Power Writing began as a weekly newsletter in April 2006. Its purpose? To give tips and advice about writing, to tell interesting stories and to help writers everywhere work faster, better. I distribute the newsletter by email to thousands of readers around the world every week and, since March 2012, it has become the Tuesday entry of my blog.
You can read many Power Writing entries here – I back-entered all columns until the beginning of 2009, and a handful of ones that were earlier than that. But I hope you’ll consider subscribing, too. Just enter your name and email in the box next to my photo on the home page of my website. If you do that, you’ll not only receive Power Writing by email each week, you’ll also automatically get access to a 10-minute video on how to unblock your writing.
Reading time: Less than 5 minutes Do you have a good shutdown ritual? You should! Here’s how to implement one that will work for you… Writing — like cooking, cleaning and parenting — is a job that knows no beginning or ending. It’s something you do all the time, even in the middle of the night, […]
How to establish a shutdown ritual Read More »
Reading time: Just over 2 minutes Are you ready for Christmas? Here are some suggestions for how to make Christmas a happier holiday for writers…. As wonderful as Christmas is, it’s a celebration that often creates stress for writers, freelancers and companies. Here is some advice on how to manage the biggest holiday of the
How writers can deal with Christmas Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes The Covid pandemic has taught many of us about the perils of hoarding. But my advice relates specifically to computers: don’t be a digital hoarder…. Have you ever seen the TV program Hoarders? That’s the one where people have kitchens filled with dirty dishes and kitty litter boxes and living-rooms
Are you a digital hoarder? Read More »
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Looking for some recommended books in time for Christmas reading or gift-giving? Here’s my semi-annual roundup of books I’ve read this year. I aim to read at least 52 books every 12 months and my habit is to post a complete list of the names of them for you, in November
Recommended books: winter 2022 Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes As writers, many of us are hardwired to want to say YES! to every opportunity. Here’s why you need to say no more often… Businessman Warren Buffett once said, “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.” If you’re
Writers: Why you need to say no more often Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Discouragement sucks the joy out of our lives. But there’s no good reason to become discouraged with writing… Do you ever become discouraged with writing? You resent the time it takes and you’re never certain whether you’re going in the right direction. Or, perhaps you’re disappointed by the difference between
Are you discouraged with writing? Here’s what to do Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Are you tired of working all the time, with never a break in sight? It’s time for you to work less and live more… Are you working too much? Many writers do. So do many self-employed people. So do many ambitious people. It’s work, work, work, followed by occasional bouts
How to work less and live more as a writer Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Are you ever filled with regret after reading what you’ve written? I bet you’re suffering from a case of writer’s remorse…. When my husband and I bought our house some 30 years ago, we were unspeakably excited. We’d spent eight months looking — had toured dozens, maybe even hundreds, of
Do you suffer from writer’s remorse? Read More »
Reading time: About 4 minutes Some people find it painful to respond to edits from others. But learning how to use track changes can make the whole editing process so much easier… Do bosses, editors or cowriters ever want to change your text? If so, it’s important to be agile with the “track changes” feature
Why and how to use track changes Read More »
Reading time: About 2 minutes Do you spend a lot of time thinking about what a crummy writer you are? I suggest, instead, you make some time to observe your thoughts… I’m in the beginning stages of a new book. And while I have more than 40 years’ experience as a writer and editor, as
Why and how to observe your thoughts Read More »
