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: 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 event. We were ordered to […]
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 of writing. Most schools don’t
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 us all burst out laughing.
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 on my hard drive this
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 Kennedy family. On the negative
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 realized I didn’t have his
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 adore being surrounded by such
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 (thanks so much to the
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 things. First, it referred to
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 package of salt & vinegar
Do you have a demon for writing inspiration? Read More »
