11 email mistakes you really shouldn’t make
Reading time: Just over four minutes Is email the best, most efficient way of communicating or is it a heavy encumbrance that stops us for
13 ways to boost your writing by catching more ZZZZZs…
Reading time: about 4 minutes To be a truly productive writer you need plenty of shut-eye. The absence of sleep will not only negatively affect
26 fantastic no-cost tools for writers
Reading time: About 4 minutes The price of groceries is rising these days. But that’s not true of everything. The Internet allows us to do
7 surprising ways to silence your inner editor
Reading time: About 5 minutes The inner editor — that voice inside your own head — may seem like your best, most concerned friend but,
7 ways non-native English speakers can improve their writing
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Are you one of the non-native English speakers who’s afraid of writing. Don’t be scared. And don’t think that focusing
7 ways to boost your creativity
Reading time: About 3 minutes Do you think your writing would improve if only you could become more creative? Here are seven ways to boost your creativity….
7 ways to stop editing while you write
Reading time: Just over 5 minutes Are you writing slowly because you’re editing WHILE you write? Today, I give some practical advice on how to break
A writing lesson from Toastmasters
Word count: 637 words Reading time: About 2.5 minutes How are you doing in the praise department? Are you getting enough? It’s something all writers
Are you a natural writer? Here’s why that’s bad
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Being a natural writer might sound like a good thing. Here’s why it usually isn’t… My 21-year-old son started singing
Are you a writer who’s an awfulizer?
Reading time: 2.5 minutes If you’re an “awfulizer” who procrastinates until deadlines are near (or passed!) here are five writing tips to help you become
Are you getting enough writing feedback?
Reading time: About 3 minutes Some writers feel as though they’re working in a black hole. Ask them the question, ‘Are you getting enough writing
Biking (and writing) like it’s no big deal
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes My husband and I just returned from a three-week trip to Europe. Here is part 1 of a three-part
Can you make money as a writer?
Reading time: About 3 minutes Ask me if you can make money as a writer and I’ll tell you yes. But it won’t be in the
Can’t write? Can’t draw? Here’s why you should doodle
Reading time: About 4 minutes Scientists now believe there are excellent reasons you should doodle. Don’t view doodling as dilly-dallying or time-wasting… My mother became
Come to Papa with the Hemingway app
Reading time: Just over 2 minutes The Hemingway App promises to make your writing bold and clear. How does it do that? Most writers today
Cooking lessons from the heart of Italy
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes I didn’t get to travel when I was young because I had to work at a family business. Nor
Ditch the resolutions and make rituals instead
Reading time: About 3 minutes This might sound like heresy on the last day of the year, but I’m encouraging you to ditch the resolutions
Do you agree with these quotes about writing?
Reading time: About 3 minutes Whenever I read, I copy my favourite lines and passages into my gigantic collection of quotes about writing. Here are some that
Feel like you’re wasting time with your crappy first draft? Here’s how to find out…
Reading time: About 3 minutes People often suggest to me that they’ll be wasting time if they allow themselves to write without editing while they
Five writing lessons from Keith Richards…
You may dismiss the Rolling Stones as old-time rock ‘n rollers, druggies or a group of has-beens, but it turns out that Keith Richards’ writing
Happy anniversary to me!
Reading time: About 3 minutes The year 2015 marked the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, the 70th anniversary of the end of World War
Hello, meet my new standing desk
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Has anyone ever told you that sitting is the new smoking? Here’s what I’m doing about that…. I didn’t
Here’s a non-resolution that could change your writing life
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do you think there ought to be some new year’s resolutions for writers? Let me suggest something that will
Holidays, writing & the neuroscience of willpower
Reading time: Just over 2 minutes When making your holiday plans, think about the neuroscience of willpower and writing before taking your break… I’m a sucker for free shipping. In
How did you fall in love with writing?
Word count: 641 words How did you fall in love with writing? Here is my story…. I’ve sounded off many times about the difficulties I’ve
How long will it take you to write this?
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes How long does it take you to write something? How you answer this question may be one of the
How much sleep do writers need?
