Juncture: A Writerly Newspaper has published one of my short stories! It’s about a man obsessed with management techniques. It’s called, The Manner of Leadership.

Here’s an article I did that asks a question you’ve probably asked yourself once or twice: Could Jane Austen hold down a corporate job?

I’ve determined, after a morning of research, that she probably could.

David Ogilvy is the father of modern advertising. He’s a smooth British gentlemen who has the swagger of Ian Fleming. It’s hard not to like him…and learn from him. Here’s my article: 5 Leadership Lessons From David Ogilvy

William Faulkner wrote 14 novels, a slew of short stories, and even wrote the odd script for Hollywood. The surprising part is he did most of this on a small farm in Mississippi with a bad drinking habit. Clearly Faulkner’s work habits can inform our approach to work and productivity.

I attended a UN panel discussion called Legitimacy & Civil Society. I thought I was an idiot since I didn’t know exactly what legitimacy meant. Turns out I was far from alone. Here’s my write up of the afternoon.

Good rhetoric, for Aristotle, was oftentimes the deciding factor in court cases, philosophical arguments, and business transactions. That’s why he wrote Rhetoric–a short briefing on the use and scope of the spoken word. He even offers the eager reader 5 keys to telling a good story. Learn them and conquer your fear of first dates, dinner parties, and elevator conversations.

Isaac Asimov was only 22 when he wrote Foundation–a sci-fi epic molded of  the scope of Edward Gibbon’s The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire.

After I read the first chapter of Foundation I knew Asimov and I would be good friends.

The first pages of what would turn into Asimov’ s best know saga follow a scientist who curses like a grandma while he busily works on an Encyclopedia of all human knowledge.

How could a teenager refuse?

I figured we could learn something from him:

5 Leadership Lessons from Isaac Asimov

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Hesitation, pretension, and lack of confidence get in the way of good writing. No one likes to read something written by a guy who never gets to a point or by someone who is a know-it-all bore. The trick to writing is to make sure you are honest, direct, and simple. The following essays help writers do exactly that.

1. George Orwell, Politics and The American Language. Essential reading.

2. Strunk & White’s The Elements of Style is over 50 years old, but it  reads like it was printed last week . E.B. White’s concluding remarks, in the chapter called, An Approach to Style, are particularly good. Find the 4th Edition of the book here, for free.

3. William Zinsser, author of On Writing Well, explains the simple truths behind good writing: Writing English As a Second Language.

4. Lester Dent, pulp master, explains the art of writing of a good story. His advice can also inform article and copy writing. Pulp Paper Master Fiction Plot.

5. I wish Hemingway’s book, On Writing, was online and free, but it’s not. You’ll just have to buy it. But these articles explain some of the main points Hemingway preached: Hemingway Productivity & 5 Tips For Writing Well & (most importantly) Hemingway on When to Stop Writing.

6. Kurt Vonnegut lays out 8 steps for writers. All wise. Here is his answer to the question: can writing be taught?

Bonus:  29 famous authors explain their ‘10 Rules For Writing Fiction‘