by Sherry | Feb 5, 2013 | Art, Creativity, Maud's House, Writing
Painter Anna Oneglia created the artwork for the cover of my novel of lost and found creativity, Maud’s House. I remember the first time my young daughter saw it she said, “It looks like Maud’s outside looking outside.” The story is about an...
by Sherry | Sep 9, 2012 | Business Writing, Editing, WriteTips, Writing
Call me a cock-eyed optimist, but I believe anyone can be a better writer. Maybe you are not the next Hemingway, and there’s not a classic fish tale in your future. But you can learn to write about the one that got away in a clear and understandable manner, in a...
by Sherry | May 14, 2012 | Book of Mercy, Censorship, Libraries, Parenting, Publishing Industry, Writing
When Book of Mercy was named a finalist in the Midwest Book Awards, I interviewed Antigone Brown, the main character, about her view of this momentous event. She is a mother-to-be who stands up to the book banners in her small North Carolina town, even though she...
by Sherry | Nov 13, 2011 | Business Writing, Editing, On Writing, Writing
Plain language is the law. And it’s not a moment too soon. For years, I have been preaching clarity in writing to author clients and in business writing classes. Now, someone finally gets it, and that’s President Barack Obama. In 2010, President Obama...
by Sherry | Nov 6, 2011 | Books, Writing
Themes are for parks like Disneyland, not for books. When it comes to writing, I prefer to sculpt my stories around an armature. I came upon this concept in an extraordinary little writing book called Invisible Ink by Brian McDonald. I admit my eyes glaze over when...
by Sherry | Apr 24, 2011 | Business Writing, Writing
If you want to do business, say what you mean. That sounds so simple. But often reading a business report, memo, e-mail, or newsletter is like swimming in concrete. You have to STUDY the sentences and words to understand the message. Who has time for that? Part of...