Experience Summary
More than 30 years of writing and editing have taught me that effective written communication begins long before the first word. It begins with accurate and detailed perception, whether of an event or one’s own thoughts. This perception then is related with precision, which is created using the tools of semantics, syntax, punctuation and grammar. My work as a daily newspaper editor and as senior writer in corporate public affairs and marketing departments have provided the opportunity to mentor countless young writers in this approach.
Teaching Style
Sharing what I’ve learned about writing has been the most gratifying aspect of my work over all these years. I’ve learned that lecturing or directing is an ineffective, if not counterproductive, method of teaching. Rather, I prefer to help the student reach the same conclusions I have through questioning him or her, first about perceptions and then about what options exist for most clearly and accurately recounting them. Technical aspects such as grammar and punctuation obviously don’t lend themselves to this approach. For these, I use the time-proven red pen, but I also review the markup with the writer, explaining the logic behind the correction.