Why You Should NOT Abandon Your Author Website
If you missed the memo, most writers aren't rolling in cash. We have to be selective about the tools we invest in for our craft, and we watch the inflation on those tools carefully. So,...
Writing, Mornings, and Your Email
Like a lot of other writers, I start work super early in the morning. This isn't because productivity gurus have gotten in my head about how the wee hours having some kind of magical secret....
Lean Writing Is Not the Point: Using the Goldilocks Approach for Drafting
More and more, I see an emphasis among both editors and writers alike on keeping drafts lean. The basic ideas are that leanness somehow proves control of skill, and that leanness accommodates the short attention...
How Attachment Theory Can Power Character Development in Fiction
For the past few years, I've been diving deep into psychology. I don't plan to ever be a licensed professional in that field, but I've been serious about in the context of understanding myself and...
Why Producing More Books Quickly Isn’t the Salvation Writers Think It Is
I'm used to doing a lot fast. That's just the nature of having significant everyday responsibilities and pursuing multiple creative projects. It's taught me to trust my instincts as a I work and "just do...
Should You Have Multiple Brands as a Writer?
Over the past three years, I've done a lot of work to develop brands of my own -- I have my business brand (Takingdictation) and my faith brand (Faithful on the Clock). But these brands...
Nonfiction Can Feel Cold. Here’s How to Warm It Up and Connect With Readers
Whether you've picked a memoir, article, study, or other format, nonfiction can seem dry or cold -- and not in the "I'm chill" kind of way. That's because the emphasis typically is on data, analysis...
BLUF — Yes, It Works for Social Media
The old journalism trick of Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) is especially useful on social media, where readers scroll exceptionally fast and decide in fractions of a second whether to continue reading a post. But...
