When we summon a mental image of a writer, we envision the act of drafting: putting the words down on paper. But the writing process extends far beyond the time drafting. Authors also assemble research, think deeply about topics, and create outlines before they draft. Many drafts require numerous revision cycles. The act of writing the draft is like the […]
Published and Profitable Interview
Recently I had the pleasure of talking with Roger C. Parker about the process of writing The Writer’s Process. (That’s very meta, isn’t it – talking about the writing process for a book about the writing process?) Roger was one of the first people to interview me after Subscription Marketing came out, so it was […]
Why Writing is Like Baking Bread
Have you ever baked a loaf of bread, or witnessed a masterful baker at work? Through a mysterious process of beating, kneading, waiting, and baking, an unappealing, gluey mass of dough transforms into fragrant and delectable food. Freshly baked bread is one of the wonders of the civilized world. Baking bread is eerily similar to […]
Shut Your Monkey: A Book to Keep You Writing
Have you ever told yourself that you weren’t good enough to try something new or difficult? Do you put off writing that book because you doubt that you do anything worth reading? And even if you managed to complete something major, have you felt like an imposter? Often our biggest barriers are internal, and finding a path around them can be […]
Writing in the Brand Voice
Marketers often stress the importance of a consistent brand voice. Customers want to feel that they are interacting with a coherent entity, even though they understand that many people participate in the business. So we work to develop a distinctive “voice” and style for the brand that carries through all communications. When you work for the same business long enough, you […]
When Marketing Adds Value: The Case for Content
Creative marketing organizations go beyond simply communicating the value they provide. They add value outside the product or service, through content, community, partnerships, and data.” These words seemed almost revolutionary when I wrote them in the book Subscription Marketing. But look around and you can find numerous examples of businesses demonstrating that, when done with […]