Published in From the Library·PinnedConsistency in WritingConsistency is hard. That’s why it’s so rare–and so valuable. — As a writer, you need consistency for many reasons: Improving your craft Feeding creativity and generating ideas Building an audience or an author platform All of these goals require consistent effort over time. The importance of consistency came home to me recently reading Mark Schaefer’s new book Cumulative Advantage about…Writing3 min read
Published in The Startup·PinnedAre You Planning or Resisting?When you spend all your time planning instead of writing — A child stands at the end of a dock on a summer afternoon, gazing into the lake. She wants to jump in and swim, but spends a long time preparing herself. She sits on the edge of the dock and dangles her feet in the top inches of the lake…Writing4 min read
Published in From the Library·PinnedUsing Humor in Nonfiction WritingWhy “serious” topics benefit from levity — Humor. We love reading it, but many of us shy away from writing it. Done well, humor looks effortless. That’s usually an illusion. But, just like telling a story, getting someone to smile is a skill that we can practice and improve. Many of the nonfiction authors I admire approach…Humor Writing3 min read
4 days agoNoticing Your MusePay attention to the quiet voice of inspiration — This post is based on an excerpt from The Writer’s Process Workbook-an interactive guide to exploring and optimizing your personal writing process. This comes from the section on learning to welcome (and support) the Muse in your writing. Creativity isn’t a gift from the gods—it’s a product of our minds…Writing3 min read
Jun 17Reasons Not to Rush the WritingRushing is toxic to flow — “Let this take as long as it takes.” That is my new mantra. It’s surprisingly relaxing, and a marked shift from trying to pack as much as possible into each day. We eagerly absorb stories of aggressive schedules, tactics to keep our inboxes clear, and life hacks to get more…Writing4 min read
Jun 8Don’t Show Me All Your ResearchWhat to do when research is part of your writing style — If you write research-based nonfiction, you have to figure out how to deal with supporting research. How much should you include in the body of the text, and how much in end materials? There’s no single, right answer. Often it comes down to personal preference and voice. …Nonfiction Writing3 min read
May 19How Nature Makes You a Better WriterGo outside or gaze out that window. — A mockingbird staged a David and Goliath battle in my back yard recently, chasing and dive-bombing a much-larger crow. Eventually, the crow flew off with unhurried flaps, as if unfazed. This chasing, harassing behavior is called mobbing, even when there’s only one bird doing it. …Writing Tips4 min read
May 12Addressing the Reader: You, Us, One?Does the reader need immersion or distance? — Do you write to influence opinions or behavior? If so, you might bring the reader into the conversation. How do you address the reader? Do you: Use the pronoun you (as I did leading into this point) Aim for quaint or charming with dear reader? Get some distance with one…Writing4 min read
Apr 22Why Writers Need Self-CompassionShow up as if you were a mentor for yourself — Not long ago, I wrote a book with the title 33 Ways Not to Screw Up Your Business Emails. So imagine my embarrassment when I sent someone an email recently with the number 11,000 instead of 1,100. Here’s the chapter I wish I’d included in the book: What to do…Writing3 min read
Apr 12Simplifying Sentences to Spare the Reader’s BrainAvoid the “Where Was I?” sentence — Have you ever set off to get something from the kitchen, then been distracted by some other thought? You arrive in the kitchen and suddenly think, “What was I looking for here?” It’s frustrating. You might retrace your steps, returning to the starting point so you can remember what you…Writing Tips4 min read
