Philip Yaffe is a former writer with The Wall Street Journal and international marketing communication consultant. He now teaches courses in persuasive communication in Brussels, Belgium. Because his clients use English as a second or third language, his approach to writing and public speaking is somewhat different from other communication coaches. He is the author of In the I" of the Storm: the Simple Secrets of Writing & Speaking (Almost) like a Professional. Contact: phil.yaffe@yahoo.com.
The Mathematics Of Persuasive Communication At first glance mathematics and persuasive communication – writing, and particularly public speaking - would seem to have little in common. After all, mathematics is an objective science, whilst speaking involves voice quality, inflection, eye contact, personality, body language, and other sub... Similar Editorial : Persuasive Communication by Robert F. Abbott. | Source : Online Freelance Writing
Fixing The Flaws In The 10 Principles Of Clear Writing by Philip YaffeI recently did an Internet search for "clear writing" and frequently came up with the same list of "10 principles of clear writing". Each one is a piece of very good advice; however the list has two faults.First, I am viscerally suspicious of all 10-item lists. They seem contrived. It's as if the writer decided that any self-respecting list should have 10 items, then set...... Similar Editorial : Facts About Diamond Flaws by Debra Gravelle. | Source : Wood Alphabet Blocks
Achieve Clear Writing For Ebooks by Philip YaffeSome people have experiences early in life that seem to have nothing to do with their intended careers but later turn out to be crucial. I am one of those lucky people.I graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1965 with a degree in mathematics and no intention of becoming a professional expository (non-fiction) writer. Immediately following graduating, I...... Similar Editorial : EBOOKS Are Books Too by Shadha Kudrath Ali. | Source : Wood Alphabet Blocks
Myths And Realities Of Writing For The Web by Philip Yaffe Ever since it became popular, I have been hearing that writing for the Web is different from writing for print. I have always been skeptical of this assertion and now after years of experience I am certain that it is wrong. To paraphrase poet Gertrude Stein: "A text is a text is a text". Whether it is on a piece of paper or a computer screen is of little consequence. What makes a...... Similar Editorial : New Realities for E by Lee Traupel. | Source : Wood Alphabet Blocks
Learning Languages To Grasp Science And Technology by Philip Yaffe"I was 24 years old when I first began thinking and speaking in a foreign language. It was like being released from prison. I saw my cell door swinging open and my mind flying free. That was over 40 years ago, but the picture is as fresh now as if it had just happened."I am a linguistic iconoclast. Throughout my life (I am now in my seventh decade), I have heard the mantra that...... Similar Editorial : Deciphering Skateboarding Languages by James Brown. | Source : Speak Hindi
What Abraham Lincoln Can Teach Us About Clear, Concise Writing By Philip YaffeAbraham Lincoln, America's iconic 16th President (1861-65), was never known as either a great writer or a great orator. Yet he penned one of the most highly praised and oft-quoted speeches in history. It was probably so good because it clearly expressed his controlled passion towards the monumental event he was talking about. Nevertheless, it is possible to dispassionately analyze...... Similar Editorial : Lincoln Mkz by Lauren Woods. | Source : Science Fiction Authors
Advice From Lewis Carroll & The Jabberwocky by Philip YaffeThe absolute, unalterable, incontestable hallmark of a good expository (non-fiction) text is its clarity. Whatever other attributes it may have, if it isn't clear, it isn't good, Likewise, if it isn't good, it isn't clear.Clarity being the prime criterion, what possible relationship could there between the absolute nonsense of Lewis Carroll's poem "The Jabberwocky" (in Alice through...... Similar Editorial : Advice on Self by Manuela Anne-Marie Pop. | Source : Science Fiction Authors
How To Apply The Three Acid Tests Of Persuasive Writing by Philip Yaffe"If you don't know what you are looking for, you are unlikely to find it, even if it's right in front of your nose." -- AnonWe all write in hopes that our readers will understand what we are saying with minimum effort and maximum pleasure. But how can we be certain that they will?We can't. However we can greatly improve the odds by abandoning subjective ideas of what constitutes...... Similar Editorial : Persuasive Communication by Robert F. Abbott. | Source : Science Fiction Authors
Shakespeare On Expository Writing by Philip YaffeWilliam Shakespeare was unquestionably one of the world's greatest poets and poetic playwrights. Arguably, his mastery of English far surpassed that of anyone else who ever put pen to paper.So what can Shakespeare -- a genius at playing the language almost like a violin -- possibly teach us about expository (non-fiction) writing, where ideas must prevail and the language made as...... Similar Editorial : Writing e by Glenn Murray. | Source : Science Fiction Authors
Don't Write Short Texts. Write Concise Ones by Philip Yaffe"Don't write short texts. Write concise ones."If you are puzzled by this admonition, it is probably because you have been led to believe that "short" and "concise" are synonyms. They aren't.My dictionary shows two definitions for "concise":1. Brief and to the point2. Short and clear.If "short" is already part of the definition of concise, they cannot be synonyms. There must be a...... Similar Editorial : How To Write E by Ewen Chia. | Source : Nonfiction Authors
