The body needs structure, too My favorite scene in the movie “High Fidelity” is when Rob Gordon (John Cusack) becomes so depressed over his failed love life that he seeks solace in reorganizing his albums. His nerdy pal Dick (Todd Louiso) is curious about the project. “Are you going to file them alphabetically?” Dick asks. Nope, Rob answers. “Chronologically?” … [Read more...] about Avoid the ‘muddle in the middle’
Build a Solid Structure
Story of my life
StoryCorps animates Americans' oral histories StoryCorps, public radio's oral history project, has collected and archived more than 45,000 stories of nearly 90,000 participants. Now you can see some of them in action through its animated shorts. Also check out StoryCorp's Great Questions, a useful tool when interviewing someone about her story. How can you gather, … [Read more...] about Story of my life
Stroke of editing
In which Ann audaciously takes on Jill Bolte Taylor's bestseller Jodie Foster is not planning to play me in the Sony Pictures movie of my life. Ron Howard will not direct the major motion picture version of my New York Times bestselling book. I have never practiced neuroanatomy, especially after recovering from a massive stroke. Nor have I crafted an anatomically … [Read more...] about Stroke of editing
Sure signs
'Signal words' help readers follow along "Signal words" — aka transitions — are the narrative glue that helps readers see what's coming next, understand your whole message and see how the parts fit together (Herber, 1978). "If we encounter thus, therefore, consequently and the like, we know that the next statement should follow logically from whatever has already been … [Read more...] about Sure signs
Master plan
Help readers recall your message When you organize your copy logically, readers can read it more easily and get more out of it. Or so says Bonnie J. F. Meyer, Ph.D., professor of Educational Psychology at Penn State University. She completed a five-year research project for the National Institute on Aging to find out what helped adults understand and remember what … [Read more...] about Master plan