How New York Times Bestselling Author Chris Guillebeau Wrote His Latest Book
Several years back a colleague recommended Chris Guillebeau’s The Art of Nonconformity, which was a real eye-opener to me. The book challenges readers to think about unconventional ways of doing life and making a living, and honestly I’ve never been the same. I can draw a straight line from his book to the creation of Book Proposal Academy, […]
5 Brilliant Things Writers Can Do to Overcome a Small Platform
As editorial director for a major trade publisher, I regularly receive questions like the following: How big a platform is big enough? Am I out of luck if I don’t have much of a platform? What should I do if my platform is still smallish? Do I really have to be a superstar to get […]
If You Stop Writing Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later [Guest Post Notification]
I’m delighted to be have a guest post up over at Jeff Goins’ blog today. Here’s how it begins . . . When I was younger I played the trombone, but I didn’t really get it. I had friends who got it. You could tell orchestral music did something for them. But as I get […]
What an Odd Little Man Taught Me about Reverence and Mystery
In Memory of Robin Williams As we entered his classroom, Professor Whipp grinned at us. Just as we finished settling in, placing our backpacks on the floor, our notebooks on our desks, he beckoned us to leave. “Come,” he said, “Follow me.” And out we went onto the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s wide campus one pleasant […]
3 Questions Publishers Will Ask about Your Next Book Project
For aspiring writers the “pub board meeting,” where book contracts are won and lost, is mysterious and even unnerving. “What goes on in there?” writers wonder. “What’s the conversation like?” For over ten years I’ve been attending publishing board meetings in an acquisitions role for a large book publisher. I’ve learned to anticipate the most […]
Which of These 2 Ways Do You View the Future?
Sometimes our anxieties about the future negatively impact the present. We anticipate 1-star Amazon reviews before we’ve written a chapter. We dread how little our new business venture will make before we’ve designed the product. But is all thinking about the future bad for productivity and creativity? Of course not. Natasha Crain commented, “I like to […]
How You Can Get Closer to Your Dream Today (Not Tomorrow)
Like most, I do my art in the margins. I have a day job, one I like very much, and so my writing and product making and speaking and platform building have to happen on the side. Some have called this a “side hustle.” I’m supposed to tell you that if you work hard enough, […]
22 Clever Ways to Find Time to Write
When writing is your dream job but not your day job, fitting it in the margins of life can be tough. Following are 22 ways to find more writing time: 1. When driving, speak into a voice recorder app. Transcribe it later when you have time. Or you could try a speech-to-text app.
The Best Books Ever Written on Creativity, Writing, Platform, and Pursuing Your Dreams
Good books and the authors who write them make for some of the most helpful companions on the creative journey. Below is a categorized list of what I consider the best books out there on creativity, writing, platform, and pursuing your dreams. I commented on books I’ve read and loved. Others made the list either […]
What I Learned about You, and How You Knocked Me Off My Feet
I have been poring over the survey results, and I can’t tell you how energized I am as I read these. I’m eager to share some of what I’ve learned. Who You Are Your vocations vary! Among those who responded were writers, visual artists, musicians, career coaches, podcasters, bloggers, graphic artists, poets, teachers, photographers, speakers, […]