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: 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 »
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 »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes What’s your policy on New Year’s resolutions? Me? I don’t like them much and I don’t think they’re helpful for most writers…. Do you make New Year’s resolutions? If you do, odds are high that you’ve already failed to keep them because today is
Why I don’t make New Year’s resolutions Read More »
Reading time: Just over 5 minutes Here are my 10 favourite articles or posts from last month, focusing on the most useful, helpful and healthful pieces for writers. Little Jack Horner Sat in the corner, Eating his Christmas pie; He put in his thumb, And pulled out 10 plums, And
PubCoach top 10: December 2020 Read More »
Reading time: Less than 6 minutes (and easy to scan) Are you stressed and worn out — too tired to write another word? It might be time to consider indulging in some self-care for writers…. The phrase “self-care” has always sounded slightly suspect to me. It makes me think of
15 ways to pursue self-care for writers Read More »
Reading time: About 4 minutes In a panic over Christmas gifts for writers in your life? (Or wondering what to ask for, yourself?) Here’s a whole list of ideas, most of them reasonably priced. Christmas is approaching and the panicked buying is about to begin. If you are purchasing a
Christmas gifts for writers in your life Read More »
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Looking for some recommended books in time for Christmas gifts or wintertime reading? 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
Recommended books: winter 2020 Read More »
Reading time: Just over 5 minutes Here are my 10 favourite articles or posts from last month, focusing on the most useful, helpful and healthful pieces for writers. As American Thanksgiving approaches, Black Friday looms and we start preparing for Christmas, perhaps it’s time to step back and consider our
PubCoach top 10: November 2020 Read More »
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
Do your writing habits reveal grit? Read More »
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Are you familiar with the phrase urgency bias? It’s governing your life and you need to stop it in its tracks if you want to write. When you hear that something is “urgent” how does that make you feel? Worried? Anxious? Sweaty? Panicked? According
How I deal with “urgency bias” so it doesn’t wreck my writing plans Read More »
