It happened again the other night. I watched a television show that concluded with a surprising twist. Later that night and the next morning, the show kept popping into my thoughts, as I pondered different ways the plot might resolve. Ah, the magic of the cliffhanger. Televisions writers know that a fresh, unresolved plot point keeps […]
Writing
Finding Flow in the Writing Process
“Not an early start today but it doesn’t matter at all because the unity feeling is back. That is the fine thing. That makes it easy and fun to work.” – John Steinbeck. The unity feeling – you know what Steinbeck means, don’t you? Have you felt it? The writer Zadie Smith describes a state of magical […]
The Quest for the Perfect Book Title: A/B Testing
Which would you rather drink? Simple A/B testing. The right blog or book title can be the difference between your writing earning a few moments of consideration and passing immediately into oblivion. If your blog post, article, or book needs to find an audience in the larger world, an effective title or headline is critical. The […]
Deadlines Add Life to the Writing Process
Deadline. The word itself has an ominous, unsettling feel: the point beyond which you must not pass. According to Merriam-Webster, the word originated in an actual line beyond which straying prisoners would be shot. Ouch. Deadlines feel like impending doom if you’re not prepared. Ask any college student in the days before midterm papers are due. Yet the word […]
Hacking the Negativity Bias When Writing
The more success you have with your writing, the more opinions you’ll hear, both good and bad. Even mildly negative criticism and setbacks can pack a punch, including: Bad online reviews Negative comments on a blog post Email unsubscribes (which always, of course, happen right after you send an email) Book returns The stray comment from an acquaintance, like […]
Writing and the Imposter Syndrome
“I’m not a writer. I’ve been fooling myself and other people. I wish I were.” If you have ever had these thoughts, you’re in good company. These words appear in the journals of John Steinbeck. Yes, that Steinbeck – the one who won a Nobel Prize for literature. He wrote this journal entry in late summer of 1938, while he […]