SALLY’S BLOG

STONE THE CROWS! An idiom bit of fun for Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Day) Walking can be inspirational at times. Often when I’m walking my dog, Crumpette, I hear, see or think something that sows the seed for an article. The other day, for example, I heard an incessant, mournful cawing that drew my eyes...

GET INTO OUR GOOD BOOKS Make your writing memorable for the right reasons Think about the last book you read. What made it memorable for you? A twist in the plot? The characters? The way the author described the scenes so well that you felt like you were there? Did...

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES: DO YOU CARE WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS THINK? Have you noticed how often banks and real estate agents get new fit-outs? Makeovers aren’t cheap, but they know how important first impressions are. To a prospective customer, a shabby, poorly presented office or shop façade is unlikely to instil...

‘IT’S LIKE RIDING A BIKE’. Why reading is one of the greatest skills a child can learn. Learning to read is like learning to walk, talk, ride a bike, or swim. It gives you an irrevocable sense of freedom. Like most children – at least, those born in ‘my era’...

SEE A NEED? DO A GOOD DEED. DO YOU ALWAYS POINT OUT ERRORS? There’s a well-known motto by Australia’s St Mary MacKillop:  ‘Never see a need without doing something about it.’ These are wise words that I hold dear. But as an editor, I wonder whether I should always do something about grammatical...

EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL. HOW TO WRITE A MEMOIR OR AUTOBIOGRAPHY Four things to consider before you begin writing. Everyone’s life story is unique. It is a journey interwoven with the lives of others, interspersed with events, both planned and unforeseen. Different places, experiences, careers, journeys, relationships, tragedies...