Adverbs are Language Bread

Mark Twain made a comment once that every time you want to write “very”, you should write “damn” instead so the editor will remove it. These days you’d have to use a different word, but the spirit of the advice rings true. Don’t use the word “very”. Or the word “quickly”, “wryly”, “gingerly”, or “bitchily” … Read more

1 Way to Give Better Feedback: Don’t Call It Interesting

This isn’t Interesting and Neither are You I enjoy the word “interesting”. Correction: I enjoy using it to get out of voicing my actual opinion, which is why I go on a rampage of emotionally charged, if uninteresting, words when someone uses the word on me. It’s a thoughtless phrase because it only covers a … Read more

How to Write Good and Still Get Cool Scars

I’ve heard the telltale signs of a professional cook are cuts and burns on their hands. That’s the kind of thing that makes you wonder about dedication to a craft. Those people go into work everyday knowing they’ll get marked up by hot oil and pointy things for eight hours, but they still go in … Read more