Word count: 750 words Reading time: About 3 minutes Do you know your writing angle? I’m not talking geometry here. My “angle” comes from journalism. But the term is important for ALL types of writing… Early in my newspaper career, when I worked at a neighbourhood weekly, my heart suffered a vicious little stab whenever I […]
What’s your writing angle? Read More »
Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Have you ever heard me talk about mindmapping and wondered what all the fuss was about? Here’s an explanation… I bribed my daughter last week. When she asked for help with an essay I looked her squarely in the eye and said, “Have you done a mindmap yet?” When, as I
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Word count: 694 words Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Are you one my subscribers who thinks I’m crazy to counsel AGAINST outlining? Read on to learn why I do this…. When I was a sullen high school student, many of my teachers demanded that we submit outlines with every essay. We fooled most of them by
Five reasons why you shouldn’t outline Read More »
Word count: 705 words Reading time: About 3 minutes A current bout of vertigo has taught me to ask for help when I need it. Does your writing ever make you dizzy? So there I was, walking down a relatively quiet commercial street early one Saturday morning — aiming to meet a friend for breakfast —
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Word count: 597 words Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Today I answer a question from a reader who is struggling with writing a memoir. His major challenge appears to relate to chronological order. Read on to learn more…. A reader named Richard submitted the following question to the Publication Coach: I want to write in
Is it okay to ignore chronological order? Read More »
Word count: 719 words Reading time: About 3 minutes Today I answer a question from a reader who is struggling with the demands of academic writing. My response hinges on mindmapping Read on to learn more…. A reader named Autumn Alexander submitted the following question to the Publication Coach: “I’ve trained as a journalist and
Mindmapping that works vs TMI 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 »
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 response to my recent column
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 found the brim of it
What to do when “one size” doesn’t fit you Read More »
Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Need some advice on how to start writing? Professional trainers and time management executives all know that teaching people how to begin a task will often be enough to ensure they complete it. Read below for more detail. In last week’s column I mentioned writing my thesis. Those memories weren’t
5 ways to start writing if you’re unhappy with your words Read More »
