Writing seems like a one-way communication, whether you’re publishing a book or a blog post. Although you can envision your audience, they aren’t with you. You take a deep breath and send your work out into the world. You can’t see what happens next. But sometimes the world answers back. Faintly. Often enigmatically. Pay attention […]
The Servant Authorship Mindset: Why It Matters
Servant authorship: writing with a focus on serving the reader rather than yourself. It’s a powerful strategy for writers of all kinds.
Why Your Purpose Matters
What’s the purpose for your writing? Have you thought about it lately, or are you stuck in the daily demands of hitting deadlines and building readership? It’s easy to lose sight of a long-term goal when you’re swamped in details. Take a moment to think about your broader purpose for writing. What impact do you hope […]
Finding a Writing Voice That Fits
A writing voice is like a pair of shoes. You need more than one, and they all need to fit you.
Nonfiction Author Experiences
What Hundreds of Authors Report about Their Experiences Writing a book can feel like a solitary activity. Much of the time, you’re slogging on your own, or deep in your own head. So it’s fascinating to have insight into other people’s experiences. As it turns out, we have a lot in common. Despite the differences […]
Research or Procrastination?
I’m a big fan of doing research. But I’m such a fan that I’m tempted to get stuck in the research phase. It’s fun. It’s fascinating. And it’s a reason to put off writing—especially writing something major, like a book. Are you researching or procrastinating? If you’re working on a doctoral dissertation based on academic […]