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Why Americans write 'canceled' but still write 'cancellation.' How printing history gave us 'fine print.' Fluff.
Episode 1059
1059. Ever wonder why Americans use "canceled" with one L but still write "cancellation" with two? We explore how spelling rules, stress patterns, an…
1 year ago
Writing Motivation Hacks, with Mary Robinette Kowal
Episode 1058
1058. If you struggle to sit down and write, you’ll love this conversation with award-winning author and podcaster Mary Robinette Kowal. Learn how to…
1 year ago
Why we misuse ‘literally.’ How ham radio got its name. District
Episode 1057
1057. Why do people use "literally" when they mean "figuratively"? This week, we look at how the meaning of "literally" changed over time. Plus, we l…
1 year ago
How to be a ghostwriter, with Dan Gerstein
Episode 1056
1056. Ghostwriting is more than just anonymous book writing — it’s a thriving industry. Dan Gerstein, founder of Gotham Ghostwriters, shares how writ…
1 year, 1 month ago
Why some holidays have apostrophes. Why Californians say ‘the 405.’ MIGD
Episode 1055
1055. Ever wonder why some holidays have apostrophes while others don’t? We look at Mother’s Day, Veterans Day, and Presidents’ Day. Then, we look at…
1 year, 1 month ago
Word games and the joy of playing every day, with Lex Friedman
Episode 1054
1054. Ever wonder what goes into designing daily word games? Lex Friedman, creator of Lex.games, shares his journey from puzzle lover to puzzle maker…
1 year, 1 month ago
'Toeing' the line. Metonymy versus synecdoche. Ghost town mad
Episode 1053
1053. If you’ve ever hesitated between ‘toe the line’ and ‘tow the line,’ this episode is for you. We look at the phrase's history to clear up the co…
1 year, 1 month ago
Wordplay and cartoons: Inside the making of 'AB@C,' with Rob Meyerson and Dan Misdea
Episode 1052
1052. What do “CDB” and “U11 2” have in common? They’re both examples of gramograms!
This week, I chat with writer Rob Meyerson and New Yorker cartoo…
1 year, 1 month ago
Does 'book-book' make sense? Fun words for jigsaw lovers. Chilly chickens.
Episode 1051
1051. This week, we look at doubled words, like "salad-salad" or "job-job," and what the repetition is actually telling us. Then, in honor of Nationa…
1 year, 1 month ago
The secret to writing a good memoir, with Wendy Dale
Episode 1050
1050. This week, I talk with Wendy Dale, author of "The Memoir Engineering System," about how to write a compelling memoir. We look at the differenc…
1 year, 1 month ago