Blog

• How we share, and the tools we use to do so (1/27/2023) - Join me for a free workshop next Friday February 3rd at 12:30pm ET: Create a Sharing System: A Simple Plan to Share on Social Media, Newsletters & More! I will discuss the system I use for myself and with clients that is practical and demystifies the common issues writers face when considering how they will … Continue reading "How we share, and the tools we use to do so"
• Find your readers with intention (podcast) (1/24/2023) - I want to encourage you to do is be intentional about connecting with potential readers. No, I am not saying that you have to embrace networking. Instead, consider how you can regularly create moments and experiences around the kind of books or themes that inspire you. Joy should be infused in the process. You can … Continue reading "Find your readers with intention (podcast)"
• Find your readers with intention (1/20/2023) - Join me for a free workshop today at 12:30pm ET: Author Platform and Book Launch Essentials. I will share three critical strategies for anyone who is trying to grow their audience as a writer, or prepare for a book launch. Plus: I will be happy to answer your questions in a live Q&A. If you … Continue reading "Find your readers with intention"
• How to build your author platform in 2023 (1/13/2023) - Join me for a free workshop next week: Author Platform and Book Launch Essentials. The workshop is on Friday January 20th at 12:30pm ET. I will share three critical strategies for anyone who is trying to grow their audience as a writer or prepare for a book launch, and I will be happy to answer … Continue reading "How to build your author platform in 2023"
• Finding the time, energy, and confidence to create (1/6/2023) - (Reminder: Join me for a live workshop today at 12:30pm ET: Creative Clarity: Find More Time, Get More Done, and Live with More Confidence.) This is a photo of my mom from the early 1950s on the street she grew up, in the Lower East Side of New York City:   I have dozens of … Continue reading "Finding the time, energy, and confidence to create"
• Start the year with creative clarity (12/28/2022) - In helping writers and creators reach their audience, I have found that the first essential ingredient is creative clarity. When you have creative clarity, you: Know exactly what to create. Understand how to use your limited resources for the greatest impact to reach your audience. Feel confident in your creative identity. Focus people’s attention and … Continue reading "Start the year with creative clarity"
• Are newsletters, podcasts, and social media too crowded? (Podcast) (12/23/2022) - It’s common for me to read a headline or social media post from someone who shares a story or statistics that illustrate that a specific channel is “too crowded” and not worth pursuing. That may include email newsletters, podcasts, social media, or Zoom events. Yet if you are someone who writes or creates, without these … Continue reading "Are newsletters, podcasts, and social media too crowded? (Podcast)"
• Why do you write? (12/23/2022) - My days are spent talking with writers, and something I think about a lot are their goals. At what point will they feel a sense of fulfillment? What are the milestones they seek that drives all this effort? Earlier this week I asked writers on social media why they write, and these were some responses: … Continue reading "Why do you write?"
• You are not a brand (podcast) (12/16/2022) - Recently I have seen people begin using the word “brand” a lot more. The context being that you have to “define your author brand” or “establish yourself as a brand” if you want to get the attention of readers. But you are not a brand. You are a person. Who you are and what you … Continue reading "You are not a brand (podcast)"
• When to prepare for your book launch (12/16/2022) - It’s common for me to encourage a writer to begin working on their book launch a year or more ahead of time. Today I want to talk about why that is, and ways you can prepare now. Let’s dig in… Have a Plan Don’t wait for others to magically create a plan for you. I’ve … Continue reading "When to prepare for your book launch"
• Are newsletters, podcasts, and social media too crowded? (12/9/2022) - It’s common for me to read a headline or social media post from someone positing things like: “Now that everyone is sending a newsletter, inboxes have reached a breaking point. If you are a writer, don’t bother starting one.” “With the podcast renaissance that started in 2012, we have now passed the peak of the … Continue reading "Are newsletters, podcasts, and social media too crowded?"
