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: About 3 minutes If you’ve ever chafed against limits — time, money, raw materials or client demands — read today’s post to learn how to be more creative despite constraints… One of my clients emailed me this week with an important question about habits. “I often try to balance between routine and getting […]
How constraints help you learn how to be more creative Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes If you don’t know how to meet deadlines, my hunch is that you frequently say something like, ‘I’ll do this by the end of the month.’ Here’s why you should stop… How often do you tell yourself the lie that you’ll finish your project, report, chapter or even entire book,
Stop saying, ‘I’ll do this by the end of the month’ Read More »
Reading time: Less than 4 minutes If you’ve never learned how to deal with guilt, make doing so one of your most important goals for 2022… I have many flaws and shortcomings. For example, I’m blindingly impatient, especially with myself. I’m so persistent that you might be inclined to call me stubborn. And I occasionally
How to deal with guilt Read More »
Reading time: About 4 minutes Are you the type of person who finds editing to be a discouraging, torturous process? Here’s how to come to terms with editing…. Many of the people I work with start off by detesting writing. Instead, they’d much rather be editing. In fact, I’d say this describes about 80% of
Come to terms with editing — here’s how Read More »
Reading time: Less than 4 minutes Is it worth even thinking about writing during holiday time? If your answer is “maybe,” consider the ways in which you might be able to improve your focus… While many writing bloggers are currently addressing burning issues like best holiday gifts for writers and how to take a break during
How to improve your focus — during or after holidays… Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Do you do your research with single-minded intent or do you know how to have a happy accident? My research for this column on the value of browsing — looking for something you didn’t know you were looking for, or having a “happy accident” — illustrates a profound problem with
In defence of browsing…OR how to have a happy accident Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Looking for some recommended books in time for Christmas gifts or winter reading? Here’s my semi-annual roundup of books I’ve read this year. For the first time in more than 20 years, I’ve been unable to read 52 books this year. I’ve been busy helping care for a very sick
Recommended books: winter 2021 Read More »
Reading time: About 4 minutes Ever tripped up by directions? Learning to become better at following directions is a straightforward way to make yourself look smarter and to be more successful… When I was setting up my first apartment more than 40 years ago, I can remember sitting in a sea of junk in my
How to become better at following directions Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes If writing is boring you, solve the problem by figuring out how to increase curiosity. More curiosity will be like a slap on the face or a cold shower. It will invigorate you! The very first paying job of my life was as a babysitter, at the princely sum of
How to increase curiosity Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes If you’re easily distracted, it’s going to be tough for you to write. Here’s how to increase your attention span, to make the work or writing easier. For a couple of years, my kids started calling me “Daphne,” instead of mom when they wanted to get my attention. Why? Somehow
How do you increase your attention span? Read More »
