Why Writers Need to be Tightrope Walkers
I’ve never been a fan of “balance”. When I gave up on the government-recommended “balanced diet” and instead ate an unbalanced diet that consisted primarily of vegetables and meet, I lost weight, gained muscle, felt healthier, and performed athletically at a higher level. That’s just one example of why I’ve always believed obsessive focus and dedication is…
What’s Your “Voice of Fire”?
I’m lucky to live in Ottawa, Ontario, home of Canada’s National Art Gallery. In 1989 the newly opened Art Gallery purchased a work by abstract painter Barnett Newman titled, “Voice of Fire”. Originally created as a commission for Expo 67, a celebration of Canada’s centennial, the painting is 18 feet long and consists of three…
Why Your Writing Never Works Out the Way You Plan
The dichotomy between plan and execution can be a difficult and frustrating concept to come to terms with. In fact, I’m certain it’s why many people give up on artistic endeavors like writing a novel. Part of the process of turning pro, as an author or writer, involves coming to terms with the fact that…
Don’t Make Your Book More Important than It Is
There’s a major roadblock that stops many aspiring authors from finding success. I see it time and time again with my coaching clients. They take their book too seriously. These aspiring authors believe that, once completed and published, their novel will define who they are; nay, it will define their very value as a human being. They…
The Toolbox Method for First-Time Authors
A couple of years ago my wife gave me an awesome toolbox as a birthday present. It has a sturdy handle and it’s filled with all kinds of tools: electric drills, adjustable wrenches, hammers, nails, and screws galore. It’s always exciting to dig down inside and pull out the exact tool I need when confronted with a home fix-it project. Most of the…
Fizzle.co is Building a Budding Army of Creative (and Honest) Entrepreneurs
Books don’t sell themselves. Like so many authors before me, I only learned this lesson after publishing my first novel. And when book sales dried up, I realized I knew absolutely nothing about business, sales, or marketing. Thus began a multi-year self-education in business fundamentals. The internet offers no shortage of opportunities to learn about…
Book Publishing is About More than Just Money
Bryan Collins of Become a Writer Today recently included me (along with other big writers like K. M. Weiland, James Scott Bell, and Robert McKee) in an awesome infographic: 11 Top Writers on their Greatest Writing Challenges and How they Overcome their Demons. In addition to being a “top writer”, I’m also a writing coach. I’ve worked with hundreds…
Ani Alexander on Being a Brand Architect – The Writing Coach 026
Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors that help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work. Ani Alexander is an author, brand coach, and the host of the popular podcast, Write to be Read, which she hosted for over…
8 Simple Ways to Beef Up a Lean Manuscript (Without Adding Filler or Fluff)
You’ve completed the first draft of your novel and it has come in at around 50K words. But you were shooting for 80K. Now what? How do you beef up a lean manuscript? Where do you find 30,000 more words without just adding filler or fluff? Despair not my friend! Here’s 8 simple methods for…
How to Pivot with Jenny Blake – The Writing Coach 022
Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors that help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work. In episode 22 of The Writing Coach, I speak with author Jenny Blake. Jenny is a speaker, career coach, author and business strategist…
