Steph Sta Maria

- Everyday language (return to vs. circle back on) - No redundant words (unexpected surprise) - Less adverbs (sprinted vs. ran quickly) - More monosyllables (use vs. utilise) - Straightforward over sophisticated - More full stops, less commas - One sentence, one idea

The single writing rule that produces my best work. It's called the 'Sesame Street Simple' rule. That’s what A.G. Lafley, former CEO of Procter & Gamble, called "writing that’s easy to understand and hard to misunderstand." And here's what it means:

@thejustinwelsh I’m stealing your plan.

My entire business plan for Q4 of 2023 is to avoid doing things I hate.

@austinkleon Hotel California by the Eagles

What’s a song you despise by a band you love? (Mine is “Be True To Your School” by The Beach Boys)

So special to interview Imran, an asylum seeker who now calls Melbourne ‘home’, but who also lived in Malaysia for 12 years. My heart cracked hearing his story. inside.melbourne/imran-asylum-s…

Emma Gilmartin on her love affair with jazz. New story on Inside Melbourne bit.ly/2rCu5I7 #melbjazzfest

@pptan Thanks so much! Hope we get to clink glasses again in the near future!

Geez @Dymocksbooks, your accidental newsletter woke me up faster than my second cup of coffee!

Latest interview - Andrew Raiskums of Gloriana chamber choir bit.ly/2nuOb8p

Snippets from the passion project that is fast taking over my life! steller.co/s/6jsCTmZy4tt

@RaraArchitect Thank you for the lovely gesture but I already have another engagement that night. Enjoy!!

Thanks @lanewaylearning for hosting my Partner Yoga session and for this pix! So much love in the room :) Looking forward to the next one!

A powerful story beautifully told. Thank you, @reporteracg & @AmyToensing #natgeo nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/…

Never been to #CarolsByCandlelight @visionaustralia? Jeff Gung tells you what you're missing here: bit.ly/2gUXw7C

My first movie in Melbourne was at @cinemanova. What a treat to interview the man behind its choices of movies! twitter.com/cinemanova/sta…

Minority Report fan? twitter.com/limlipeng/stat…

Still wrapping my mind around this #posttruth word. twitter.com/camanpour/stat…

Tore a page off my day calendar this morning. Talk about timing. #election2016

When there are no words. This powerful image by @heislerphoto for @nytimes nyti.ms/2ek9mGJ

This is storytelling in journalism. Fantastic piece, @DanBarryNYT! mobile.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/us/…