Posts Tagged ‘write’
If You Want Readers to Follow You, Stop Posting (So Much)
For a while now, I’ve maintained three different publication branches — Takingdictation (my business), Faithful on the Clock (my faith-based podcast), and Unstealing Joy (my trauma recovery work). Having multiple irons in the fire means that I consistently post many messages per week across my accounts. But I don’t post superfluously. Each post either 1)…
Read MoreWhy 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, as we look at author sites, should we continue to toss money at them? For many writers, the temptation is…
Read MoreWriting, 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. It’s simply logistical — starting between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. is the only time my house is quiet and I…
Read MoreLean 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 span readers have. It’s true that, as you try to tighten a document, you have to think critically about what’s…
Read MoreHow 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 my relationships to others. But does psychology have a use in writing? Sure does. The four primary attachments More specifically,…
Read MoreWhy 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 the da*n thing.” But sometimes, speed isn’t our friend. AI means AI slop, but also some OK-ish books The loudest…
Read MoreShould 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 are separate for a reason — topics, audiences, and functions are all different. Not all writers operate in multiple spheres…
Read MoreNonfiction 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 or delivering information, not engaging through emotional and narrative techniques. Small tricks, however, can warm a nonfiction manuscript up significantly.…
Read MoreBLUF — 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 what exactly is BLUF? With BLUF, your main point comes first BLUF means you take the core, thesis concept of…
Read MoreTried Micropublishing? Here’s Why You Should
For most writers, the dream of success looks like published books. But there is, as the saying goes, more than one way to skin a cat. If you haven’t already considered micropublishing, it might be the alternative, less traditional path that allows you to achieve a viable income as a wordsmith. What is micropublishing? Micropublishing…
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