Search Results for: writing tips

10 writing tips on how to not be boring
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10 writing tips on how to not be boring

Business writers are boring. It’s tedious to read their email, Web sites, and white papers. Standing out from this grey background just takes a little color, and it will boost, not harm, your professional reputation. Boring text is not only dull to read, it’s dreary to write. Your readers are seeking information, but you’ve still got a responsibility…

7 collaboration tools and tips that make book writing go smoothly
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7 collaboration tools and tips that make book writing go smoothly

Collaborating on a book is hard. Deadlines make it harder. The key is to develop a disciplined process and stick with it. To help you get to the end without tears, I’ll share some battle-tested collaboration tools and tips that will keep you focused on content excellence, not process glitches. (You’ll see where the bear…

An emotional résumé; model of influence; in the writing huddle: Newsletter 14 February 2024
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An emotional résumé; model of influence; in the writing huddle: Newsletter 14 February 2024

Newsletter 31. Looking back on your career, in praise of college writing centers, the disruption of a Canadian bookseller, plus three people to follow, three brand new books to read, and a plug for the imperfect manuscript. My emotional résumé I’ve been helping a friend with her résumé. The hard part is shoehorning valuable experiences…

Tips for business ghostwriters: Wed 16 August, 12 noon ET

Tips for business ghostwriters: Wed 16 August, 12 noon ET

Join me for a free “Brown Bag Lunch” discussion hosted by Gotham Ghostwriters, tomorrow (Wednesday, 16 August) at 12 noon Eastern Time. I’ll be joined by one of my favorite people, veteran ghostwriter Toni Robino. If you’re pursuing a freelance career that includes ghostwriting business books, we’ll try to answer all your questions. I look…

In the wake of shocking changes at Scribe Media, tips on how authors can protect themselves

In the wake of shocking changes at Scribe Media, tips on how authors can protect themselves

Publisher’s Lunch, usually a reputable source, is reporting that “Ghostwriting and publishing services firm Scribe Media abruptly shut down yesterday, laying off its staff.” A second source that I trust received an email saying that Scribe had laid off most of the staff in preparation for a sale. Other authors are reporting no response to…

Designing a custom book (ghost)writing collaboration process

Designing a custom book (ghost)writing collaboration process

Any nonfiction book with more than one contributor needs a carefully designed collaboration process. Not all tools are appropriate for all authors. So before you begin, plan how you’re going to move from ideation to research to drafts to completion and how everyone will contribute or approve content all along the way. To demonstrate how…

Never say “shared” and other tips for quoting people
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Never say “shared” and other tips for quoting people

If you write articles, blog posts, or books, you’re going to quote people. I recommend the tried and true “said.” Avoid other dialogue verbs, especially “shared.” “Shared” makes you sound like a total novice Does this impress you? When I interviewed her on Zoom, she was very excited about the new idea. “We expect this…