TakingDictation

Why You Should Be Proud of Old, Bad Drafts

Have old, bad drafts that make you wince when you look at them? In this video, I explain why those can serve as a point of pride. https://youtu.be/IeRzcb_T_b4 Watch/Subscribe:https://youtu.be/IeRzcb_T_b4 The other side of this idea,...

Why Writers Need to Learn Basic Visual Design

Maybe you've noticed them. These *little* social media platforms called Instagram and Pinterest. Both depend on visual design to get people to click and dive deeper into posts. Even platforms that aren't based around visual...

How to Succeed on Social Media as a Writer

If you're a writer who wants to use social media to pump up your readership, this video offers general guidance on how to get the most out of your accounts and content. https://youtu.be/XXr3yx5v5gU Watch/Subscribe:https://youtu.be/XXr3yx5v5gU For...

Why You Shouldn’t Judge Writers Who Make Mistakes

A couple of weeks ago, I had an editor I'm connected with online leave a comment on one of my posts. I'd made a spelling mistake in my very first line, and it had distracted...

How to Prioritize Multiple Writing Drafts

If you've got multiple drafts going at once, which one deserves your top focus? This video reveals how I prioritize from among different options. https://youtu.be/1eeRsOckbgo Watch/Subscribe:https://youtu.be/1eeRsOckbgo Over the years, I've tried to be logical about...

The Sky-High Value of Guest Blog Posts

As a writer, you probably assume a lot of responsibility for your own success. YOU publish articles or books, run your website, and send out your newsletter. All of those things count. But did you...

To the People Practicing Exploitation of Ghostwriters

I have a message for the people on YouTube bragging about how they hire ghostwriters to make cheap books for a few hundred bucks and then turn them for five figures or more. Hint: It's...

Why You Shouldn’t Aim to Be Like Another Writer

It's good to have wordsmiths you admire and look up to. But it's time to end the practice of saying you want to be the next So-and-So or like another writer. This video explains why....

6 Common Query Letter Mistakes to Avoid

Self-publishing is becoming a behemoth in its own right next to traditional publishing, but it's not right for every writer. If you go the traditional route, the journey to get your book into readers' hands...

New Writer? Need Goals? Grab These Top 5

New to writing as a career? This video outlines some of the best goals you can have. They'll help set a foundation for the rest of your work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T1D03CEkyE Watch/Subscribe:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T1D03CEkyE All of the goals included...