You hear this advice everywhere: If you want to be a thought leader in a subject, write a book about it. It’s not bad advice, although writing a book is not the only option, nor is it right for everyone. It takes stamina to find success with this path. But it may not play out like […]
writing
How Long Will It Take to Write This Thing?
A writer’s magazine published a roundup of profiles of authors with new books out. Each author answered that essential question: How long did it take you to write the book? Their answers ranged from two weeks to five years. Your mileage may vary. We’re fascinated with how long it takes other people to write things. The real question isn’t […]
Writing and the Social Media Trap
“Build your author platform; be active on social media.” When you hear this advice as an aspiring author, you may head off to the online world to build that all-important platform. You spend time learning, reading posts, following others, posting, and joining online communities. Time passes, and you build a social media following and presence. You learn from […]
I’m an Indie Author
What’s the right way to get your work published? “From this day forward, all authors are indie authors.” Mark Coker, president of Smashwords, made that statement at the San Francisco Author’s Conference. It clearly resonated with writers in the room. Authors today have many options; our paths are no longer dictated entirely by a small number of […]
Two Reasons Not to Revise As You Draft
You’ve heard many versions of this advice before: Embrace the ugly first draft. Ann Handley, Everybody Writes Write with the door closed, revise with the door open. Stephen King, On Writing Turn off the inner critic and be fearless. Me, The Writer’s Process No matter how it’s phrased, the advice is sound. Resist the temptation to revise and polish […]
Need More Time to Write?
The biggest barrier to writing for many people is time – more specifically, the lack of time. Writing takes time and attention, both of which are precious resources in the modern world. For many years, I built my consulting business on the reality that even the most adept writers struggle to find that time in the modern […]