The Single Most Important Tip for Writing with Power and Authority: Knowing What to Say
Believe it or not, the single most important tip for writing with power and authority is also the most overlooked one. We’re being bludgeoned with social posts about avoiding the passive voice, long sentences, and jargon—which is, most of the time, great advice. But I can’t remember anyone pressing the importance of knowing what you want […]
The Power of Taking It Slow: The FIRE Framework for Writing with Authority
If you are like most social media users, you scroll through your feed for over two hours a day. And as thousands of lifeless lumps of prose pass your retinae, you wonder: Can I stand out among all that noise? The problem is that many content creators stamp out articles within ten minutes and then […]
Verkoop meer boeken met je brandstory: als schrijver ben je een bedrijf
Stel dat je dit leest op Facebook: ‘Hoi vrienden, ik heb een boek geschreven! Klik hier om het te bestellen.’ Je komt niets over het boek te weten – behalve dat de wereld nog een gebonden stapel papier rijker is. Zou jij op de link klikken? Als je naar de dichtstbijzijnde bibliotheek gaat, dan kom je […]
Atomic Habits for Writers: Successfully Implementing Writing Tips
Full of hope, you download another writing checklist. You print it out, put it beside your keyboard, and decide to never hit “Publish” again without implementing the whole sheet of writing tips. This time, you will learn to write like a pro. But after a while, your good intentions are supplanted by other priorities. Cookie […]
Spannende non-fictie: bouw je boek op met architecturale spanning
Denk aan een boek dat je niet kon wegleggen. Je móést het gewoon verder lezen. Waardoor werd je zo geboeid? Misschien waren de personages interessant of sprak de setting je aan. Toch was het hoogstwaarschijnlijk de zorgvuldig geconstrueerde architectuur van opbouwende spanning die je aan het boek gekluisterd hield. In dit blog leer je hoe […]
Authors Are Companies: Sell Your Books Using a Brand Story
Imagine reading this on Facebook: “Hi, Friends! I wrote a book! Click here to order.” There’s no info—except that the world gained another spined reem of papers. Would you click? Go to any library, and you’ll discover we don’t need more books. You’ll be overwhelmed by the towers of nameless tomes. Our reading lists are […]
What to Expect from a Nonfiction Editor: A Guide to the Editing World
Many writers think editors correct spelling and grammar. The fact is: we do a lot more. In this blog post, I’ll break down the main flavors of editing and where they belong in your publishing process. Who Needs an Editor? Every writer needs an editor. And every writing project can benefit from editing. But if […]
Suspense in Nonfiction: Building Your Book with Architectural Suspense
Think of a book you couldn’t put down. What was it about this book that locked you in? It could be that the characters were attractive or the setting spoke to you. But more likely, it was the carefully crafted architecture of suspense that kept you reading. In this blog, you’ll learn how to create […]
How Your Words Can Awaken Zombies: Focus, Lest Your Nonfiction Turn into Horror
A while ago, I read a brilliant nonfiction book called Neurotribes by Steve Silberman. And it was epic! Every page fascinated, engrossed, and challenged me. But halfway in, something yanked me out of the narrative: “Sister Viktorine, who worked alongside Lazar before his death, used to say that it was crucial to observe the children’s behavior […]
5 Myths about Editors: And Tips on How to Find a Good One
Most writers know they need an editor. But how can you be sure an editor won’t do more harm than good? Authors on social media feed this doubt with myriad editing myths—with some posters voicing plausible concerns and others ranting without reason. I’ve selected five editing myths from social media. Below are my replies and […]
