Some people love the activity of writing. They derive a positive pleasure from fine-tuning their words, honing their style and striving for a rhetorical flourish. I have been there, often. But writing doesn’t have to be like that. Sometimes the goal is nothing more than to get some words written down and sent to whoever needs to receive them. I have been there, too. Read more
A time for absolute clarity
There have been times in my working life when it wasn’t enough for me to get my facts right. I had to present the information in a way that was unimpeachable. My writing was going to be analysed minutely for any signs of a mistake. It was stressful to write under those circumstances, but I picked up several tips to help me avoid the most frequent pitfalls. Read more
A place for subtext and subtlety
It’s uncomfortable for me to admit, but there was a time when my writing lacked any trace of subtlety or nuance. My work placed a high premium on output that was both literal and precise; and I failed for a while to write in any other style. But once the constraints were relaxed, I became a zealot for the alternatives. I started to explore different writing styles and voices. It was a real treat. Read more