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 Dr. Wicked provides a great no-cost tool for anyone who wants to write faster. Back when I worked in daily newspapers, most of my buddies were journalists. One was named Peter and I liked his style. He was a great reporter — he could produce […]
In praise and honour of Dr. Wicked Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Have you ever experienced a butt-brushing while shopping? Worse, have you ever inflicted one while writing? Read on to learn more. Send me into a grocery store and I’ll happily spend an hour picking over produce and looking for the very best breads and cheeses.
How to avoid butt-brushing your readers Read More »
Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Did you know that becoming a better reader will also make you a better writer? Here are 5 tips to help you…. One of my three children is dyslexic, but I taught the other two to read myself. It wasn’t hard, but here’s the deal
5 ways to be a better reader. . . and writer Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Today’s column encourages you to save most of your writing but describes the circumstances under which you might want to discard it — or, at least, put it on hold. Let me start with a confession. You are not reading the newsletter I originally intended
When you should discard your writing Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Today’s column describes how my daughter’s scoliosis reminds me of the additivity of small numbers and how this principle can have a dramatic impact on your writing. My 15-year-old daughter and I share many traits. We’d both rather eat a really good piece of cheese
What scoliosis can teach you about writing Read More »
Reading time: About 2 minutes Today’s column describes why you’re never too old or too “untalented” to be able to write. Bottom line? It’s never too late to write. I’m a bit of a foodie so it makes me blush to hold up Kentucky Fried Chicken as an example of
Why it’s never too late to write Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes Today’s column describes three ways for getting out of your own head — and into the minds of your readers. Let’s call it 3 writing lessons… Last Tuesday morning I was walking through our house. Not the house I’m living in now, which is a
3 writing lessons from Sebastian, the electrical worker Read More »
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 »
