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Tag Archives: writing
So you use AI to write…
You’re probably using AI to write. Both ChatGPT and Google AI Studio prefer to construct their sentences in specific and characteristic ways and anyone who’s been a commissioning editor for at least a few years will find the signs of … Continue reading
The ‘impact’ of climate writing
The problem begins simply enough. A journalist finds a word that seems to fit almost everything. It might be “crisis”, “pivot” or the ever-convenient “impact”. It’s concise, authoritative, and headline-friendly. It appears once, then again, and soon it begins to … Continue reading
Posted in Analysis, Scicomm
Tagged climate journalism, Google Ngrams, impact, risk communication, science communication, science writing, writing
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A salvage
Why do you write? is a very difficult question to answer, so when an answer presents itself, you treasure it. Continue reading
Posted in Life notes
Tagged blogging, ergodicity, historicity, will to purpose, writing
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13 years
I realised some time ago that I completed 13 years of blogging around January or March (archives on this blog go back to March 2012; the older posts are just awful to read today. The month depends on which post … Continue reading
Tech bloggers and the poverty of style
I created my writing habit by performing it over a decade (and still continuing). When I first started blogging in 2008, I told myself I would write at least 2,000 words a week. By some conspiracy of circumstances, but particularly … Continue reading
Posted in Culture
Tagged blogging, creativity, Silicon Valley, tech blogging, tech bros, writing, writing style, writing voice
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Fog of war
August 2019 was a crappy month. I’m just emerging from nasty fevers of the body and mind and haven’t fully recovered yet. I’ve become more cynical in the last few weeks – which I didn’t think was possible – and … Continue reading
Posted in Life notes
Tagged anxiety, depression, Fear Inoculum, Ian C Esslemont, Kindle, Linode, Tool, Trick Mirror, writing
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Being understood
Before the definitive version of Blade Runner was due to be released in April 2015, Michael Newton re-reviewed the film for The Guardian, where he wrote: If the film suggests a connection here that Deckard himself might still at this point deny, at the very … Continue reading
Posted in Life notes
Tagged Blade Runner, Blade Runner 2049, creative writing, fiction, nonfiction, purple prose, writing
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Writing, journalism and the revolutionary spirit
One of my favourite essays of all time – insofar as that’s a legitimate category – is one called ‘How to do what you love’ by Paul Graham, the startup guru. In it, he makes a case for the usefulness … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged irony, journalism, Mayank Tewari, Newton, passion, Paul Graham, self-consciousness, writing
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Why I like writing
There’s no perfecting writing. It will always teach you about how to structure your paragraphs, which words to use where, what style or voice or inflections to adopt, or how best to tickle your audience. At the same time, you can see yourself getting better piece after piece. It’s the perfect drug. Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged addiction, catharsis, depression, knowledge, perfection, reasoning, writing
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