has the power to inspire even the deadest poet. But first, Journey 1: The other day a wonderful friend told me about Sam Harris’s podcast with Paul Bloom,...
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Why I Pull the Logos Off My Clothes
Last week I got a pair of TOM’S and had no choice but to take a seam ripper to the ostentatious blue logo on the back of each shoe. Here’s why: I already have a job in marketing. If TOM’S wants me …...
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Book Spine Poem
My friend Becky found this exercise via Stan Carey’s book spine poem. “We’ve got to do this,” she said, and she did, and hers is beautiful. Here’s mine: Paris, Roman fever in the house of mirth. Lost...
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Why Working Remotely Makes You Happier
As a writer and editor, I’m fortunate to have a vocation that I can pursue from anywhere. As an in-house writer and editor, I’m fortunate to have a job where I get to work remotely on Fridays every...
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Politics: A Simplification
It seems to me that this: And especially this: Is really just like this. This is a parody: And to me it’s like this And this Are parodies too. Parodies … Continue reading →
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3 Sweet Hip-Hop Grooves and the DJs Who Should Remix Them
Here are three beats that would make sweet re-edits, and the DJs I’d like to remix them. These songs are spectacular as they are (especially #3) and don’t need edits, but these remixers do some...
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7 Hammond Organ Songs That Are Spectacular If You Like the Hammond Organ and...
I think of the Hammond organ as the Whiter Shade of Pale organ. When its sound grabs me in other songs, I say that I like their use of the Whiter Shade of Pale organ. Continue reading →
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My 4 Favorite Songs From Truffaut Films
Once I saw this warm scene of musical accord, it was love ever after. Continue reading →
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What Do the Mona Lisa and Mount Rushmore Have in Common?
Some "must-see" things underwhelm. Others exceed expectations. Continue reading →
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Today I Did Something Crazy Because I’m Sane
Today I dove into a lake whose depth I don't know. Continue reading →
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Top 5 Sexiest Sax Songs
The saxophone has the power to be sexy as hell or cheesy AF. Continue reading →
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