Extraordinary writing is possible only when we learn to think beyond the ordinary stuff. We must think differently, forever asking what-if questions and considering possibilities that average people wouldn’t consider....

Frank Ball used to collect stamps, coins, and rocks. Now he’s a collector of words with unexpected meanings, which he calls “daffynitions.” Here are four that were posted recently: Selfish...

The writer’s great challenge is to find the right words and put them in the right places. Before that can be done, a great concept is needed. If you were...

Chonda Pierce is one funny lady, able to read a familiar story and engage everyone in laughter. You’ve heard the story, but you’ll enjoy hearing it again.

>For powerful word pictures, immerse yourself in the world you write about. Wherever you go, carry a note pad so those creative thoughts won’t be lost. Here’s what Arian Chamasmany...

We always write an accurate representation of our mental images, our thoughts, and our feelings. Otherwise, we would choose different words. But how well we are understood depends on how...

Frank Ball used to collect stamps, coins, and rocks. Now he’s a collector of words with unexpected meanings, which he calls “daffynitions.” Here are three that were posted recently: Avoidable...

An exquisite novel isn’t the only masterpiece that takes countless hours to build. In 2011 a Japanese advertising agency wanted a giant wooden xylophone built in the Kyushu forest to...

Do you consider yourself a fast or slow thinker? Actually, unless we’ve suffered a brain injury, everybody’s mental processing rate is about the same. Conscious reasoning takes place at forty...

Storytelling can be a long, difficult process, containing both pains and pleasures. If we understand the twists and turns of this journey, we won’t be caught by surprise. We won’t...