Top 100

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

 Reading time: About 4 minutes Video: Just under 7 minutes Have you ever struggled with mindmapping? Here is a video, and a post, designed …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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. …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

Word count: 719 words Reading time: Less than 3 minutes How my daughter’s graduation ceremony taught me about the value of stories…. I attended two …Read More »

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 …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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …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… …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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… …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

Reading time: About 4 minutes Do you view doodling as dilly-dallying or time-wasting? It may surprise you to learn that scientists now believe there are …Read More »

Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Ask me if you can make money as a writer and I’ll tell you yes. But it won’t be in …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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” …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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, …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

Reading time: About 3 minutes This might sound like heresy on the momentous occasion of the last day of the year, but I’m encouraging you …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 …Read More »

Reading time: Just over 3 minutes Here is my best advice on how to prioritize writing…. I learned some hard lessons when I wrote my …Read More »

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… …Read More »

Reading time: Just over 4 minutes Do you ever use checklists when you’re writing? Here’s why you should… A few weeks ago I wrote a column …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

Reading time: About 3 minutes Do you tend to write more words than you need or want? Here’s some practical advice on how to edit …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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… …Read More »

Word count: 710 words Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Do you think your writing would improve if only you could become more creative? Here are seven …Read More »

Word count: 641 words Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Thursday is Valentine’s Day and that leads me to address the topic of love — from …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

Reading time: About 3 minutes I know this may sound crazy, but, for writers, the benefits of boredom outweigh its downsides…. I hate being bored. …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …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 …Read More »

Reading time: About 2 minutes If you can afford to outsource your proofreading, do it. If you can’t here are some tips that will help… …Read More »

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 …Read More »

Word count: 644 words Reading time: About 2.5 minutes Have you ever heard me talk about mindmapping and wondered what all the fuss was about? …Read More »

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, …Read More »

Reading time: Less than 3 minutes You certainly know that writing takes time, but what do you know about writing and the 10,000-hour rule? Best-selling …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, …Read More »

Reading time: About 3 minutes When the day ends, do you find you’ve run out of time for writing? Here’s how to be more productive… I …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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, …Read More »

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… …Read More »

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 …Read More »

Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Have you ever kept a writing tracking record? This simple document — you can create it easily in your …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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.  …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

Reading time: About 3 minutes I used to be a night person who wrote best at 1 am. Even though I mysteriously turned into a …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

Word count: 630 words Reading time: 2.5 minutes If you’re an “awfulizer” who procrastinates until deadlines are near (or passed!) here are five writing tips …Read More »

Word count: 781 words Reading time: About 3 minutes It’s always hard to find enough time for all the things we want to do. But …Read More »

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 …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 …Read More »

Reading time: Less than 3 minutes Can you write a good sentence? Try one for this cartoon and you could be the winner of it… …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

Reading time: About 3 minutes Join me this week as I take an important detour into the concept of protecting your health while you write. …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

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 …Read More »

Reading time: About 5 minutes This person may seem like your best, most concerned friend but, in fact, he or she is your worst enemy. Hello, …Read More »