One of the biggest barriers facing a new writer – a blogger, a novelist, a copywriter – is the self-knowledge of just how far away you are from their ideal. When I first started copywriting, I was afraid to show my work to anyone. I was afraid to show first drafts to my colleagues. I [...]

Pick one of your favorite bloggers. What keeps you going back to their blog again and again? Maybe they give great information. Maybe they answer all their comments. But what probably really matters to you is their style. Let me throw out a few names for you: Naomi Dunford Seth Godin Darren Rowse Johnny B. [...]

Upcoming posts will focus on better writing skills, in honor of Damn Fine Words‘s launch. It’s the only online writing course that teaches you how to improve your writing skills AND get business results. Registration is open right now, and with a juicy discount too. Don’t miss it! You know that writers need to read [...]

They tell you to write. They tell you that your success depends on quality content. They tell you to produce lots of it. You should blog. You should improve your web copy. You should write sales letters. You should comment and tweet and say insightful things on Facebook. No one tells you how. Until now.

If I asked you the question, “What’s the movie Breakfast At Tiffany’s about?” you’d probably say something like this: “Isn’t Audrey Hepburn in that? And doesn’t she really want to have breakfast at Tiffany’s?” Yes, she is, and yes, she does, but those things are not, in fact, what Breakfast at Tiffany’s is really about. [...]

I’ve been called many things in my life. Patient is not one of them. So when I received strong interest for my fourth book from traditional publishers and was told they’d put it out in spring of 2012… Well. Like I said, I’ve never been called patient.

It’s not a question anyone really wants to ask themselves – but it is the most necessary question in professional writing. And if the quality of writing around the web is any indication, it’s a question very few writers ask themselves. Most people starting out as professionals will receive the following advice: write. Just write. [...]

I sat there, my hands edging towards the keyboard… but I couldn’t bring myself to touch it. I felt that as soon as I tapped out a few faltering words, any hope of perfection would be gone forever. Your opening won’t be strong enough. Why would anyone read this anyway? How could you think that [...]