What Would Luke Skywalker Do? Writing and Moral Responsibility
I grew-up in a completely non-religious family. My father lived in different cities from me and my mother worked long hours as an executive at a massive corporation. My step-father and I had a toxic relationship from the moment we met, and I was seen by my teachers as a no good trouble-maker throughout my…
How to Put the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon to Work in Your Writing
You or your spouse get pregnant and you begin to see pregnant women everywhere you go. You buy a new car and suddenly the same model is all over town. You start drinking green smoothies for breakfast and now everyone at work is talking about green smoothies. Rest assured, you aren’t going crazy. Nothing magical…
Aunt May, Spider-Man, and Finding the Time to Write
There is a fantastic moment in Sam Raimi’s original Spider-Man film from 2002. Peter Parker has just woken up and is clearly exhausted. Aunt May looks at him and says, “You do too much. College, a job, all this time with me… You’re not Superman, you know.” This is the scene here: As a writing…
The Unstoppable Power of Showing Up
I’m on author, speaker, and business school professor David Burkas’ mailing list. Burkas opened his first email of the New Year with the following sentence: “I’m not setting any goals for 2019.” It’s a bold statement, especially for someone like Burkas, a non-fiction author in the information sharing and teaching realm. Burkas’ email went on…
Barbara Kyle on How to Sell Half a Million Books — The Writing Coach 088
Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work. In episode #88 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Barbara Kyle. Barbara is the author of the acclaimed Thornleigh Saga, a…
Christmas with Write Along Radio — The Writing Coach 087
Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work. In episode #87 of The Writing Coach podcast, host Kevin T. Johns revisits the Christmas episode of his old podcast, Write Along Radio.…
The Marquis de Sade Didn’t Have a Writing Coach
I write a lot about the benefits of working with a writing coach. (Go figure, huh? The writing coach likes to write about the benefits of coaching!) As a result, I’m sometimes asked if I think every writer must have a writing coach in order to achieve success. When I’m asked this question, I can’t help…
Sally McGraw on How Ghostwriters Capture Voice — The Writing Coach 086
Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work. In episode #86 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Sally McGraw Sally McGraw is a savvy and versatile ghostwriter, editor, and…
I Found Some Time to Write Under the Couch Cushions
How to Find the Time to Write (Even if You Have a Full-time Job) is one of the most popular webinars I’ve offered over the years. The training is filled with tips and hacks for better time management and productivity. The hundreds of writers who have attended the training come away filled to the brim with…
Rachel Sentes of Gal Friday Publicity — The Writing Coach 085
Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work. In episode #85 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Rachel Sentes of Gal Friday Publicity. Rachel is a publicist and literary…
