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 Predicting what might go wrong is not a dark art — it’s an essential skill for anyone who wants to pursue a career as a writer… My husband considers me to be an awfulizer. By this he means a person who expects the worst […]
How to stop yourself from being a quitter Read More »
This post first appeared on Oct. 23, 2007. Reading time: less than 2 minutes I’ve noticed that effective writers tend to share seven traits. So, with apologies to Stephen Covey (pictured above), here is my own list of 7 habits worth adopting. Have you ever wondered why some people write
The 7 habits of highly effective writers Read More »
This post first appeared on Sept. 15, 2009. Reading time: About 3 minutes There are two main types of writers in this world and here are three editing tips for each of them. A subscriber wrote to me recently with the alarming subject line “writing discipline” and told the following story: “I’ve
Three ways to beat the editing monster Read More »
This post first appeared on Aug. 17, 2010. Reading time: About 3 minutes It’s summer — and what could be better than paddling a canoe? My own paddling also made me reflect on some important rules about writing… Our summer was late getting started in Vancouver this year but it’s
What canoeing taught me about writing Read More »
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Do you want to learn how to develop the writing habit? It’s not as hard as you might have feared… The hardest part about writing is not the work of stringing a sentence together – it’s the commitment it requires, day after relentless day.
10 ways to develop the writing habit Read More »
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Do you struggle with being alone? If you’re a writer, it’s essential to learn how to work alone… I enjoy meeting people. I’m cheerful and friendly. I love chatting with friends. I never fear speaking in front of an audience. These are all characteristics of
Reading time: Just over 2 minutes You might want to write a book, a thesis, or a big report but you’ve lost your steam with long-term project motivation. Here’s how to get it back… Imagine that you’re a farmer. First, you need to select your crops. Then you must prepare
How to improve your long-term motivation Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes If you’re a defensive pessimist, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to learn how to prepare for rejection… I tend to see myself as confident rather than anxious. I know what I’m good at. I work hard. I have
How to prepare for rejection Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Usually, taking vacations means having less work. But my recent editing vacation has been highly productive… I write this column from British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, in a little cottage overlooking the ocean. I’m alone and it’s blissfully quiet. Right now it’s a cool rainy day
Why I’m taking an editing vacation… Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Do you struggle with writer’s guilt? Don’t let it talk you out of writing. Use these ways to outwit it… I was not born a guilty person. I had impatience. Perfectionism. Even a titch of arrogance. But, somehow guilt always slid off of me like eggs out
How to deal with writer’s guilt Read More »