Every Writer Who Wants Readers Should Do This
What’s the goal of every writer once she hits publish? To get readers, right? If you’re sharing because you can, that’s a good start. It’s scary to put your work before people who can criticize you. Getting no reaction may scare you more. Anyone can publish in this always-connected world. We have freedom to speak […]
3 Powerful Reasons Why Every Writer Needs a Deadline
Blake Atwood said, “Without a deadline, every word you write will feel like you’re building a bridge to nowhere.” I have two clients I’ve promised to send 4 articles every month. At the first of the month, I decide what I’ll write each week. Otherwise, I can get distracted by a thousand unrelated things: doing […]
Why You Should Write to Yourself
Have you ever designed a persona? If you’re wondering what I mean by that, let me explain. A persona is a profile of your ideal customer. If you were writing fiction, it would be like creating a character for your story. You want to know things like: Age Sex Income Job Location Then you’ll want […]
Three Ways to Make Your Daily Writing Time Count
Photo Credit: mclcbooks Flickr via Compfight cc You’ve heard you should get up early to write. Research shows your brain is most creative in the morning. Your conscious mind sleeps. Your unconscious mind doesn’t. It’s always churning ideas – which may be why you have dreams. So why not take advantage of this natural cycle? […]
How to Find Your Writing Voice Today – Even if You've Been Shamed for Sharing It
Photo Credit: ssoosay Flickr via Compfight cc What does your writing voice sound like? Do you have one? You do, even if you haven’t defined it. In this article, you’ll see how to find yours and set it free – even if it’s been silent for years! You have a writing voice – even if […]
What I Learned at the Funeral of a 23 Year Old – Frank McKinley, Author
This morning I joined some 300 friends and family to celebrate the life of Megan Twist. I never had the pleasure of meeting Megan. What I learned about her today was beautiful, inspiring, and heartbreaking. She was beautiful because she loved people well. She was inspiring because she let people feel free to be themselves. […]
Four Compelling Reasons You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Write Crappy First Drafts
What does it take to consistently write good stuff? How do you write so well your readers rave about it? Can anyone learn how to do this, or do you need special talent? You can write well – every time you write. You can connect with readers again and again. You don’t have to be […]
8 Reasons Why Every Blog Post You Write is a Risk Worth Taking
Wouldn’t it be great if you always felt ready to share your writing with the world? Jeff Goins says in his book You are a Writer: you need to practice in public. Doctors and lawyers call their work practice. We refer to work processes as practices. When someone is successful, we want to know his […]
8 Reasons Bad Grammar Ruins Good Writing and 5 Ways to Fix It
Last week I bought a book on persuasion. I’m always looking for new strategies to persuade people, so I hoped to gain something useful from it. I couldn’t make it to the second chapter. It started off small. One grammar mistake. Then another. And another. With each page, the number increased. It got so bad […]
Why Every Writer Needs a Brand: My Review of Your Brand is Calling
I just finished reading Your Brand is Calling by my friend Mike Loomis. This is the best book on branding I’ve come across. Brands aren’t only for multibillion dollar companies like Geico, Walmart, and AMC Theaters. If you’re a writer, an artist, or another kind of creative, you need a brand. Whether you realize it […]