In the gym today, my trainer advised that if you want to improve and build muscle (i.e., get strong), you push the last three reps/times such that you think you’ll fail at any moment. In other words, you push to failure. You push, seeking that point when you just can’t. He said he’s had clients […]

Businesses increasingly use AI to draft and edit content – blog posts, case studies, training outlines, policy documents, contracts, presentations and more. I heard about a life-writing company that uses AI to ghost books based on an interview transcript, and only brings in a human to edit and sense-check the final draft. Many may deplore this direction, […]

Recently a long-time fan wrote me, saying she kept some of my words for ready reference. She came across a particular essay that really resonated with her, and she asked that I repeat it, because what applied years ago, still applies today. It’s pretty evergreen, I think. “The world is hurting, and it doesn’t know […]

As a journalist, the most common question I receive is about the source of my story ideas. Sometimes, newspapers assign me work which saves me the brainpower of having to come up with ideas. In the unfortunate case that I must come up with my own stories (most of the time), there’s a few tricks […]

In a recent editorial I lightly mentioned that a lot of my family do not read my books, and another writer replied to that. She wondered if it was upsetting to me. My honest answer? I try not to dwell on it. If I did, I would get my feelings hurt. But a writer has […]

I came in today from talking to our dock guy, we call him. The man who helps us maintain our small dock, and who is building us a small pier to fish off off. He asked me a question that most people do, to include people who know me well. “Have you worked on a […]

Alternative social platforms like Threads, BlueSky, and MySpace are drawing users who want safer, more regulated online worlds. PEN International and Stephen King have switched. Should you? Here’s how authors can expand their reach to alternative social media. Why Switch? I explored alternative social platforms when people became too curious about my personal life online. Other users are switching to follow […]

As freelance writers, we know to include a bio with our queries or pitches—one that provides links to published pieces and that aligns with the type of submissions a magazine is looking for. There is something else we need to consider adding to our bios or pitches—”Almosts.” Almosts are what I refer to as submissions […]

Someone pitched me an article this week, and while the idea sounded decent, I declined based upon his online presence…or lack of one. He told me he could send his CV and a list of articles he has done, but they were not online. He had a handful of articles with links. The problem arose […]

Ethical AI uses machine-learning for data analysis and research—rather than using generative artificial intelligence to replace the human artist, writer, or creative. While generative AI “creates” content from sometimes plagiarised input, general artificial intelligence can ease the burdens of research. Here’s how artificial intelligence can be put to (good) use. Visualization I’ve heard from many authors who […]

I follow a lot of groups, usually remaining silent, reading, taking note, hoping to find some nugget to use myself. . . or to use as a learning tool in a future FundsforWriters newsletter. As you probably know from your own experience, it’s amazing what people write for the world to see that leaves scars […]

Social media promises writers a way to reach a large number of potential readers. The problem is, the possibilities are rather limited. X is a dumpster fire of partisan politics. Bluesky will probably follow. I don’t know anyone who gets many sales through Instagram. Tiktok works only for extroverts and the app’s future in the […]