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 5 minutes If you’ve ever considered going back to school, you may have asked yourself whether you should get an MFA. Today’s post looks at that idea in some detail. When I was in my 30s, I briefly considered going back to school and getting an MBA — Masters of Business Administration. […]
Should you get an MFA? Read More »
Reading time: About 5 minutes Are you tired of being interrupted? A host of people — from needy children to noisy neighbours — can derail you if you don’t protect your writing from interruptions… As I write this column, a contractor sits in our front yard using a skill-saw. He’s rebuilding the railings and balusters
Protect your writing from interruptions — here’s how Read More »
Reading time: Less than 5 minutes Do you want to learn how to get better organized? I’m an imperfect person in so many different ways, but I do know a few helpful things about organization… I am the best organized person I know. I say this not to brag — more to confess a flaw.
How to get better organized for writing Read More »
Reading time: About 6 minutes (but very scannable) Here are my 10 favourite articles or posts from last month, focusing on the most useful, helpful and healthful pieces for writers. Is anyone else a little tired of this pandemic? (Rhetorical question.) I spent this month making an explicit effort to find great articles, blog posts
PubCoach Top 10: May 2020 Read More »
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Have you ever struggled to figure out your best time for writing? Here’s how to calculate that total, scientifically… In an effort to make lemonade out of the big fat lemon that’s the COVID pandemic, let me suggest you try a small experiment related to writing. (BTW, I’m assuming
Figure out your best time for writing Read More »
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Social distancing is sending many of us scurrying to our screens. But is that a good idea? How can we cope when our lives are governed by screens? If you’re a writer, odds are high you’re an introvert — someone who regains energy by spending time alone. While of
How to cope when your life is governed by screens Read More »
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes If you want to become a faster writer, think about how you can practice typing during the pandemic. Agile fingers will help you better keep up with your brain… I learned to type on a typesetting machine. I’d wanted to learn in high school but my snooty convent school
Why you should practice typing Read More »
Reading time: Roughly 8 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. I’m starting to think of COVID-19 as the pandemic that won’t end. Last week I had the suffocating feeling of being a prisoner in my
PubCoach Top 10: More on COVID Read More »
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Do you know how to exercise during the pandemic? If you’re having a hard time writing, consider lack of exercise may be part of the problem… Is the pandemic keeping you from exercising? If your writing habit is going to heck, lack of exercise may be one of the main
How to exercise during the pandemic Read More »
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Has your productivity taken a nose-dive during the pandemic? Mine sure has! Here’s why we should all STOP trying to be productive during the pandemic… Before you read today’s post, can I ask you to take 30 seconds to complete a one-question survey? I’m going to be offering no-charge
Stop trying to be productive during the pandemic Read More »
