I tried cycling to work a slightly different route today. It has more uphills, fewer traffic lights, less traffic, fewer junctions. It's about half a mile longer. It made me throw up a little bit; I think this one's a keeper. Well, it's something to aspire to ( Read more... )

Today's rant:

'The book opens with an introduction...'

Um, okay. Good.

Hey, guess what?

'The book ends with a conclusion...'

Will wonders never cease?

Also: number of times you can use 'innovative' per piece: once. Not five times. Especially not twice in the same sentence. Get some new words, please.

Complain, complain - that's all you've ( Read more... )

My [copywriting] enemies include:

• The 80-word sentence.
• People who ignore the 'one idea per...' rule. One idea per paragraph. One idea per sentence. One idea per list. Got two ideas? Get a different paragraph/sentence/list.
• Two ideas - when they do not follow on from each other logically, but they should. This includes ideas that are pushed together ( Read more... )

Bath! I could have a bath. I could do that! That would be an idea ( Read more... )

Hachette calls time on Chambers Harrap's Edinburgh Base - article in The Bookseller. All 27 positions will be affected.

I really did get out just in time.

I've been reading a lot more. A lot. Recently I've finished American Gods (marvellous), a Pauline McLynn with 'time' in the title (just in time? Right on time?) (her departure from cheeky to gritty chick lit crime, while still being a bit sexy and so damned funny at times), The Gargoyle (I liked), The Stone Gods (ah, Jeanette, I'm home), Being ( Read more... )

Two weeks tomorrow. I start my new job two weeks tomorrow. Not a week tomorrow. Thank goodness!

I like people who don't leave you hanging. It's good manners. For example, saying that you've received an email. Even better if you say when you're going to reply. And today, the first day of the week that I was expecting a reply, I've only had two hours of screaming at the screen 'WHY HAVEN'T YOU EMAILED ME?' Which I like very much.

• pasta and tomatoes
• bath
• reading
• dragonfable
• tighten brakes

I love kylie. Have I mentioned this? I really love Kylie. And not just for her pretty bottom. Although I do love that, and her underwear range (called, funnily, 'Love Kylie') a lot too.

nanana, nana nanana, nanana, nana nanana...