Discoverability is Hard A writer friend of mine was lamenting the challenges of discoverability. This is about how readers find your book. It does presume you have a book written and published (via traditional hybrid or self-publishing).  How do you … Continue reading →

Read to Learn Can you learn to write by reading good books?  Can you learn to make a film by watching a movie? Can you learn to play the piano by listening to a concert pianist?  Can you learn to … Continue reading →

It’s YOUR Life I picked up a book, The Rights of the Reader by Daniel Pennac, first published in 1992. It’s a small, humourous little book about, well, the rights of the reader—and it’s an unapologetic celebration of reading for pleasure. Not … Continue reading →

Live the Writer Life Did you ever try the exercise where you wrote your own obituary? The idea is to write not just about the kind of person you are, but about the kind of person you want to be … Continue reading →

Writing IS Hard! If you write, it’s because you want to. You may feel it’s a “calling”, or something that speaks to your soul. You may simply have a great idea for a story and want to get it out … Continue reading →

It’s More Than You Think I’m fortunate to have a job where I get to talk to writers all day. But I’ve also realized, that has, on occasion, put me into a writing bubble. I forget that there are other … Continue reading →

Ask Yourself Hard Questions We know there are two distinct processes in writing: the actual writing process (everything from brainstorming, outlining, drafting and revisions) and the publishing process (everything to get your book out into the world). The first one … Continue reading →

YOU Choose Your Path Like many of my writing friends and clients, finding a path to traditional publishing can be fraught with peril. More and more are choosing something different: hybrid publishing, self-publishing, even starting up their own publishing imprints … Continue reading →

AI: The Tools WE Use AI is a thing. It’s a thing in the wider world and it’s definitely a thing in the writing world. There is lots of cause for concern about how AI will affect us. But, like any technology, … Continue reading →

The Impact of Stories The ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is one of the oldest surviving works of literature (estimated to have been written in the 8th or 7th century BCE). It’s still popular today—in fact, a current You Tube/social media … Continue reading →