Short Version The Misinformation Age by Cailin O’Connor and James Owen Weatherall offers important insight for scientists, journalists, nonfiction writers, and anyone who wants to combat the spread of false beliefs. Long Version: How Misinformation Spreads and What We Can Do About It “Individually rational agents can form groups that are not rational at all.” […]
Be Impatient. Be Patient. Write.
F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote: “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” First-rate writers need to do something similar: sustaining patience and impatience. Being patiently impatient, if that’s possible. Impatience motivates Many writers are driven […]
Are You Preaching or Persuading?
Tell me if this is familiar: You read an opinion piece in the local paper in which someone lays out an impassioned case on an issue. If you already agree with the writer, you think, “Amen!” And if you don’t, you think, “Geeze, that person is really ranting about that topic.” That is, if you read […]
The Pause Before Publishing
Savoring the Moment of Possibility A diver stands poised at the edge of the board in a competition, and everyone hushes and watches. The orchestra stops its cacophonous tuning in a full house and awaits the conductor’s arrival. The audience quiets, anticipating the performance to come in silence. Some moments are ripe with anticipation and possibility. Writing […]
A Simple Guide to Discounts and Promotions
I’ve had some moderate success doing promotions of discounted books. These two blog posts for the Nonfiction Author’s Association lay out my process and results: Part One covers setting the price, duration, and promotion plans for your discounted sale. Part Two is about evaluating the performance of your campaign Check them out and see if […]
How Shortcuts Cheat the Writer
We’ve all heard those seductive promises: Write your novel in a weekend! Make six figures from blogging this year You can become a best-selling author using ghostwriters Although the titles are fictional, their real-world counterparts abound on the Internet. If you dream of publishing a book or “being a writer,” these promises are compelling. I’m […]