Word Magic
When you’re writing fiction, your characters are everything. “Plot” is what your characters do. Since characterization is so vital, let’s look at simple ways to get characters clear in your own mind… So you can make them real to readers. I’ve been rereading Anthony Trollope, just for his characters. He’s masterful at characterization. Not only do you believe in his … Read more
If you’re a writer or marketer, you’re on an endless hunt to generate ideas. They might be ideas for: client projects, nonfiction books, blog posts, novels, short stories… In order to do this, you need time. To generate ideas, you need time for research and thinking From Inc.’s excellent article, 7 Ways to Generate Great Ideas: Great ideas won’t happen … Read more
Want to organize your life—and your business? Use a mind map. Not only can mind maps improve your memory (you’re six times more likely to remember something if you use words and images), they help you to take in a mass of information at a glance. A mind map helps you to reduce stress and achieve your goals Creating a … Read more
If you’re a self-publishing author, you’re busy. Not only do you write your books, you need to promote them, and manage your business as well. Recently Melissa, one of my writing students, told me that although she’s hired a virtual assistant, she’s overwhelmed. She said: “My VA handles my Facebook group and social media posts, and that’s great. I’ve looked … Read more
Do you wish you could fix procrastination for good? Me too—and an app may help. But before we get to discussing apps, consider this. Maybe you’re too hard on yourself. For creative workers, procrastination—and even laziness—may have hidden benefits. Perhaps you should allow yourself to procrastinate sometimes; it may well enhance your creativity. Should you try to fix procrastination for … Read more