Reading time: About 3 minutes Many characteristics can help writers succeed. But here’s one you might not have thought of: Did you know it would help to learn how to develop grit? Some people see me as successful. Maybe this is because I was a senior editor at a then-large metropolitan daily newspaper at the […]
Do your writing habits reveal grit? Read More »
Reading time: About 9 minutes (skimmable in 4) Few subjects are as mysterious as the art of finding your voice. If you’re a writer struggling with that problem, here’s what I suggest you do… What is writer’s voice? And, how can you find yours? You’d think this should be a simple explanation but it’s the opposite
What is writer’s voice? And how can you find yours? Read More »
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes I received a distressing email from a client a few weeks ago. He had just run his latest article through an editing app I recommend, Count Wordsworth, and also through ProWritingAid, and Online-Utility.org, two other editing apps I favour. Troublingly, all the results were different. So, what do these
How do you count your words? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Being called a copycat is generally an insult. Instead, I think it’s a valuable tool for writers to try… If you were ever able to sneak into my home office around 6 am on a weekday morning, you just might find me hunched over my computer, copying words written by another
Why you should be a copycat Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes You’ve probably heard the term “emotional intelligence” lots of times. Did you know it was something that could help writers do their work better? I read the bestselling book Emotional Intelligence — also known as EI — by Daniel Goleman, in 1996 when my kids were two years old.
Why do the best writers have the most emotional intelligence? Read More »
Reading time: Just over 2 minutes There are many routes to becoming a better writer. Here’s one I favour: become a better writer by improving your sense of well-being… My brother-in-law, Doug — who’s a civil engineer — likes to tell a joke about people in his own profession. What’s the difference between an introverted
Work on your personality before you work on your writing Read More »
Reading time: Just over 5 minutes How can you improve your writing? Here are 33 lessons I’ve learned over the past 33 years…. I accepted a job as a senior editor at a metropolitan daily newspaper some 33 years ago. Little did the company understand I knew almost nothing about writing when I took the
33 writing lessons from 33 years of writing… Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Being more focused as a writer means you’ll be able to finish your work faster and with far less angst. Here’s how you can improve your focus… How do you stay focused when you’re writing? There are some basic moves. Turn off your email, for a start. You can collect
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Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Does the topic you must write about seem unspeakably dull and boring? Here are some tips for how to increase your interest, no matter what the subject… Imagine you have a blog piece, an article for your employee newsletter or even a long report that you’ve been procrastinating over.
How to get more interested in what you’re writing Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do you ever long to engage in a couple of days of binge writing? If that kind of practice holds any appeal for you, read on to learn why you should change your mind… Right now my husband and I are binge-watching the period TV show The Americans. Set
7 reasons why you should avoid binge writing Read More »