• What is the value of having social media followers? (podcast) (12/2/2022) - In recent episodes of this podcast, I’ve encouraged you to stop thinking about social media as being just about growing how many followers you have. But today I want to talk about the opposite: why having followers on social media can matter to your goals as a writer. The context I’m talking about here is … Continue reading "What is the value of having social media followers? (podcast)"
• You are not a brand (12/2/2022) - Recently I have seen people begin using the word “brand” a lot more. The context being that you have to “define your author brand” or “establish yourself as a brand” if you want to get the attention of readers. But you are not a brand. You are a person. Who you are and what you … Continue reading "You are not a brand"
• Celebrate those who create (11/25/2022) - I had been working on two different essays to potentially send out today, but then I saw something this week that really moved me. I want to share what that is today, and encourage you to do something that I think could have a powerful — and positive — impact on the life of another … Continue reading "Celebrate those who create"
• What is the value of having social media followers? (11/17/2022) - In the past few issues of this newsletter I talked about different ways of considering using social media if you are a writer or creator: Social media is a tool, you get to decide if — and how — you use it Honor your connection to readers, not trends or algorithms Stop worrying about how … Continue reading "What is the value of having social media followers?"
• Honor your connection to readers (podcast) (11/16/2022) - I have seen so much discussion recently about social media and email newsletters. Today, I want to encourage something critical: Focus on your goals as a writer and the experiences you want to have with readers. I worry that focusing too much on what each social network provides (the trends, the algorithms, etc.), has us … Continue reading "Honor your connection to readers (podcast)"
• Stop worrying about how many followers you have (11/11/2022) - Maybe you have heard that if you are a writer, you need to grow your platform in order to develop a readership for your work, or attract agents or publishers. It’s common for me to hear author’s say, “I heard that I need to have 10,000 followers in order to get a publishing deal.” I … Continue reading "Stop worrying about how many followers you have"
• Honor your connection to readers (11/4/2022) - I have seen so much discussion recently about social media and email newsletters. Today, I want to encourage something critical: Focus on your goals as a writer and the experiences you want to have with readers. I worry that focusing too much on what each social network provides (the trends, the algorithms, etc.), has us … Continue reading "Honor your connection to readers"
• Typewriters, and social media (podcast) (11/1/2022) - I am often in conversation with writers and creators about their mixed feelings about social media, or their downright dislike of it. In some ways, it feels like we are at a crossroads with social media. Relying on it for some important things, constantly distracted by it, and repulsed by it for different reasons. Today, … Continue reading "Typewriters, and social media (podcast)"
• Why your book isn’t getting reviews (podcast) (10/28/2022) - Many writers I speak with are surprised at how difficult it can be to get reviews for their books — even from friends, family, or colleagues. Today I want to talk about some reasons why that might be, and I’ll share advice on how you can get more reviews. You can listen to the podcast … Continue reading "Why your book isn’t getting reviews (podcast)"
• Typewriters, and social media (10/28/2022) - I am often in conversation with writers and creators about their mixed feelings about social media, or their downright dislike of it. In some ways, it feels like we are at a crossroads with social media. Relying on it for some important things, constantly distracted by it, and repulsed by it for different reasons. Each … Continue reading "Typewriters, and social media"
• Why your book isn’t getting reviews (10/21/2022) - Many writers I speak with are surprised at how difficult it can be to get reviews for their books — even from friends, family, or colleagues. Today I want to talk about some reasons why that might be, and I’ll share advice on how you can get more reviews. Let’s dig in… Why Reviews Matter … Continue reading "Why your book isn’t getting reviews"
• Do your friends & family support your writing goals? (podcast) (10/19/2022) - I was speaking with a writer recently who shared a question someone asked them. You see, this writer is embarking on a new phase of her life where she wants to write fiction and creative nonfiction. Her friend asked: “If you were going to do something with your writing, wouldn’t you have done it already?” … Continue reading "Do your friends & family support your writing goals? (podcast)"
• Do your friends & family support your writing goals? (10/14/2022) - I was speaking with a writer recently who shared a question that a friend asked them. You see, this writer is embarking on a new phase of her life where she wants to write fiction and creative nonfiction. This, after decades of building an amazing career in other fields. So this friend of hers asked: … Continue reading "Do your friends & family support your writing goals?"
