To draw and hold readers' attention, apply a Hollywood technique

Find the high concept for whatever you're writing, express it in a dozen words and let it dictate what you write.

Quotations give you wisdom of the ages

Speech writers gain ideas from and establish speakers' credibility with quotations. But you must take care in choosing and using others' words.

How to control interviews even when outranked

When your CEO focuses on a personal agenda rather than the story you're researching, the following techniques help you put the interview back on track.

Use metaphors to communicate, not decorate

Good metaphors emerge from the writer's experience and observation. They connect the readers' knowledge to new ideas or information through concrete images.

Nourish old writing skills, add new ones for the Web

The Web requires many of the same writing skills as print, but successful writers develop new ways of breaking up and linking.