When I was just starting out in the writing business, I had an editor who insisted that good writing was largely a matter of thinking carefully about what you wanted to say; saying it as simply as possible; and then … Continue reading
Anyone old enough to remember radio in the 1950s and 60s (and, yes, there are some of us), will probably remember the iconic police drama Dragnet. And they will probably also remember Sergeant Joe Friday’s catchphrase: ‘All we want are … Continue reading
If you have ever started out to write a clear and concise instruction, proposal, or explanation, only to find that making it clear and concise was far from easy, you are not alone. Bertrand Russell (a man who managed to … Continue reading
The news media has always valued attention-grabbing headlines. Why would they not? They grab the reader’s/viewer’s/ listener’s attention. ‘Superstar in daring rescue.’ (Even if the ‘superstar’ is someone you’ve never ever heard of.) ‘Princess to marry Dustman.’ (‘Princess’ turns out … Continue reading
Debate is important. It doesn’t always lead us to the definitive answer, but it often takes us closer. Recently, Australia’s Attorney General, Senator George Brandis, suggested – in the Australian Senate – that people should have the right to be … Continue reading
A few years ago, we had a chap on our team who was rightly acknowledged to be ‘Educated’. That’s Educated with a capital E. Malcolm held degrees from three of the world’s top ten universities. He was fluent in Latin … Continue reading
Has the tone of the dissenting voice in public discussion become less civilised, potentially more damaging? Or has it just become easier to ‘hear’ the more extreme voices? Has online comment and the Twitterverse simply brought the conversation that previously … Continue reading
Recently, I overheard a captain of industry complaining that a high proportion of the calls to his overworked call centre should not have been necessary. ‘If customers just read the stuff we send them, they’d already know what they need … Continue reading
The meanings of words change with time. It has always been thus. And to fight it makes little sense. But to recognise it, and to appreciate the implications, well, that is another matter. A few years ago, the most common … Continue reading
Kurt Vonnegut Jr used to tell his Creative Writing students: Use words that I will recognise. (Actually, as an American, he probably spelled it ‘recognize’; but you know what I mean.) There was a professor on the radio this morning … Continue reading