How to Write Like the Dickens

Charles Dickens wrote 20 novels and novellas, numerous short stories, a few plays, and several non-fiction books. His writing career began in 1833 and ended with his death in 1870 at the young age of 58. Dickens was the most popular writer of the Victorian era, and is...

To Get More Clients, Get R.E.A.L.

One of the ways I help self-employed professionals and creatives build their businesses is with writing — blog or Substack posts, byline articles, ebooks, and more. To explain to them the type of editorial content self-employed pros need to write in order to...

When Is It Okay to Write Badly?

“Darn it, it’s my writing day, and I didn’t sleep well last night. Now I’ll be tired, and my thinking won’t be sharp. Maybe I should just forget about writing today. I don’t want to take the chance the writing won’t be any...

More Money or the Pursuit of Happiness?

We self-employed professionals and creatives are constantly faced with difficult choices about how to best grow our businesses. Should you pursue this line of business or that one? Would it serve you better to choose Niche A or Niche B? Shall you spend your time...

Life-in-a-Notebook Planning System

Clients and students often ask me, “C.J., you always seem to have a million things going on. How do you keep track of it all?” Their questions imply that they believe I am more organized, focused, or productive than the average bear. Personally, I’m...

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