I don’t mind having others put words in my mouth—not when their words are witty, wise and succinct. Put another way: I love using quotes in my writing. I’ve been collecting quotes since I was a teen. My notebooks, computer files and bookshelves are filled with them. It’s no wonder then that more than half of the dozens of books I’ve published are quotation anthologies, original and otherwise. Quotes, I find, add depth and perspective […]
1. Identify why you’re self-publishing Your reasons for self-publishing will affect both your writing and final product. A book of family recipes, for example, may not take much time or skill to write. A definitive biography, on the other hand, may take months, more likely years, to research and write. Either way, you will need to examine your motives to determine if you are up to the task. But that’s just the beginning. You also […]
So, you’ve got that Great American novel inside of you, just itching to get out … or that how-to book that will change the lives of millions … or that screenplay that would be perfect for Hollywood. Now all you need is the time to commit your words to paper. But where, how do you find it? Let me give you a hint: It’s right in front of you! Seriously. Time isn’t some mysterious, elusive […]
Before you write a bestseller, write a book. Before you write a book, write a chapter. Before you write a chapter, write some paragraphs. Before you write some paragraphs, know what you will say. Before you know what to say, pinpoint what you WANT to say. Before you pinpoint what you want to say, ask yourself why you want to say it. Before you ask yourself why you want to say it, listen to the […]
1. Understand and recognize the difference between constructive and destructive criticism. The former may not make you comfortable, but it does make you think and ultimately act to improve your writing. The latter saps you of energy and confidence, setting up hurdles and blocks that slow or halt your personal or professional growth. Constructive criticism is to be embraced, destructive criticism is to be ignored. 2. Don’t ask if you’re not willing to accept. Criticism, […]
When we talk about creating a writing space, we’re really talking about two kinds — a physical space and a mental space. You need both in which to work. Sure it would be great to have a fantastic office with a great view, but if you can’t keep others out of it or get yourself into it, it won’t do you much good. Let’s start then with mental space. You lay claim to it through […]
Being able to listen is essential to your writing; ditto for making conversation. Here are some listening tips, many of which I’ve excerpted from my book The Confident Schmoozer. Keep Your Trap Shut It’s hard to do, of course. You’re one of the world’s most fascinating creatures, not to mention its most intelligent. You know everything about everything, be it politics, movies or the differences among coffee beans, and you gladly share that information with […]
1. You have something to say and don’t feel like keeping it to yourself. Call it stubbornness or drive, but you don’t want someone else to determine whether or not you speak, let alone when and to whom. That someone, of course, is a publisher. Publishers are not bad folks, however. Like all of us, they’re doing their job, and it’s a challenging one. Mergers, acquisitions, downsizing—all affect the industry. Add in soft sales, rising […]
For someone who has a way with words, I can never find the words to describe to friends what writing means to me. I try to tell them that it’s sort of like hearing voices, only I hear stories. Only I don’t really hear them or see them. I sense them, the way animals sense a storm approaching. The stories may be in the distance somewhere, but they’re also in front of me, around me; […]
The man who says “It can’t be done” is interrupted by the man who is doing it. — Unknown Isn’t it time you interrupted yourself?
I’m often asked what it’s like to be a writer — how I spend my days, how I experience the world. And so I will be sharing occasional essays from the front lines of my writing life. Enjoy! Creativity is infinite, ever available. It seeks expression. It needs you. But not just your great ideas. It needs you to rediscover the world; to clean its dusty corners and buff its dull surfaces. It wants you... Read more.