Reading time: About 3 minutes How does your writing life intersect with your sleeping one? In fact, how much sleep do writers need, anyway? How often
How non-English speakers can write better
Reading time: About 3.5 minutes Here’s some practical advice on how to write better English if it’s not your native language… I was briefly fluent
How the Internet is improving writing
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes You may hate technology or love it but at least be aware of how the Internet is improving writing…
How to ace a writing assessment test
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Does the mere thought of a test make your stomach clench? Here are some basic writing assessment test tips… I
How to ask better questions…
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Are you good at collecting quotes from your interview subjects? Here’s a primer on how to ask better questions…
How to be more productive — in the summer
Reading time: About 5 minutes When the day ends, do you find you’ve run out of time for writing? Here’s how to be more productive… I
How to become a better proofreader
If you want to become a better proofreader, here are some easy-to-use tips that will make a big difference for you… Do you clean your
How to build your own style sheet
Reading time: About 5 minutes Have you ever wondered how to build a style sheet? Has your boss ever asked you to create one? Here’s a
How to carry your bag of hammers
Word count: 720 words Reading time: Less than 3 minutes A bag of hammers typically refers to something that’s dumb or stupid. But I prefer
How to eliminate your verbal tics
Reading time: Just over 2 minutes Do you know how to eliminate your verbal tics? It’s not easy but it’s possible. It just takes some
How to improve your focus
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do you ever feel overwhelmed when you need to write? Here are some suggestions for how to improve your
How to mindmap… (video)
Reading time: About 4 minutes Video: Just under 7 minutes Have you ever struggled with mindmapping? Here is a video, and a post, designed
How to prioritize writing
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Some people just never seem to find the time to be able to write. Here is my best advice
How to re-establish your writing habit after taking a break
Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Do you find it hard to get back into writing after taking a break from it for awhile? Here’s what to
How to read more books
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do struggle to find enough time for reading? Here are five tips for how to read more books. After
How to rewire your brain for better writing
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
How to see yourself in a writing mirror
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
How to stop envying other writers
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do you ever suffer from literary envy? If so, today’s column is for you. I’ve been lucky enough to be
How to work alone
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Do you struggle with being alone? If you’re a writer, it’s essential to learn how to work alone… I enjoy
How to write (when you really don’t want to)
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do you want to learn how to cure procrastination? Try lying to yourself… I used to hate writing. Twenty
How to write a complaint that gets results
Reading time: About 3 minutes Do you know how to write a complaint letter? The rules are straightforward but surprisingly challenging to apply… My 20-year-old
How to write if you’re a night owl
Reading time: About 3 minutes I used to be a night person who wrote best at 1 a.m. Even though I mysteriously turned into a
How to write the perfect amount of copy
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Are you always able to write the perfect amount of copy? It’s not related to luck. It’s the product
How to write your book
Reading time: Just over 5 minutes You have a book in you. I know you do! Here’s how to get it out of your head
Is grandiosity hurting your writing?
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
Is your mind messy enough for writing?
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes How do you improve creativity? Neuroscientists suggest that you embrace the concept of messiness. I can’t write if my
Learn how to write more concisely with these 7 tips
Reading time: About 4 minutes Here’s some practical advice on how to write more concisely…and if you can’t do that, how to edit the extra
Please join my writing community…by commenting
Word count: 703 words Reading time: Less than 3 minutes We all need friends. Writers, perhaps, need them more than most. Read on to learn
Recommended books: Christmas 2012
Word count: 794 words Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Looking for some book suggestions in time for Christmas? I’ve just reached my goal to
Recommended books: Christmas 2014
Reading time: About 3 minutes Looking for some book suggestions in time for Christmas? Here’s my roundup based on my reading so far this year.
Recommended books: Summer 2012
Word count: 733 words Reading time: About 3 minutes Looking for some book suggestions? I’m on track for reaching my year-end goal of reading 52
Recommended books: Summer 2017
Reading time: About 4 minutes Looking for some recommended books in time for summer reading? Here’s my semi-annual roundup of books I’ve read this year. I
Recommended books: winter 2015
Reading time: Less than 4 minutes Looking for some recommended books in time Christmas gift-giving? Here’s my semi-annual roundup — this time of books I’ve read
Recommended books: Winter 2016
Reading time: About 4 minutes Looking for some recommended books in time Christmas gift-giving? Here’s my semi-annual roundup — this time of books I’ve read since
Test: are you a born editor or a born writer?
