A fully revised and updated edition with writing prompts and challenges in every chapterToday’s writers need more spunk than Strunk: whether it's the Great American e-mail, Madison Avenue advertising, or Grammy Award-winning rap lyrics, memorable writing must jump off the page. Copy veteran Constance Hale is on a mission to make creative communication, both the lyrical and the unlawful, an option for everyone.With its crisp, witty tone, Sin and Synt...

"Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch is more than just a writing handbook; it’s a key to unlocking every writer’s innate creativity by offering countless paths to verbal expressiveness." —San Francisco ChronicleGreat sentences pivot on great verbs. In Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch, Constance Hale, best-selling author of Sin and Syntax, zeroes in on verbs that make bad writing sour and good writing sing. Each chapter in Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch

Come up with 10x More Ideas AND Get Rid of Your Mental BlocksMany of us want to be creative, but where are the ideas supposed to come from? You probably already know that simply wanting to get ideas isn’t enough to make them magically appear. Instead of getting frustrated and giving up, there is an easier way. Now, it will be a realistic goal to come up with a hundred or more ideas in a day. You can do this regardless of your profession or backgrou...

From allspice to za'atar . . . Fifty optimal herbs and spices, as well as ten spice blends, that will transform the way you cook.The key to becoming a skilled home cook isn't about tracking down the perfect recipes or mastering the techniques of professional chefs. It lies in understanding the vast world of flavor, one that can be difficult to navigate.Essential Spices and Herbs introduces you to the fifty must-know herbs and spices that will take ...

Dear Mister Essay Writer Guy,I have a hot crush on the em dash. What does my need to stuff—while simultaneously fracturing—my sentences—with the meandering, the explanatory, the discursive, the perhaps not-entirely-necessary—say about me?—Cheryl StrayedHave you ever wished there were an advice columnist for writers, but one who didn’t take things so damned seriously? This unique writing guide pairs questions sent in by top contemporary essayists with hilariously witty...

A recipe collection and how-to guide for preparing base ingredients that can be used to make simple, weeknight meals, while also teaching skills like building and cooking over a fire, and preserving meat and produce, written by a sustainable food expert and founder of Belcampo Meat Co."Home Cooked is an antidote to the chef and restaurant books that leave you no roadmap for tonight’s dinner. With Home Cooked, Anya gives you the confidence,...

"...Fresh, realistic, and comprehensive solutions for the millions of Americans who haven't saved enough for retirement."—NANCY COLLAMER, Public Speaker, Career Coach, and Author of Second-Act Careers: 50+ Ways to Profit Your Passions During Semi-RetirementWhen financial planning expert Melissa Phipps decided to quit her 9-to-5 and start her own business, she told herself, "the time is now." It wasn't retirement, but it was the first step. Not long after, she found...

Boost your brainpower with Memory Tips & Tricks. Like any other muscle in your body, your brain requires exercise to stay in shape and perform at its peak. Unfortunately, factors such as age, stress, and poor diet can contribute to permanent memory loss. Memory Tips & Tricks will explain the way memory works, and show you how to effectively combat memory loss. With simple techniques, you will be able to increase the capacity of your short-term memory, move new information into your long-te...

An illuminating look at the surprising upside of ambiguity—and how, properly harnessed, it can inspire learning, creativity, even empathyLife today feels more overwhelming and chaotic than ever. Whether it’s a confounding work problem or a faltering relationship or an unclear medical diagnosis, we face constant uncertainty. And we’re continually bombarded with information, much of it contradictory.Managing ambiguity—in our jobs, our relationships, and daily...

The answer to your dinnertime dilemma. Family-friendly soups to satisfy your soul—and stomach.To close the coldest, bone-chilling day or soothe the roughest afternoon, turn to Soup & Comfort for hearty classics, international favorites, and inventive updates.Packed with pages of nourishing, emotionally satisfying soups and stews using affordable, fresh, easy-to-find ingredients (No bouillon cubes here!), every recipe in this soup cookbook caters t...

The first cookbook to explore the best, most authentic Italian pasta sauce recipes from a regional perspective, by food writer, cooking teacher, and Milan native Micol Negrin.The culinary odyssey begins in northern Italy, where rich sauces are prepared with fresh cream or local cheese: Creamy Fontina Sauce with Crushed Walnuts and White Truffle Oil; Parmigiano Sauce with Fresh Nutmeg; Pine Nut and Marjoram Pesto.Central Italy is known for sauces made with c...

Ease Your Anxiety and Find Calm with the Ancient and Popular Practice of Mindfulness A modern practice with ancient roots, mindfulness is widely recognized for its calming, healing, and restorative effects. Mindfulness and meditation can help you relieve stress, regulate your emotions, achieve focus and clarity, strengthen your communication skills, and cultivate an appreciation for what is most important to you. Based on centuries of experience and new techniques in the field of psycholog...