David Belasco was one of the great figures in American theater history. He wrote, directed, or produced over a hundred plays, launched the careers...
The Puccini Principle of Communication
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Better Writing
Know Your Reader: Write for a Real Person
“Who’s your ideal reader?” That’s a question I ask in the early stages of coaching an author through a book. Most of my clients give me a...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
We Were Creative Once… And Young
Children act creative. Most adults don’t. Children let their ideas bubble over, making up stories and games as they go. Ask them to think of how to...
Writer’s Block: Name It and Tame It
When my friend Rick asked me if I ever had writer's block, I gave him my standard response: “No, not really.” Then I thought about it for a bit....
How To Produce More Great Work With the Wallas Cycle
We all want to write better. We strive to produce more great content more easily. That’s more likely to happen if you have a reliable writing...