The A-Z of writing
A mini-series that will influence and improve your words for work.
For writing to be effective it needs to be human, to connect us as humans. This is a time when we all need to be more aware of the potential of words – and to use them with greater joy.”
John Simmons
In 2020, John Simmons wrote a series of chapters based on his book The Invisible Grail from which the spirit of Invisible Grail is descended. Starting with an introduction, each chapter takes the next step along the alphabet and in the process gifts ideas that will help you find the words to motivate, inspire and engage people reading your writing.
Take a look and top up your inspiration for writing at work.
Introduction: The A-Z of writing
Two decades ago I wrote a book called The Invisible Grail. It was about writing better stories in and for organisations, because stories matter, they connect… Read more.
Chapter one
A-b
Any writer knows that it’s not always easy to get started. Sometimes the world seems to be divided into writers and people who want to be writers…
Chapter two
B-c
Before you begin, think about how you are going to grab your reader’s attention…
Chapter four
D-e
Do this, don’t do that. Deadlines demand timely headlines. Alliteration and rhyme, the techniques of poetry, do we use them or abuse them?
Chapter five
E-f
Eggs over easy. Remembering business trips to the US and staying in hotels where they offered that almost endless list of American ways of having eggs for breakfast.
Chapter six
F-g
F*** business.’ At least Boris Johnson was clear when he uttered those words…
Chapter seven
G-h
Gotcha! is the headline many British people think of when headlines are mentioned.
Chapter eight
H-i
How do you make a thought more vivid? Metaphors are certainly one way to do it.
Chapter seventeen
Q-r
Questions can be very useful in helping you get started on a piece of writing.
Chapter nineteen
S-t
Short simple words are the demands of the modern chief executive. Short words suit swift actions.
Chapter twenty-two
V-w
Very few of you will have failed to notice that I like to use quotations.
Chapter twenty-three
W-x
‘What’s in a name?’ goes the familiar quotation from Romeo and Juliet.
Chapter twenty-five
Y-z
Ending on endings.