Power Writing began as a weekly newsletter in April 2006. Its purpose? To give tips and advice about writing, to tell stories in an interesting way and to help corporate writers (and others) work faster, better. This newsletter is still distributed by email to thousands of readers around the world every week and, since March 2012, has formed 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 directly under my photo on any page of my website. If you do that you’ll not only receive Power Writing by email each week, you’ll also automatically get a free copy of my booklet on mindmapping.
Reading time: About 3 minutes Today’s column discusses how the teaching of writing has been devalued by the current school system. Back when I went to high school (that would be in the dark ages when our cave classrooms were lit with Survivor-style torches and we chiseled hieroglyphs onto …
The important lesson they don’t teach in school Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Today’s column discusses how to make great decisions about spending money on your writing. A friend of mine turned 50 this week and threw a big party to celebrate. The good news? The party was tons of fun. The bad news? It was a costume …
The 1959 writing lesson you can learn Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Do you want to improve your writing process? Today’s column will give you five key tips for better writing. School has changed a lot since Sister Mary Rosa taught me to read in the 1960s — but one thing doesn’t seem to have evolved. The teaching …
5 essential tips for better writing Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes I’m not particularly good with numbers but one thing I learned early — there’s something special about the number three. Today’s column focuses on the magic of three. “Don’t forget to ask about the cat, the wireless and the peacock.” That instruction, from my son, made …
Thoughts on the peacock and the magic of three Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Learning to write is really an apprenticeship. Today’s newsletter focuses on writing quotes and advice from some of our best-known masters. Many of the the comments are amusing, some are serious, but all provide ample food for writerly thought. I was going through some files …
Writing quotes from Mark Twain, Truman Capote and Noel Coward Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Today’s column focuses on the subject of writing talent. Many of us consider “talent” to fall into the same general category as “luck” or a “gift.” Continue reading to learn why that’s a bad idea! I must confess, I both admire and dislike the American …
How a Kennedy can help you find your writing talent Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Today’s column focuses on the subject of graphic design. If you thought your only job was to write or edit, read on to learn how you can earn more work by becoming a better advisor to your clients! I was invoicing a client last week and …
5 rules of graphic design every writer should know Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Today’s column focuses on the subject of taste and how our perception of taste affects everything — including our beliefs about “good writing.” I’m writing this as I sit in the local branch of our public library. Why? Not because of the books, although I …
Baby, it’s hot outside or the perils of “good writing” Read More »
Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Do you regularly eat mangoes? Today I’ll explain why you should massage your mangoes — and, of course, your metaphors. I bought a new chair recently. This decision was a key part of my ongoing campaign to improve my wretched back. I’m also seeing a personal trainer …
Why you should massage your mangoes — and metaphors Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Have you ever lost a loved one? If so, you’ll know how difficult it is to adapt to such a loss. Part of my strategy is to always to try to take a lesson from the person’s life. From my late friend, George, I learned the …
By George, the power of persistence . . . Read More »
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