full circle blog

Write-able Resolutions for 2012

Need a jumpstart to get through this week--or year?
Clouds
Last year, I compiled a list of "write-ables" that will not take long but will improve how you write. Here it is again, back by popular demand and with a few new ideas thrown in:

Submitted by Paula Tarnapol ... on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 3:47pm

catching up on a year of writing tips

Each month, Full Circle Communications sends out an e-newsletter with a tip to improve your writing. (Sign up for a free subscription here.)

Every December, we run a summary of the topics covered throughout the year. Scan the newsletter archives or go to a subject of particular interest.

"Write-able" Resolutions for 2011 (January)

Writing in Someone Else's Voice (February)

Submitted by Paula Tarnapol ... on Tue, 12/06/2011 - 7:34pm

Giving Feedback on Someone Else's Writing

From the November issue of my newsletter, Ease in Writing:

Ever have a colleague ask you to review something he or she has written? To give useful feedback, ask--

Submitted by Paula Tarnapol ... on Wed, 11/09/2011 - 8:23am

Writing for Mobile Devices

Usability expert Jakob Nielsen points out a paradox: People read on their smart phones or other mobile devices when they are waiting, commuting, or otherwise have time to spare, yet they still expect content to be short and to the point.

Submitted by Paula Tarnapol ... on Thu, 10/20/2011 - 3:55pm

historian as detective

Census forms, wills, coroners' inquests--these musty documents and more reveal the past.

Don't believe me?

Check out the blog I am putting together for my graduate course at George Mason entitled Historian as Detective.

For example....

The will and probate documents of Louisa Courselle, who died in 1886 in Bozeman, Montana.

She left behind a young daughter in Long Island, New York, five beloved nieces---and a thriving bordello.

Submitted by Paula Tarnapol ... on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 7:56am

writers never wholly "vacate"

From the August issue of Full Circle Communication's Ease in Writing:

Submitted by Paula Tarnapol ... on Wed, 08/17/2011 - 3:58pm

more word mix-ups

In Full Circle's July Ease in Writing newsletter, I wrote about 5 common word mix-ups.

Some readers suggested some others

Home in/hone in

"Home" is to drill down to, focus on, even though most people use "hone" (which means to sharpen). So we "home in on a problem" (cliche as that sounds). Just think of a homing pigeon steadfastedly going toward its goal.

Affect/Effect (an erstwhile problem)

Submitted by Paula Tarnapol ... on Sun, 07/17/2011 - 12:46pm

That was then...

When I looked back to 1996, and the beginning of Full Circle, I remembered the new frontier of the World Wide Web. "See you on the 'Net" was not snicker-worthy, and anyone who worked for AOL was a lucky person indeed.

For Full Circle Communications' June newsletter, I compiled this list of "memories." We--

Submitted by Paula Tarnapol ... on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 9:18am