The One Book Every Writer Needs

My Take on Steven Pressfield’s *The War of Art*

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

If you’re a writer who is struggling or could use some inspiration, you could do a lot worse than making Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art your soundtrack for the next two weeks, or longer. Whether you listen to the audiobook (2.5 hours) or read it (170 pages), engaging this book might be the most […]

How to Unlock Your Full Potential

Harnessing the Power of Micro and Holistic Change

You’re likely aware of Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken.” The poem ends with the famous line “I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference.” Nice idea. The problem is that the narrator of the poem knows full well the path he took was “worn really about […]

How to Write a Useful Book That Markets Itself

A Book Review of Rob Fitzpatrick’s *Write Useful Books*

Do you know what’s even better than a great book? A great book that recommends another great book! That’s exactly how I came across Write Useful Books: A Modern Approach to Designing and Refining Recommendable Nonfiction by Rob Fitzpatrick. AJ Harper recommends it in her masterful Write a Must-Read. As soon as I finished Harper’s […]

The Serious Business of Having Fun

5 Strategies for Writers

Writing is emotional work in that people can respond to what you write in a way that actually hurts. This is worth pondering for a minute. Other kinds of work like, say, washing dishes or taking out the trash, are not the same. Sure, someone might point out a bit you missed on a plate, […]

AJ Harper’s Gift to Writers

A Book Review of *Write a Must-Read: Craft a Book That Changes Lives—Including Your Own*

AJ Harper’s book is generous. But on her way to providing what many writers likely want—a thoroughgoing step-by-step guide to writing a truly great book—she has to do some disabusing first. In this market space of writing and publishing and book-marketing, a lot of experts talk about how easy and quick it can be to […]

A Runner’s Advice to Writers

5 Tips from a Writing Coach Who’s Training for a Marathon

Running is a great metaphor for a lot of things, especially writing. As a writing coach who’s training for my first marathon (Chicago Marathon 2022, baby!), I see parallels all over the place. Often it can be helpful to get a fresh perspective on our writing lives, and I think running offers some really helpful […]

Why “Geeking Out” Is the Key to Growing Your Audience

The Most Effective, Enjoyable Way to Build Your Platform

Often attracting an audience (aka building a platform) feels difficult because we misunderstand its purpose. We think it’s about: Sending an email or writing a blog post every week Coming up with something brilliant to say on a consistent basis Sharing about our writing journey regularly These are all things we may end up doing […]

Best Books for Writers on Craft, Creativity, Marketing, and More!

Indispensable Reads for Savvy Authors

Reading the right books can help you become a better, more successful writer, but where to start!? I’ve been an avid reader of books for writers a long time now, and it’s a topic I’ve written about in the past. But as I keep reading more books in this genre, I expand and refine my […]

Get Solid Endorsements for Your Book with This 5-Step Process

Tips, Tricks, and Two Sample Request Letters

As readers we’ve likely relied on endorsements for own book choices, so we get how important they are. Endorsements serve as third-party votes of confidence for your book. They lend credibility and reliability to what you’ve written. So, how do you get them? In this article I’m going to share five steps that just about […]

​6 Middle-of-the-Year Questions to Achieve End-of-Year Success

We think a lot about beginnings and endings. Beginnings often come with a rush of excitement that tends to overwhelm the also attendant anxiety. Endings are when we look back. We celebrate the wins, course-correct for losses, and look to a new beginning. Endings come with a sense of closure and finality. But what about […]