How to write when writing is hard
Last week I took a trip to Charlotte Russe, the fast fashion store for high school girls and 32-year-old brides-to-be who need white, mildly inappropriate dresses for their upcoming bachelorette parties. (Guess which one I was?) As I stood in the dressing room struggling to sandwich my body into a …
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If you want to be a (better) writer…
Ditch your definition of writer, please. 🙂 Sooooo the dictionary defines a writer as “a person engaged in writing books, articles, stories, etc., especially as an occupation or profession; an author or journalist.” As a result, you probably think you can’t be a “writer” until you’re making money from it, or …
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How to defeat blank page paralysis and write great content NOW
Nobody wants to sit down at the computer feeling like they’ve got a gun pointed to their head and some sweaty psychopath shouting, “Okay, go time! Be smart and clever and funny and write a bunch of things! Go!” Yet this is exactly what we do to ourselves, right? Something …
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Is your story too personal to share on your business website?
Right now, you’re in the grind, working hard to promote yourself and your Next Big Thing. That means: Perfecting your brand story and popping it in your pocket so you can be quick on the draw Telling boatloads of mini-stories to get new followers interested, engaged, and on board Getting clear on why …
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5 Things You Must Know Before You Rebrand Your Website (and yourself)
When I quit my job in September 2011, I knew I needed a website. I wasn’t sure how I’d make money as a freelancer, but I knew I had experience in marketing and writing. So I chose the title “marketing communications consultant” and decided to learn from the market itself. …
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Sneaky writing habits that zap your authority
Remember when you were 2.25 years old and you cuddled on the couch with your mom? You both stared at a picture book splayed out in your lap, and she pointed to an illustration and asked, “What animal is that?” “DEER!” you shouted, beaming. And your mom smiled back. Or …
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Bust through boring like the Kool-Aid Man: 3 free tools to write copy that pops
As a child, I consumed the written word the way I now consume brownie batter: in small, rapid bites, each flavor distinct but devolving quickly into a flurry of blurred indulgence. The pleasure never gets old, even though I seem to. After devouring all the text on a cereal box, …
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A simple cure for writing overwhelm
You’re staring at a blank Word doc, watching the cursor flash, when suddenly the thought hits you: Would anyone notice if you just crawled under your desk, curled into a ball, and nursed a bag of Swedish Fish until tomorrow comes? And by “bag” I mean “bottle.” Dear reader and …
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Pump up your perceived value with the Glade Candle Method (and discover the benefits of your soulful services)
Walking through Wal-mart the other day, I happened upon a mid-aisle display of pumpkin- and foliage-scented Glade air fresheners. Images of hayrides and color-changing leaves wreathed the cardboard display, which touted the “feelings of fall.” To an outsider, it looks innocuous, a gentle reminder that autumn is here and you …
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Your customers want to buy X. Stop trying to sell them Y. (Use this fill-in-the-blank formula instead!)
When was the last time you bought something? Like actually pulled out your wallet and handed cash to someone else in exchange for a product or service? For me, it was this very cup of iced tea. It cost $2.21, which I paid for in exact change. (Yes, I’m that …
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