Book Signings at Dressage at Devon
Dressage at Devon, Devon, PA, is the preeminent dressage show in the US, with a great trade fair. I’ll be signing copies of Olympic Equestrian and The USDF Guide to Dressage at The Paddock Saddlery booth Friday, Sept. 26, from 2:00-3:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 27, from 4:00-5:00 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 28, from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!
September 20, 2008
News
Writer's Block Is a Gift
Writer’s block is a gift. Why? Because it means you have time to fiddle and faddle with your words (or the lack thereof). Writing on deadline—as in news coverage for a Web site—is a sure cure for I-don’t-know-how-to-begin. Get yourself an assignment that requires you to file the story right away, and you’ll find that when you absolutely, positively have to write, you can somehow manage it. Don’t know how to snag such an assignment? Try signing up for a Journalism 101-type class—anything that will force you to create on the clock.
September 03, 2008
Writing Tip of the Week
Book Signing This Weekend
Saturday, September 6 is forecast to be rainy. What better way to spend the day than with good books? Come out to the Chester County Book Company, West Chester, PA, one of the area’s largest independent booksellers. Fresh (and mostly rested) from the 2008 Games in China, I’ll be signing copies of Olympic Equestrian: A Century of International Horse Sport beginning at 1:00 p.m. I’ll be happy to share stories of Hong Kong!
September 03, 2008
News
Off to Hong Kong
I’ll be spending much of August in Hong Kong, covering the 2008 Olympic equestrian events. Read my reports and blogs for USDF and The Horse.
Need Olympic equestrian coverage for your media outlet or a press release for your business?
July 30, 2008
News
Awards for USDF Connection
The magazine I edit, USDF Connection, took home three prizes from the 2008 American Horse Publications awards contest. An article and a cover illustration each took first place in its respective category, and the magazine won the General Excellence, Association Magazine honorable mention.
June 30, 2008
News
Deconstruct Good Writing
Sit down with a few copies of a magazine you enjoy. Don’t just read the articles; analyze the way they’re crafted. What do you admire about the writing, and why? What kinds of “voices” shine through? What narrative and organizational devices do the stories employ? To become a better writer, become a critical reader.
June 25, 2008
Writing Tip of the Week
Book Signing
I’ll be signing copies of Olympic Equestrian: A Century of International Horse Sport Saturday, June 28, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Rick’s Heritage Saddlery, West Chester, PA.
June 25, 2008
News
Go the Extra Mile for Your Editor
You’ve slaved over your story: an assigned profile of business tycoon Donald Trump. Don’t send your editor the story with the non-title “Donald Trump Profile.” Give it a catchy headline that’s appropriate for the media outlet, and add a deck (subtitle) while you’re at it. Your title may or may not get used, but your editor will appreciate your efforts.
April 27, 2008
Writing Tip of the Week
Author Q&A online
Read a Q&A about the newly revised edition of my book Olympic Equestrian in Eclipse Press’s Media Room.
April 27, 2008
News
The Devil Is in the Details
Paint your readers a complete picture. Refer to “the slender fawn Greyhound with huge dark eyes and a black-tipped muzzle” instead of “the brown dog.”
February 09, 2008
Writing Tip of the Week
Pilates Book Featured at USDF Convention
Betsy Steiner, lead author of A Gymnastic Riding System Using Mind, Body & Spirit, signed books and was a keynote speaker at the 2007 USDF convention.
February 09, 2008
News
A Recipe for "How-to" Writing
Step-by-step “how-to” articles are difficult to write well. Think of your article as a recipe in a cookbook: If the reader follows your instructions exactly, will he or she achieve precisely the desired result? If not, find the glitches—perhaps missed steps or imprecise instructions—and fix them for a delicious outcome, every time.
January 25, 2008
Writing Tip of the Week
Olympic Equestrian Revision Coming Soon
In time for the 2008 Games, Eclipse Press is publishing the revised edition of my book Olympic Equestrian—now subtitled A Century of International Horse Sport. With updated results, new rider profiles and interviews, and stunning new photos. Look for it this spring!
January 25, 2008
News
Lean, Mean, and Clean
Got a 1,500-word assignment? Take the time to pare your story down to the allotted length. Turn in clean copy: fact-checked, spell-checked, and with suggested head, deck, and subheads. Your editor will thank you.
