On my way to deliver a short writing session in Birmingham and my quiz buzzers have had to be separated like naughty school kids. They kept bashing into each other - I had to put one in my pocket but it sometimes goes off when I move and sometimes just when in fancies.

On my way to Birmingham for a writing session, and my quiz buzzers keep going off. I’ve had to separate them like naughty schoolchildren to stop them bashing into each other, but keep forgetting there’s one in my pocket and accidentally tapping it.

I'm off to Birmingham to do some training on Monday and have been busy giving all my plain English examples a Christmas twist. (December 1 is the start of Christmas, yes?)

Quick but essential writing tip: shorten your sentences to make your copy easier to read.

Here's an exercise you can do to practise your writing. Find a long sentence (50/60 words) in a magazine or website. What can be said more simply, in fewer words or cut out altogether? Then rewrite it into sentences with no more than 25 words in each.

Does the thought of writing make you nervous? Our new "Write With Confidence" workshop will help. We’ll show you the foolproof techniques to ensure every piece of writing is a good one. We can help with grammar too. So if you need a confidence booster - get in touch!

On my way to Bristol to deliver some writing training. Brought along six quiz buzzers which are randomly going off and startling other people in the train.

Do you say "come for a walk with Tom and me" or "come for a walk with Tom and I"? Not sure? The trick is to take away the other person. You'd say "come for a walk with me" so the answer here is "come for a walk with Tom and me." Simple!

Tautology is effectively saying the same thing twice. For example, "free gift" - it's not a gift if it isn't free so you don't need to use the extra word.

Transform your emails, reports and more in a 60-minute online coaching session. I'll analyse your writing beforehand and show you the quick, easy and highly effective changes you can make. Available any time to suit you!

Did you know that continual and continuous don't mean the same thing? Continual means something that keeps happening but with stoppages, while continuous means it doesn't stop. So continual rain is not the same as continuous rain.

What's the difference between "less" and "fewer"? Use FEWER when you can count something e.g. "I must eat fewer slices of cake this week." Use "less" when you can't count it e.g. "I'll have less cream this time please!"

Having written the copy about the @brightonchamber breakfast speaker for years, I'm finally giving the talk myself tomorrow. I'll be discussing journalism, copywriting, training, self-publishing and interrailing. Hope to see you there! (Pic is of me on a train in the Netherlands)

If you are 30-ish and suffer with a bad back due to your work posture, I would love to speak to you for a national newspaper article. Looking for people who have #back issues caused by too much sitting at their computer. Sound like you? @journorequest @physioupdate UK-based. Ta!

January is a great month to learn something new! Our online course is easy to follow, quick to do and extremely useful.

My first book has been published! "Crowded Platforms and Window Seats" is an entertaining account of my 3-week family interrail trip in July. There's also a nostalgic look back at my 1988 trip and tips for anyone inspired to go interrailing themselves.

Is it Halloween or Hallowe'en? And why? Read our bog to find out. https://t.co/kxFSCmSMRD

Why not become a better writer at work in your lunch hour? One 60-minute session can erase many of your common errors from apostrophes to colons. Be confident your documents, emails and reports are error-free. Contact us now to find out more. #training #writing

Why not become a better writer at work in your lunch hour? One 60-minute session can erase many of your common errors from apostrophes to colons. Be confident your documents, emails and reports are error-free. Contact us now to find out more. #training #writing

The easiest way to improve your writing at a stroke is to write in short sentences. Aim for no more than 25 words in each.