ChatGPT looks like magic. You plug various facts and information in, and out come these polished sentences…

What happens when a conversation has run its course?

If you’re looking for a professional formula for success, this is it…

This podcast asks what it looks like to do law differently. Tune in to hear my thoughts on communication and how I forged my own alternative legal career …

It was my absolute pleasure to be a guest on the Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers podcast, hosted by my friend and colleague, Paula Price…

Podcast listeners, this one’s for you. Shelley Appleby-Ostroff invited me onto her podcast to talk about writing emails that actually work…

This sounds easy, but it isn’t.

Whenever you are presenting and you have notes, your notes emit an irresistible siren call. Suddenly, you can’t look away — you have to make sure you read every. single. word. After all, you don’t want to miss anything.

But here’s the problem…

Whenever I meet a new person, my brain races around looking for clues so that I can get to know them.

What makes them smile?

Do they look like they’re having a tough day?

Travelling around rural Québec for two weeks taught me more than just a few new French words.

It also gave me an insight into how important it is to try. Even if you can’t do it perfectly, just trying counts for so much.

Let me explain…

When you speak to a group, do you carefully recite your speaking notes, word for word?

Or do you actually tell your story, whatever you’re talking about? Are you so caught up in your story that you’re picturing it in your head and you’re naturally using words that pull your audience into your world?

It's not just cars and boats and Ferris wheels that can make you feel green around the gills — screens can also make you feel motion sick. I learned this the hard way …

A screen will never measure up to meeting in person — but there is more we can do to make our virtual interactions feel less awkward and more alive. We can start by taking our cues from real life …

In pre-pandemic times when I led a workshop, I met and shook hands with every single person coming into the room.

Now, I stand behind my laptop, staring at a small green light that means my camera is working. My hand will not fit through that 4-millimetre opening. I try to look welcoming but I generally can’t see anyone

I am giving the only thing I have left: the gift of my presence.

I have two questions for you:

What do you love about email?

What do you hate about email?

Take a moment. Think about your answers. Say them aloud or write a couple of notes down.

Imagine there is a fly in your office.

You are probably hyper-aware of it. Where it is. What sound it’s making. Whether it’s landing on your head.

Now, imagine seven flies.

The young lawyer’s hand shot up at the end of recent writing workshop.

“But why shouldn’t we use legalese? I mean, doesn’t using legalese give us a veneer of sophistication? Doesn’t it show clients that you’re a real lawyer?”

As the daughter of a woodworker, I know the word veneer well.

Oh, sure, it looks like such an innocent little word.

What possible problem could a teeny-tiny preposition like of cause?

Just because it’s helped you out in the odd game of Scrabble, don’t be fooled.

Of is a sneaky character — much like Lefty the letter salesman trying to sell Ernie an "O" up above.

Try this: read a news story online or listen to a radio newscast and count how many times you hear the word additional.

“The total cost estimate for additional security …”
“The province has already seen an additional 43 wildfires this year …”
“Canada will invite the leaders of a dozen additional countries ...”

Journalists — and many other professions — love the word additional.

But why?

Trees are a renewable resource.

I tell you this to head off your main objection to printing: you need to save those poor old trees that were viciously chopped down, dragged away, and turned into innocuous white pieces of printer paper. In fact, more trees will grow after that. It’s OK.

Now, let’s talk about why I believe printing is an essential part of the editing process…

“Lights, camera, action verbs!”

Oh, wait — you don’t know that saying?

Let me tell you, it’s taking off in writing coaching circles. Well, at least in this writing coach’s circle.

Some of the best advice I’ve received as a writer is to focus on my verbs…