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 ever ponder the writing rituals of famous authors? Pondering is okay, but don’t use their habits as a model for your own behaviour…. Did you know that Sylvia Plath (pictured above) and Benjamin Franklin started their writing days at 4 am and 5 […]
Why you should resist the writing rituals of famous authors Read More »
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes This is my weekly installment of “writing about writing,” in which I scan the world to find websites, books and articles to help other writers. Today I discuss a New York Times article about imposter syndrome….. I was 27-years old when I became the features
Do you suffer from imposter syndrome? Read More »
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Does the mere thought of a test make your stomach clench? Here are some basic writing assessment test tips… I once failed a personality test. OK, to be honest, it’s not technically possible to fail such a test because we all have personalities. But I
How to ace a writing assessment test Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Join me this week as I take an important detour into the concept of protecting your health while you write. Contractors and nurses may need to take certain steps to prevent injury, but so do writers. And one of the biggest secrets is remembering to
Do you suffer from writing apnea? Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Should you self-publish your own book? This is a tricky question and one you can answer only for yourself. Here are some ways to help you figure out what you need to know… If you asked me whether I thought you should self-publish a book, my
Should you self-publish? Read More »
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Are you a writer who’s addicted to social media? Consider joining me in quitting Facebook for at least 99 days…. I have long mocked my brother-in-law for never having had a Facebook account. He’s a structural engineer, so you might be inclined to brand
Why I’ve quit Facebook for 99 days Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Have you ever heard of back-and-forth writing? This is a system that I use to make myself a more efficient and productive writer. There is something wonderfully concrete about writing. If your boss or client asks you for 500 words, you can make a
When you should let go of your writing goals Read More »
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Some writers try to figure out what they want to say by writing. Here’s why you should think first, write later…. Here are the mistakes I see some (not all!) academic writers make: They use the passive voice too much, hiding the ‘actor’ of
Think first. Write later. Read More »
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes You can be a good writer with great ideas but you may sell nothing if you don’t wrap your mind around pitching story ideas. Here’s some advice…. Are you a freelance writer who wants to increase your success rate in pitching traditional or online publications?
How to pitch stories editors will want to publish Read More »
Reading time: Less than 4 minutes Does it seem like too much work to have to begin again? The next time your writing habit falls by the wayside, don’t resent the time it takes you to re-establish it… Have you ever had a relapse from exercise? You know, you’d been
How let go of the ‘sorry cycle’ and begin writing again Read More »