• A Window or a Gateway (podcast) (10/13/2022) - I recently rewatched the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock movie, Rear Window. I can’t help but feel as though it is a lens into the challenges that writers face in navigating social media. Today I want to talk about how the movie is a metaphor for these challenges. You can listen to the podcast by clicking ‘play’ … Continue reading "A Window or a Gateway (podcast)"
• What does “just be authentic” on social media mean? (podcast) (10/7/2022) - As a writer or creator, I’m sure you have read that you should connect directly with your potential readers on social media, a newsletter, and elsewhere online. And when you ask “Um, what exactly do I share? How — specifically — do I do this?” You may have heard the advice of: “Just be authentic!” But that … Continue reading "What does “just be authentic” on social media mean? (podcast)"
• A window or a gateway? (10/7/2022) - I recently rewatched the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock movie, Rear Window. I can’t help but feel as though it is a lens into the challenges that writers face in navigating social media. Today I want to talk about how the movie is a metaphor for these challenges. If you are unfamiliar the movie, it takes place … Continue reading "A window or a gateway?"
• What does “just be authentic” on social media mean? (9/30/2022) - As a writer or creator, I’m sure you have read that you should connect directly with your potential readers on social media, a newsletter, and elsewhere online. And when you ask “Um, what exactly do I share? How — specifically — do I do this?” You may have heard the advice of: “Just be authentic!” … Continue reading "What does “just be authentic” on social media mean?"
• Great marketing is giving people something they WANT to share (podcast) (9/28/2022) - There are many writers and creators who think that marketing is the act of getting in someone’s way. Of tricking someone to subscribe to a newsletter by giving them a freebie; using a hashtag to game the social media algorithm to share your work; or posting a random meme to social media to get any … Continue reading "Great marketing is giving people something they WANT to share (podcast)"
• Great marketing is giving people something they WANT to share (9/22/2022) - There are many writers and creators who think that marketing is the act of getting in someone’s way. Of tricking someone to subscribe to a newsletter by giving them a freebie; using a hashtag to game the social media algorithm to share your work; or posting a random meme to social media to get any … Continue reading "Great marketing is giving people something they WANT to share"
• Why should writers worry about marketing at all? (podcast) (9/20/2022) - Isn’t it enough just to create a great book or work of art? Why would a writer ever have to feel responsible for marketing their own book? Shouldn’t that be the job of the publisher? Let’s dig into this topic.  You can listen to the podcast by clicking ‘play’ below, or in the following places: … Continue reading "Why should writers worry about marketing at all? (podcast)"
• Why should writers worry about marketing at all? (9/15/2022) - Isn’t it enough just to create a great book or work of art? Why would a writer ever have to feel responsible for marketing their own book? Shouldn’t that be the job of the publisher? Many people share questions like these with me, and I have empathy for them. I grew up as an artist, … Continue reading "Why should writers worry about marketing at all?"
• Prepare your author platform earlier than you think (podcast) (9/13/2022) - Regardless of the publishing path you choose, I encourage you to prepare your author platform for sharing your writing or publishing a book way before you think you need it. Like, years before. Today I want to talk about why that is. You can listen to the podcast by clicking ‘play’ below, or in the … Continue reading "Prepare your author platform earlier than you think (podcast)"
• Prepare your author platform earlier than you think (9/9/2022) - Regardless of the publishing path you choose, I encourage you to prepare your author platform for sharing your writing or publishing a book way before you think you need it. Like, years before. Today I want to talk about why that is. Preparation is great when you consider this from a business standpoint: how to … Continue reading "Prepare your author platform earlier than you think"
• Generosity should be your platform, part 2 (podcast) (9/2/2022) - Are a writer or creator who feels that you one day want your work to be read/seen? Or you worry you just don’t have the network — the access — to others who create, who engage your ideal readers, and to your ideal readers themselves? Then I want to tell you about this truly incredible resource … Continue reading "Generosity should be your platform, part 2 (podcast)"
• Generosity should be your platform, part 2 (9/2/2022) - If you are a writer or creator who feels: You one day want your work to be read/seen You worry you just don’t have the network — the access — to others who create, who engage your ideal readers, and to your ideal readers themselves Then I want to tell you about this truly incredible … Continue reading "Generosity should be your platform, part 2"
• Does physical media matter? (8/26/2022) - When you look at photos of people in public years ago, you see them looking at books, magazines, and newspapers. They are reading in the spare moments. Here is a photo by Danny Lyon from 1979:   The procurement, consumption, and maintenance of physical media used to be such a big part of our lives. … Continue reading "Does physical media matter?"
