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.
Are you hardy enough to disappoint to the expectations of other people? Today’s column describes why you should be prepared to just say no to meet your own writing goals. How do you find the time to write? Do you wake up early in the morning so you can write before the …
Why you should just say no Read More »
Reading time: About 2 minutes Do you ever do what I call desperation writing? Today’s post describes how to eliminate the “must” and find the desire to write. Are you ever desperate to get something written? And chronically unable to do it? Well, I have three suggestions for you. But …
How to wipe out desperation writing Read More »
Do you try to set writing goals for yourself, but fail to achieve them? Today’s column gives you an easy, five-step formula for developing goals you’ll actually meet. I used to go work out three to four times per week. I’m not allowed to now, on account of my recent stroke. …
Reading time: About 2 minutes Do you ever delay and procrastinate with your writing? Today’s column provides an excellent (and no-cost) online tool for preventing writer’s block. It’s been snowing where I live. Okay, I know it’s January and all, and that might not seem like a strange complaint (unless you …
Welcome to Dr. Wicked Read More »
Do you remember the days of Richard Nixon? Today’s newsletter describes the creative experiences of actor Frank Langella — who’s currently starring in a movie as the former president — and translates his thoughts into writing advice. I was in high school when former U.S. president Richard Nixon resigned. I don’t …
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Have you ever had a near-fatal experience? Today I explore three lessons I learned from the experience of having a stroke. If you’ve been a subscriber of mine for at least three weeks, you’ll have received an email from me on Nov. 18 saying I was too sick …
Reading time: Just over 2 minutes I’m a big fan of a technique called “vacuuming your lungs.” Designed to eliminate breathlessness in people who need to deliver speeches, do radio interviews or even teach classes, it involves expelling all the air from your lungs, bending over and temporarily denying yourself of …
Reading time: about 2.5 minutes Do you have a supermodel you can consult with? Headline notwithstanding, I don’t mean Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell or even that inimitable diva, Tyra Banks. (I call this column the Tyra Banks approach because I’m Canadian and irony is in my nature.) What I’m talking about …
Reading time: less than 3 minutes When my 13-year-old son recently used the word schadenfreude in casual conversation, I snapped to attention. “Where on earth did he learn that?” I wondered. This marvellous but obscure German word, which means “to feel joy at another’s misfortune,” is hardly everyday fodder for teenagers. …
Reading time: just over 2 minutes I’m old enough to have witnessed poodle skirts (on my mother), Pep Chew chocolate bars, elephant pants and brown briefly becoming the new black. One of the few advantages of aging is the perspective it gives you on trends. And aside from fashion, which is …
Were you taught to write or just taught to write badly? Read More »
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