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 3 minutes Do you have any bad habits with writing? Here’s how to demolish them so you can learn to write with ease, grace and pleasure… When people tell me they cannot write, I never suggest they get more disciplined or work harder. Instead, I try to help them figure out […]
How to break bad writing habits Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes If you think sunk costs are a topic suitable only for economists, read on to learn how this issue affects writers as well. Do you ever do any of the following: Work for a client who belittles you or who pays you poorly? Accept writing or editing contracts for
How sunk costs sink writers Read More »
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes (but very skimmable) Here are my 10 favourite articles or posts from last month, focusing on the most useful, helpful and healthful pieces for writers. While my Texan friends are digging out from the snow and trying to re-establish their essential connections, I’m reminded once again of the wonders
Pubcoach top 10 February 2021 Read More »
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Do you ever despair that you’re just not creative enough? Understand that it’s not a special gift; you, too can learn to be more creative. I am friendly, quiet, highly-organized, very determined — even stubborn. I have never seen myself as the least bit creative. Nevertheless, I have always been drawn
How to be more creative Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Getting more information is not always wise. Don’t let yourself be tripped up by the perils of information bias… Do you often postpone or delay making decisions? Does researching sound more enticing to you than writing? Are you the type of person who adores spending time in the library
How to overcome the perils of information bias Read More »
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Are you someone who believes you just don’t have enough time to do what you want? Here’s how to find more time for writing…. The hardest part of doing just about anything is getting started. For you, this principle might apply to reading, cleaning your garage, working on your
How to find more time for writing Read More »
Reading time: About 6 minutes (but very skimmable) Here are my 10 favourite articles or posts from last month, focusing on the most useful, helpful and healthful pieces for writers. North America is still in the deep midwinter, but because I’m lucky enough to live in the damp west coast, small signs of spring are
PubCoach top 10: January 2021 Read More »
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 the time, I just thought
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 was Spring 2019 — well
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 Jan. 5. And odds will
Why I don’t make New Year’s resolutions Read More »