• How we share is a craft (8/19/2022) - Today I want to talk about how I have evolved how I work with writers. For more than 12 years, my full-time focus has been to help writers feel they can effectively share their work in a manner that is meaningful and strategic. For some, that is developing an author platform, or identifying how to … Continue reading "How we share is a craft"
• Why you should have a newsletter (8/12/2022) - If you are a writer hoping to develop your author platform or prepare for a book launch, newsletters are still a primary channel you should consider using. The reasons are the same now as they were years ago: a newsletter list gives you direct access to the people most likely to support your work. This … Continue reading "Why you should have a newsletter"
• Don’t fit in (8/5/2022) - So I’m listening to this book about Elvis. In total, it is is over 50 hours of listening, or more than 1,300 pages if read. Honestly, I didn’t have any particular interest in Elvis before author Jasmin Darznik recommended it, but I really admire her taste in things. So this is a good example of … Continue reading "Don’t fit in"
• Knowing what to say to your readers (7/29/2022) - When I’m working with a writer, we often begin by defining two things: what they want to say, and who they hope to reach. I have processes that we collaborate on to get a sense of total clarity. Today I want to discuss why these two things are meaningful if you are hoping to develop … Continue reading "Knowing what to say to your readers"
• How you share should be an immersive experience (7/22/2022) - So many writers are hoping to engage readers, and in doing so, they look to social media. For example, perhaps you’ve heard TikTok is leading to loads of sales of books, so you are either: Terrified to even look at TikTok. Exploring how you can become active on TikTok in the least socially embarrassing way. … Continue reading "How you share should be an immersive experience"
• Anxiety and Sharing (Podcast) (7/21/2022) - Today I want to talk about the anxiety we feel when we share. So much of the work that I do is to help writers feel a sense of purpose and strategy in sharing their books, their writing, and their mission. But there are often hidden emotions and psychology which stops us from sharing, delays … Continue reading "Anxiety and Sharing (Podcast)"
• Rejection is a normal part of the creative journey (7/15/2022) - Rejection is a normal part of the creative journey Author Fleur Bradley shared this recently: “I would say I have at least 1,000 rejections, though I stopped counting long ago.” Today I want to talk about why rejection is a common part of the creative journey, and how that should empower you to choose your … Continue reading "Rejection is a normal part of the creative journey"
• Anxiety and sharing (7/15/2022) - Today I want to talk about the anxiety we feel when we share. So much of the work that I do is to help writers feel a sense of purpose and strategy in sharing their books, their writing, and their mission. But there are often hidden emotions and psychology which stops us from sharing, delays … Continue reading "Anxiety and sharing"
• “I have at least 1,000 rejections…” (7/8/2022) - Author Fleur Bradley shared this recently: “I would say I have at least 1,000 rejections, though I stopped counting long ago. My advice: surround yourself with fellow writers at the same stage as you. Successful writers have a clan, to keep their spirits up.” Fleur’s advice came in response to Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s question on … Continue reading "“I have at least 1,000 rejections…”"
• Can an introvert get good at marketing? (podcast) (7/6/2022) - Boundaries actually make better art, and help you get better at sharing what you create. We all have boundaries. We all have preferences that feel like they are rules set in stone. The one I run into most often is this: “I have a hard time sharing because I’m an introvert. Marketing just isn’t for … Continue reading "Can an introvert get good at marketing? (podcast)"
• Ever feel like the creative process is a total mess? (7/1/2022) - Sometimes the creative process can feel like a total mess. So can your efforts to share your writing with others. Today I want to share a case study about that, with the hopes that it gives you a sense of permission to keep going, even if you feel that how you create and share lacks … Continue reading "Ever feel like the creative process is a total mess?"
• Can an introvert get good at marketing? (6/24/2022) - Today I want to discuss the value of embracing your creative boundaries. And how boundaries actually make better art, and help you get better at sharing what you create. Let’s dig in… Limits Help Art I’m reading Keith Richards’ autobiography, and when he discusses making the Rolling Stones’ most successful albums, he talks about how … Continue reading "Can an introvert get good at marketing?"
• The marketing advice few writers want to hear (podcast) (6/21/2022) - I’ve asked this question to writers many many times: “Would you prefer people you know buy your book, or strangers.” Their face lights up with unquestioning certainty: “STRANGERS!” But what I often find is that to build momentum in how your creative work is shared, it starts with those you already have a connection with. … Continue reading "The marketing advice few writers want to hear (podcast)"