About the Author

John G.Maguire earned his Master of Fine Arts in Writing from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. A prolific writer, he authored three books: Hold Hands and Die, The Patty Hearst Story, and The Guide to Readable Writing. His journalism career spanned local and national newspapers, including the Albany Times-Union, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, the Miami News, and the Boston Herald. During his time as a reporter, he was recognized with a Pulitzer Prize nomination for his coverage of the Attica Riots. Over time, his reporting expertise evolved to focus on medical and technology beats.

After leaving journalism, John devoted his career to teaching writing to college undergraduates across Massachusetts, the state he called home. He began at Boston University's School of Journalism, where he directed the master's degree Program for Reporting on Science and Medicine. His teaching portfolio grew to include Babson College, Berklee College of Music, the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, Salem State College, and several community colleges throughout the Bay State. Over the years, he taught thousands of students the art of clear and effective writing.

Through observing his students' struggles with writing, John developed his groundbreaking Readable Writing method. This approach emphasized the use of concrete nouns and active verbs to achieve clarity and simplicity in writing. His final book, The Guide to Readable Writing, distilled decades of experience as a journalist, educator, and wordsmith into a practical, comprehensive guide for students of all kinds.

John's influence extended beyond the classroom. He contributed to the widely popular "Learning How to Learn" course on Coursera, led by Dr. Barbara Oakley and Dr. Terrence Sejnowski. The course, one of the most popular MOOCs ever created, has over 1 million enrollments and is still shared by thousands of learners every day. John's segment in the course, included as optional content, shared his insights on improving writing clarity, providing learners with practical strategies to write more effectively.

John tragically passed away in 2023, but his legacy lives on through the thousands of students he inspired and the many others who have benefited from his teachings. His family and friends continue to honor his commitment to the written word, ensuring that his impactful work endures for generations to come.