It’s tempting as a writer to think that “everyone” is your audience. But the reality is that your message is not for everyone. It’s a paradox that the more you focus on a very specific type of person, the more people will be able to relate to it. Specifically, narrowing down your audience will give … Read more
It has been said that the middle of every project feels like a disaster. You’re far enough away from the starting point that you’ve lost some of the enthusiasm you had at the beginning. But you’re too far away from the end to see the finish line. How do you break through the messy middle … Read more
In your author journey, it is easy to view yourself as the hero. You’ve worked hard on your writing, books, and marketing. You’ve conquered emotional obstacles. You’ve proven to yourself that you can do it. All of those are heroic acts, to be sure, but it may surprise you to learn that in your author … Read more
One of the most fascinating aspects of being a writer is that lots of people are eager to give you advice. In fact, there is a giant industry of books, conferences, retreats, coaching, and podcasts (this being one of them!) devoted to giving you writing advice. However, be careful who you’re listening to. There is … Read more
There is a lot of pressure in the writing and publishing worlds to create the “right” words—words that are moving, effective, emotional, and whatever other superlatives we want to put on them. Is it important to impact the reader and make a big difference? Sure. But you don’t get the gold unless you dig for … Read more
What does it mean to “be yourself”? From the time we are kids, our parents and teachers told us to be ourselves. That is great advice to be sure. It is especially important in your writing, where it is critical to develop your own unique voice. It can be confusing when you are trying to … Read more