The Active Muse: 3 Ways Exercise Will Make You a Better Writer
I figure there’s probably a gazillion writing tips on the internet. They’re about research, structure, plotting, and character development. They suggest ways you can write better dialogue, craft better paragraphs, and use adverbs (or not). As abundant as those tips...
Book Writing Lessons From the Velveteen Rabbit
“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up, or bit by bit?” The Velveteen Rabbit asks that question in Margery Williams's book. The rabbit wants to become real, and I’m sure it hopes the answer to the question will be that it happens all at once. That’s not the...
Music Has Charms To Make You a Better Writer
When my son Dave was in high school, he had a long walk every morning from our house to the BART station. He loves music, so he listened to music while he walked. One day, he noticed that walking to the train station with some music took him less time than with...
Finding Time To Write Is the Biggest Challenge for Nonfiction Authors: Here’s Why and What To Do About It
In 2020, Anne Janzer surveyed over 400 nonfiction writers about their experiences and problems writing their books. She asked writers where they were stuck. One answer stood out. Can you guess what it was? “Finding time to write” was the biggest challenge by far. Well...
3 Keystone Habits That Will Set Your Book Project Up for Success
All my clients are motivated when they start their book projects. They’re full of enthusiasm. They know they will be challenged to do good work, and they’re ready for the challenge. Most of them are not ready for the challenge of consistently producing good work for a...
3 Ways To Find Your Angel in the Marble
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. “ That marvelous quote is attributed to Michelangelo and often offered as advice to writers. There are only two problems with that. First, Michelangelo probably didn’t say it. Second, while it might be...
Plan Slow, Write Fast. Take the Time To Plan Your Book Right.
You decided to write a book. Great! That’s exciting. Writing a book can make a difference in your life and your business. It can make a difference in the lives of people who read it. The process of writing can be a journey of discovery. All of that is true, but none...
How and What To Read To Improve Your Writing
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” ~ Stephen King Stephen King knows a thing or two about writing. He’s written 65 novels selling over 400 million copies, so you should take him seriously when he says...
3 Reasons to Single-Task and Half a Dozen Ways To Get It Right
“Do one thing at a time.” My mother said that long before multitasking became one of the top ineffective behaviors of our age. Mom also said, “You can’t do two things at once. She had it only half right. As Gary Keller said, “You can do two things at once, but you...
How Writing Your Book Is and Is Not Like Qualifying for the Olympics
“I could do that.” The Olympic Games are on. All over the world, people sit on couches watching marvelous athletic performances on their screens and saying to themselves, “I could do that.” That’s one way that qualifying for the Olympics and writing a book are...
