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: 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: Less than 3 minutes When I was about 16 years old, I first heard about the two-martini mistake. This wasn’t, as you might suppose, a teenage drinking behaviour. (Think about it — that would be more like the ten-beer mistake!) A throwback to the late ’60s, the term meant two …
How to prevent the two-martini assumption Read More »
Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Do you ever struggle to find writing inspiration? Bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert has some unusual thoughts about the origins of inspiration. Keep reading to find out more. When I read the memoir Eat, Pray, Love several years ago I was like a 14-year-old facing a …
Do you have a demon for writing inspiration? Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Last week’s column on mindmapping inveigled a large number of responses. One of them had me laughing. . . and thinking . . . and acting. . . Read on to find out more.. I received a cheeky and amusing email last week. It came in …
How to take an honest leap at mindmapping Read More »
Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Does receiving advice ever make you uncomfortable or suspicious? Here are some easy strategies you can adopt to transform one-size-fits-all advice you get into something that’s actually helpful to you. Have you ever tried on a hat — billed as “one size fits all” — and …
What to do when “one size” doesn’t fit you Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Do you ever forget to do something important? Here is a quick tip to help all speakers and writers improve their memories. It was the woman’s voice. Mellifluous. It made a small thrill run down my spine. She sounded like a college professor, accustomed to …
Lessons from Fitzy’s grandma Read More »
