Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Self-sabotage might sound like a dramatic way to behave but, in fact, it’s a relatively common type of reaction for many writers… When I was in high school and university, I always left writing my papers until the night before they were due. At …
Why do you self-sabotage and how can you stop doing it? Read More »
There are lots of lists on the internet about the best books for writing. But I’ve noticed that the same five or so titles appear on most of them. In the much-longer list I provide here, I cast a deliberately wider net. But at the same time, I’ve limited myself …
Daphne’s bookshelf Read More »
Reading time: About 1 minute This is my weekly installment of “writing about writing,” in which I scan the world to find websites, books and articles to help other writers. Today I discuss a blog post about active and passive scenes… Writer J.D. Edwin has produced a very fine piece …
Understanding active and passive SCENES Read More »
Viewing time: 4 mins 49 secs The Write Question is a weekly video podcast all about writing. Today’s question? Does printing out help with editing? If you have a question you’d like me to answer you can email me, tweet me @pubcoach, or leave a message for me at the …
Does printing out help with editing? Read More »
Reading time: Just over 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of images from Maggie O’Farrell…. I had heard positive reviews of a new novel by Maggie O’Farrell, pictured above. Titled Hamnet and Judith, the book …
More figurative language from Maggie O’Farrell Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute Increase your vocabulary and you’ll make your writing much more precise. That’s why I provide a word of the week. Today’s word: percipience…. When I read the marvellous novel, This is Happiness by Niall Williams, I knew I was going to learn a host …
What does ‘percipience’ mean? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 4 minutes Do you routinely take way longer than you thought possible to finish your writing work? That’s likely a result of the planning fallacy… We were standing on the waterfront in Sydney, Australia, waiting for our tour of the Sydney Opera House to begin. It …
How to write around the planning fallacy Read More »
Most mindmaps are what I call inspirational. They are not intended to be outlines that capture everything you want to say. Nor are they intended to identify the order in which you want to address points Instead, their purpose is to inspire you to write. See video on how to do …
How to do a planning mindmap Read More »
Reading time: Just over 1 minute This is my weekly installment of “writing about writing,” in which I scan the world to find websites, books and articles to help other writers. Today I discuss a blog post about bad writing habits… I am obsessed by habits. I know they make …
3 bad writing habits (and a 4th one from me!) Read More »
Viewing time: 4 mins 28 secs The Write Question is a weekly video podcast all about writing. Today’s question? How do you get more cohesion in your writing? If you have a question you’d like me to answer you can email me, tweet me @pubcoach, or leave a message for …
How do you get more cohesion in your writing? Read More »
