Elements of Eloquence is a witty and insightful guide to the art of rhetoric, exploring the secrets of crafting perfect phrases and sentences. Mark Forsyth examines various rhetorical devices and figures of speech, demonstrating their power and effectiveness in communication. The book is structured around different types of rhetorical figures, providing examples from literature and everyday language. Forsyth's engaging writing style makes complex linguistic concepts accessible to a wide audience. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in improving their writing and speaking skills.
In 'Clear Thinking', Shane Parrish provides a comprehensive manual for improving decision-making and personal growth. The book highlights how most people operate on autopilot, driven by behavioral defaults shaped by biology, evolution, and culture. Parrish offers strategies to recognize and capitalize on pivotal moments between stimulus and response, using stories, mental models, and a 4-stage decision process (define, explore, evaluate, execute). The book aims to help readers build self-knowledge, self-control, and self-confidence, and to make better decisions by balancing emotions with rational thinking and gathering high-quality information.
This book is both a memoir and a writing guide. It details Stephen King's life, from his childhood and early writing endeavors to his struggles with addiction and his near-fatal accident in 1999. The book is divided into sections that cover King's life ('C.V.'), the nature of writing ('What Writing Is'), writing mechanics ('Toolbox'), his advice on the craft ('On Writing'), and his recovery from the accident ('On Living: A Postscript'). King offers practical tips on writing, including the importance of vocabulary, grammar, and style, as well as the need for consistent writing routines and ruthless editing. He emphasizes that good writing comes from within, driven by curiosity, wonder, and emotional honesty rather than commercial motives.
Ellen Fishbein is a full time editor who has worked with writers like Coleman Hughes, Shane Parrish, and David Perell. She and her team offer coaching via Writing.coach and publish short books via Altamira Studio.
Expect to learn Ellen’s 3 Principles of Writing that she wishes were taught in school, the importance of having clear goals before you begin writing, why we should first focus on being persuasive in our writing, and how to begin “deschooling” from the academic writing style. We also talk about how Ellen developed a love for reading and writing at a young age and how parents can encourage passionate children to fall in love with the process of writing.
Chapters:
0:00 - Ellen Fishbein
3:24 - Why is Writing So Important?
5:06 - The 3 Principles of Writing
13:30 - What Do we Need to Unlearn from Public School
18:44 - What Really Matters When it Comes to Writing
25:18 - Why is it So Hard to Distill What We Want to Say?
32:25 - Deschooling from Academic Writing
36:44 - Is There Utility to Learning to Write in the Way We Teach in School?
40:30 - Advice for Homeschooling Parents
45:45 - Ellen's Education and Writing Experience
49:44 - The Power of Encouraging Kids to Write
51:39 - Ellen's Current Projects
52:53 - Memes Make Millions
Ellen’s 3 Principles of Writing
What you say and how you say it. (What you say is most important)
Writing is an act of communication with an objective (what do you want the person to think, feel, or do in response to this)
Editing is the fun part (Get the first draft down, THEN revise and iterate on what you’re saying and how you’re saying it)
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Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
On Writing - Stephen King
The Hemingway App
Elements of Eloquence - Mark Forsyth
Ask Aristotle - Vishal Sharma & William Jaworski
Memes Make Millions - Jason Levin
Connect with Ellen Fishbein:
Twitter: @EllenRhymes
Website: https://ellenrhymes.com
Coaching: Writing.coach
Publishing: Altamira.studio
Connect with Hannah Frankman:
Twitter | https://twitter.com/HannahFrankman
RebelEducator | https://twitter.com/rebelEducator
Website | http://hannahfrankman.com
Follow along for conversations on education, lifestyle, personal development, and freedom. All in ardent pursuit of a life well lived.
The Hannah Frankman Podcast 
