Are you a teacher trying to help struggling writers perk up their prose? Would you like to learn a little about language yourself as you put together lesson plans for your wards?Constance Hale's Lesson Plans for Teachers offers two semesters worth of material to prepare novice writers not just for college but for a lifetime of professional-grade work. Chock full of clear-headed explanations, dynamic exercises, and inspiring prompts, these lessons will transform the way novice write...

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

Today'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 Syntax covers grammar's ground rules while revealing countless unconventional syntax secrets (such as how to use—Gas...

This guide reveals how writers can utilize cognitive storytelling strategies to craft stories that ignite readers’ brains and captivate them through each plot element.Imagine knowing what the brain craves from every tale it encounters, what fuels the success of any great story, and what keeps readers transfixed. Wired for Story reveals these cognitive secrets—and it’s a game-changer for anyone who has ever set pen to paper.The vast majority of writ...

In this panorama of the thirties, Frederick Lewis Allen combines an eye for the significant trivia of everyday existence with a facility for neatly dissecting the political monoliths of the era. Whether discussing the varieties of bathtub gin or elucidating Keynesian economics, Allen displays, in the words of Edward Weeks of The Atlantic, “a talent for terse and telling résumé which is the envy of any historian.”

George Washington was a singular, often aloof man who sought out the counsel of a few, trusted men to help him share his task of governing a new nation. In Washington's Circle, David and Jeanne Heidler introduce not just the president but the group of extraordinary men who advised him. The familiar names are here like the often irked and occasionally irksome John Adams, the scheming Alexander Hamilton, and the prodigiously talented James "Jemmy" Madison, but so are the lesser know...

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...

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.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...

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...

The promise of a hot, satisfying meal in ten minutes or less is no longer the exclusive calling card of cheap pizza delivery. Everything from dinners on the run to crave-worthy snacks for a crowd can be yours in less time than it takes to hunt down those crusty take-out menus. While most “quick-fix” recipes call for chemically enhanced mixes or unsavory prepared foods, Real Food, Really Fast cuts no corners when it comes to quality. Inexpensive staples are reimagined with innovati...

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 ...