Reading time: Just over 1 minute This is my weekly installment of “writing about writing,” in which I scan the world to find websites, books and articles to help other writers. Today I discuss a blog post written by Scott Young… I’m obsessed with helping others build the writing habit. Such a habit allows requires […]
Scott Young on how to build habits Read More »
Reading time: Less than 6 minutes Even if you don’t know exactly how many words you can produce in an hour, here’s how to write faster… Ask a bunch of journalists or professional writers how many words they can produce in an hour and you’ll get a dog-pile of half-answers and creative guesses. I know because
The ultimate 7-step guide for how to write faster Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Is writing burdensome to you? Consider whether you might be taking on more responsibility than you need to… My son, who is studying to become an opera singer, must display a panoply of skills: Singing without a microphone. Learning a smattering of six different languages. Knowing how to build and
What a circus act can teach you about writing… Read More »
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes If you’ve ever vowed to stop editing while you write, here’s a tool that will really make you want to keep that promise. Watch the video to see how writers waste time, editing while they write… Do you have difficulty writing your crappy first draft? Anguishing over every comma
How to see yourself in a writing mirror Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Did you know you could rewire your brain? And doing so might just be the first step you need to take to become a better writer… I’ve always been deeply fascinated by the human brain. Perhaps never more so than following my two strokes in 2002 and 2007. Despite having
How to rewire your brain for better writing Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do you find it difficult to let go of your writing? Here are some of the reasons why — and exactly what you can do about them… My three children are approaching the end of their college careers. We’re lucky in that they’ve been able to live at home
How to let go of your writing Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes People often laugh when I use the phrase “crappy first draft,” but I’m serious about it. Producing one is exactly what will turn you into a professional writer… Every beginning writer I know abhors the idea of a crappy first draft. It’s embarrassing, mortifying and humiliating. They know their boss or
The JOY of the crappy first draft Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do you suffer from the toxic combination of writing and perfectionism? If so, I suspect the heart of the issue may be your own grandiosity… I’m not typically grandiose about my writing but I do have overblown, elaborate or pretentious moments in other parts of my life. I’m thinking,
Is grandiosity hurting your writing? Read More »
Reading time: Just over 1 minute This is my weekly installment of “writing about writing,” in which I scan the world to find websites, books and articles to help other writers. Today I discuss an article containing a description of Jerry Seinfeld’s writing strategy… Are you the kind of writer who procrastinates? A lot? Let me share with you
Jerry Seinfeld’s writing strategy Read More »
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Have you ever wondered how to fight perfectionism? I’ve battled it for many years. Let me share my strategy… Born into a highly competitive family, with a father — a writer — who believed his five children always needed to try a whole lot harder, I felt as if I
Why writers need to practice generosity Read More »