July 02, 2007
Writing Tip of the Week
AHP Awards
The USDF Guide to Dressage took third place in its book division in the 2006 American Horse Publications awards contest. “Competitor’s Rescue Guide,” a piece I wrote for the April 2006 issue of USDF Connection, took third in the large-circ “Service to the Reader” category.
July 02, 2007
News
Lead by Example
Readers love anecdotes--real-life stories they can relate to. So for that “disease of the month” story, find an affected person and lead with her saga.
April 29, 2007
Writing Tip of the Week
Awards Finalists
Articles I wrote for USDF Connection—plus the magazine itself—are finalists in the American Horse Publications 2006 awards contest. Winners to be announced in June.
April 29, 2007
News
Olympic Equestrian Revision
Eclipse Press, publisher of my first book, Olympic Equestrian, will release an updated and revised edition in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, with all-new photos, results, and interviews.
April 15, 2007
News
Increase Your Activity
Don’t let your words be passive victims. Energize them by using the active voice whenever possible.
April 15, 2007
Writing Tip of the Week
Write What You Know
Few general-interest publications remain, while “niche” mags abound. If you have specialized expertise, that knowledge may help you break in to a market. Amass a track record of solid writing and you may just become indispensable.
February 05, 2007
Writing Tip of the Week
Pilates Site Features Book
Balanced Body Pilates features Equilates: A Gymnastic Riding System, my book with dressage trainer Betsy Steiner, in its new brochure for equestrians. Betsy is also featured on the brochure’s cover.
February 05, 2007
News
Grab Them with Anecdotes
People like to read about people. For an attention-getting opener, start your nonfiction story with a real-life anecdote about someone with the problem du jour. It’s a tried-and-true method of drawing the reader in to the story.
December 05, 2006
Writing Tip of the Week
Local author night
Live in the Chester County, PA, area? Come to the Chester County Book Company in West Goshen Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. The USDF Guide to Dressage and I are on the bill for Local Author Night.
December 05, 2006
News
So What?
Good service journalism clearly states why readers should care about what you’re telling them. I call it the “so what?” Explain why and how the information you’re presenting will help your reader be happier, lose weight, make money, master a sport--whatever the purpose of the story.
November 13, 2006
Writing Tip of the Week
Book signing at USDF convention
Coming to the 2006 U.S. Dressage Federation annual convention in Kansas City, MO? Stop by and say hi. I’ll be signing copies of The USDF Guide to Dressage from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1. Convention details at http://www.usdf.org.
November 13, 2006
News
Mix It Up
Repetition of adjectives or adverbs in a paragraph makes for dull reading. If your subject was “happy” in the first sentence, then perhaps she could be “elated” or “joyful” if you refer to her state of mind again.
October 10, 2006
Writing Tip of the Week
Book signing, talk at UConn
I’ll be talking about and signing copies of The USDF Guide to Dressage at the University of Connecticut Co-op bookstore Sat., Oct. 28, at 1:30 p.m. Details at http://uconncoop.booksense.com.
October 10, 2006
News
Be Wasteful with Words
Writers: Go ahead and let those words pour out. Try not to self-censor (it’s hard, I know). Put the piece away and look at again in a day or two. The awkward, extraneous stuff will leap out at you like a neon sign.
August 25, 2006
Writing Tip of the Week
Book signing at Dressage at Devon
I’ll be signing copies of The USDF Guide to Dressage at Dressage at Devon (PA). Come by the USDF booth from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29 and Saturday, Sept. 30.
August 25, 2006
News
Five Star Review
The USDF Guide to Dressage just received a five-star review (posted to Amazon.com) from ArmchairInterviews.com. What a way to kick off the Amazon reader reviews! The book was so much work—three years in the making, give or take—so it is immensely gratifying to see it receiving a warm welcome. At BookExpo America in Washington, DC, last month (the national book-publishing trade show), Storey representatives told me that sales were brisk. The thought of introducing many people to the sport of dressage and to USDF is a real thrill.
June 16, 2006
News
USDF Connection finalist
USDF Connection, the magazine I edit, is a finalist in the 2005 American Horse Publications awards contest! Awards to be announced in late June.
June 10, 2006
News
Writing Tip of the Week - June 12, 2006
What do you like to read? Those genres are probably what you’ll find easiest to write.
May 29, 2006
Writing Tip of the Week