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.
Word count: 755 words Reading time: About 3 minutes Do you need some writing help? Here’s a clear and plain list of what I can do for you. When I work or volunteer, I never get asked to sell. Instead, I tend to do things that are literary, organizational or […]
Do you need some writing help? Read More »
Word count: 758 words Reading time: About 3 minutes If your son or daughter — or you — needs to learn how to write an essay or a shortish report, here is a column you might want to copy and tape to your fridge…. It’s a red-letter day in my household.
How to write an essay without losing your mind Read More »
Word count: 496 words Reading time: Less than 2 minutes Let me give you the reasons why you shouldn’t be terribly eager to accept the label “good writer.” Our society is pretty funny (funny-strange, not funny-ha-ha) when it comes to the word “good.” This one-syllable, four-letter word is both vague
Are you a good writer? (I hope not!) Read More »
Word count: 691 words Reading time: Less than 3 minutes I know this will make me sound horribly old-fashioned, but I’ve been convinced that all writers — even non-fiction ones — should read poetry. Here’s why…. My relationship with poetry has been troubled. It didn’t start well. When I was
Why every writer should read poetry Read More »
Word count: 752 words Reading time: About 3 minutes Here are some writing tips if you ever need to change your style…. I remember walking by my daughter’s bedroom some four years ago and catching her at her computer, weeping. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” I asked with concern. “I c-c-c-can’t write
How to switch your writing style Read More »
Word count: 656 words Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Did you smile when a host of Mary Poppinses floated down from the ceiling during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics? The Games have writing tips to teach us as well… My summer sport is walking – not a competitive event,
Are you an Olympic writer? Read More »
Word count: 563 words Reading time: Just over 2 minutes Do you procrastinate about writing because you’re afraid of making mistakes? That, perhaps, is the biggest mistake of all…. Many years ago, I tried to learn how to ski. I’m the kind of person most others describe as “bookish” –
Why you should welcome some writing mistakes Read More »
Word count: 754 words Reading time: About 3 minutes Do you ever think you should spend summer writing your book? Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t! My back is both my fiercest enemy and my dearest friend. It’s an enemy because I often wake up with an aching thoracic
Why you should set a writing time LIMIT Read More »
Word count: 748 words Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do you suffer from procrastination when writing? Here are five tips that will help you get more words on the page, faster. Many of us postpone doing things we don’t like. Taxes (guilty!) Washing dishes (guilty, occasionally.) Making the bed
5 ways to tackle the writing you’re avoiding Read More »
Word count: 688 words Reading time: Less than 3 minutes We focus so much on getting things done. But here are some writing tips that will help you learn how to take a break… I was strolling home, down West Broadway, one day last week, stopping at a printing house
5 ways to take a pause that refreshes Read More »