Word count: 757 words Reading time: About 3 minutes Is there anyone — apart from school students — who doesn’t enjoy taking an easy, self-revealing
The 7 habits of highly effective writers
This post first appeared on Oct. 23, 2007. Reading time: less than 2 minutes I’ve noticed that effective writers tend to share seven traits. So,
The benefits of boredom…
Reading time: Less than 4 minutes I know this may sound crazy, but, for writers, the benefits of boredom outweigh its downsides…. I’m going to
The benefits of saying no
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Last week I wrote about the benefits of the word yes. Today, I reflect on the advantages of just
The definitive guide to reducing writing stress
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Is your major aim reducing writing stress? Over the last 40 years, I’ve developed 11 strategies that really work…
The JOY of the crappy first draft
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
The power of the personal story
Word count: 518 words Reading time: About 2 minutes Even when I don’t go looking for stories, I seem to fall over them. If you’re
The ultimate 7-step guide for how to write faster
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…
The value of thank you notes
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Has the handwritten thank you letter died a quiet death? If you were hoping the answer is yes, you’re
Think first. Write later.
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Some writers try to figure out what they want to say by writing. Here’s why you should think first,
Three ways to beat the editing monster
This post first appeared on Sept. 15, 2009. Reading time: About 3 minutes There are two main types of writers in this world and here are three
Trying to build a writing habit? Beware these 5 traps
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Do you suffer from bad writing habits? Here are some ideas you need to overcome so you can develop
What a circus act can teach you about writing…
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,
What I learned from my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad vacation
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes It took a less than perfect vacation to remind me of the value of stories…. As vacations go, it
What if you turned off your smartphone today?
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes I like smartphones as much as the next person. But I also know there’s a good time to turn
What it takes to be a good writer (and it’s not just 10,000 hours)
Reading time: About 5 minutes You already know that writing takes time, but here’s what it takes to be a good writer…. You’ve probably heard
When is the best time to write?
Reading time: About 3 minutes It’s always hard to find enough time for all the things we want to do. But somehow it’s extra-difficult to
Why and how to meditate — even if you think it’s crazy
Reading time: Less than 4 minutes Some people think meditation should be reserved for monks and hippies. I disagree. Many business people are starting to
Why aren’t we getting better at writing?
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Does the idea of improving writing skills make you feel hopeful and excited? If so, the term “deliberate practice”
Why do the best writers have the most emotional intelligence?
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes You’ve probably heard the term “emotional intelligence” lots of times. Did you know it was something that could help
Why I insist on blathering about mindmapping
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
Why I’ve quit Facebook for 99 days
Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Are you a writer who’s addicted to social media? Consider joining me in quitting Facebook for at least 99
Why I’m writing this on a treadmill
Reading time: About 3 minutes You’ve certainly heard of standing desks, but have you ever heard of walking ones? Here are some treadmill desk benefits… I
Why it’s better to write than to BE right
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Writing something stupid makes sense when the alternative is simply staring at a blank computer screen… When I was
Why overthinking is bad for writers
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Has a piece of writing ever left you stymied? My guess is that you may have overthought it. Here’s
Why stubbornness is a virtue for writers
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Are you determined enough to get your writing done? Believe it or not, stubbornness is a virtue… When one of
Why the best readers make the best writers
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes I’m sure you’ve read elsewhere that good writers are always good readers. Here are the reasons why…. A grade 2 teacher reported
Why we should WANT to fail as writers
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes “Fail” is one of the most dreaded four-letter words. But it shouldn’t be! Here’s why you should overcome the
Why writers need checklists
Reading time: About 5 minutes (faster to scan) Do you ever write down what you need to accomplish? Here’s why all writers need checklists… Before
Why writers need to practice generosity
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
Why writers should use a secret sauce — tracking
Reading time: About 3 minutes Have you ever kept a writing tracking record? This simple document — you can create it easily in your own
Why you get what you pay for
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Do you understand how many of the blogs you read and the podcasts you hear earn their money through
Why you should be a copycat
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Being called a copycat is generally an insult. Instead, I think it’s a valuable tool for writers to try…
Why you should dictate rather than write by hand
Back in the era of Mad Men, secretaries went into the offices of people like Don Draper (photo above) and took shorthand while he dictated. Now, however, you don’t need a secretary to be able to dictate…
Why you should just say thanks
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes When someone thanks you, when someone helps you, when you need something, when you don’t know what to say,
Why you should stop multi-tasking
Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Multi-tasking isn’t the good idea it’s often cracked up to be. But there are some especially important reasons why
Why you should walk more if you’re a writer
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes There are many benefits of walking for writers. Staying in shape is one of them. But becoming more creative
Why you should write like a jazz musician plays
Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do you know how to write freely? Here’s a metaphor that might help. Pretend you’re a jazz musician who’s
Your guide to a better kind of New Year’s resolution
Reading time: Just over 2 minutes If the recent passage of Jan. 1 has you feeling bad for not having made some writing-related new year’s