Opinions

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...

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...

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....

Why Every Writer Needs a Good Cavalry

Planning things out to get your writing done? Awesome! *fist bump* But a solid cavalry of supportive people can help ensure that plan actually manifests. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LWPr8Xv8So Watch/Subscribe:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LWPr8Xv8So I've been writing now for almost two decades....

4 Bad Writing Habits That Make Drafts Worse

Most writers who want to get better at their craft ask themselves what they can add to their process or strategy. That trend probably comes from our cultural tendency to favor expansion rather than reduction...

The Value of NOT Paying Someone to Help You Publish

Paying someone to help you launch a book can be a great move -- it's best for some authors. But as I discuss in this video, learning how to launch on your own has long-term...

Want Influence as a Writer? Take Roxane Gay’s Razor Blade Advice

Roxane Gay was talking in her Masterclass series about how, as a writer, it's OK to be focused and not try to do everything or be everywhere. I felt that. Instead of being a swiss...

Writing About Tough Stuff Gets People Uncomfortable. Do It, Anyway

Sometimes, others might get uncomfortable if you write about certain truths or topics. In this video, I explain why you need to write about that tough stuff, anyway. https://youtu.be/bzrYDPZAjEk Watch/Subscribe:https://youtu.be/bzrYDPZAjEk When I first started as...

What Happens When You Try to Create Perfect Writing

When my kids were a little younger, they used to like a Netflix cartoon called Pinky Malinky. The show was about the adventures of a wonderfully positive and friendly hot dog (yes, a hot dog)...