Spectators don’t see the effort that goes into preparing for a rowing race. Readers don’t see the effort that goes into writing a book. But the work is there. This essay offers a brief reflection on The Boat Race and books.
The Reality of the Book-Writing Process:...
Is this normal? The word “normal” has popped up for me in several contexts lately: “normal” in a statistical sense (think variation); “normal” to describe people (warning: tricky area); “normal” to describe something that is typical. A couple of client conversations also got me thinking about “normal” in the book-writing process. Before you embark on […]
Tired But Still Need to Write? Try These...
Sometimes you must make writing progress even when you are not in top form—you’re tired, you have a cold, but there’s a firm deadline. Here are three tips to ease your writing so you can continue to make progress. Bonus: They work at other times too!
How to Write When You Can’t: Try Shadow
Sometimes it feels impossible to write—whether due to a slippery subject or the need to fill your creative well. When you’re not quite ready to write but want to sidle up to it, try “shadow writing.” Here are some tips.
From Intuition to Action: The Value of P...
Whether your gut is telling you to write a book or complete some other big project, that feeling is there for a reason. This brief article offers a gentle reminder: if you have a time-sensitive dream, it’s time to act.
Feeling Mucky? How to Get Your Writing U...
Writing is a creative process with inevitable ups and downs–including getting stuck down in the muck. Try these 7 tips for getting unstuck.
Is this your year to write a book?
If this is your year to write a book, three simple mindset tricks can help—because writing is as much a mental game as a butt-in-chair game.
Learning to Love Feedback on Your Writin...
Getting feedback on your writing is one of the best ways to improve it. Need convincing? Read about the benefits & follow these tips for warming up to what could be a game changer for you.
The Most Obvious “Secret” Writing Advice
What’s the best piece of writing advice you may ever receive? The definitive response to “How can I be a better writer”? Here’s the best answer ever.
Eliminate Friction to Keep Your Readers’
To keep your readers’ attention, look at your book with the mindset of removing any “friction,” whether in language, design, or emotion. This post also examines ways to ferret out hidden friction that can prevent readers from engaging with your book.
Writing in Small Steps to Reach Big Mile...
When writing a book feels overwhelming, try writing in small steps. Leverage your existing content development plans to make progress toward your ultimate (increasingly attainable) goal.
On Reflection: The Joy of Creating Books
Creating books is one of the ways I’ve found joy this year, giving me 3 priceless rewards. How have you found your joy? And what’s next for you? Will it be creating a book?