May 22, 2023 | Nonfiction Writing |
“Priming the pump” is one of those expressions you probably use without thinking about it. Used metaphorically, it means to encourage the success or growth of a thing by taking steps to get it started. But literally, the origin of the phrase is the...
Apr 18, 2023 | Getting Clients |
“I think I’m really good at what I do,” declares technical writer June, “but I don’t ever seem to get a chance to show people.” June is experienced, highly-skilled, and has written dozens of instruction manuals and other how-to...
Nov 15, 2022 | Nonfiction Writing |
Dame Hilary Mantel published her first novel at the age of 33. Over the next three decades, she wrote twelve books of historical fiction, two collections of short stories, and a memoir. She was the first woman to twice win the Booker Prize for fiction. I’d say...
Sep 20, 2022 | Nonfiction Writing |
“Being successful at writing can be defined by one parameter: How well we know and resonate with our audience.” These are the words of freelance writer Christina M. Ward, one of the top earning writers on Medium, where earnings are determined by how much...
Sep 21, 2021 | Nonfiction Writing |
“Write what you know… My No. 1 rule,” declares blogger Ellen Vrana. “Charles Dickens couldn’t have written Jane Austen and Austen couldn’t have written Dickens. They wrote the world and people they each knew. I’m not going to...
Jun 8, 2021 | Self-Employment Sanity |
I often hear from self-employed professionals that they are struggling. Running a business is hard work. Marketing and sales can be uncomfortable or even scary. You frequently don’t know where your next client is coming from. It can make you feel pessimistic, or...
