One of the classes I developed at Krannert was Persuasion & Communications. One lens I use as I teach these Masters of Marketing students is the Story Wars by Jonah Sachs. He uses the mythological construct of the Hero’s Journey for marketing purposes. You can watch a short video on it here: Then I transition to talking about how great …
Christmas Movies to Learn Writing By
Ever since I researched 1940s Hollywood for Stars in the Night, I’ve been a bigger fan than ever of classic movies. Growing up, my favorite movies were from the 30s and 40s…that hasn’t changed. There’s something I love about the simplicity of that time that shines through in movies that make me laugh and feel. So today I thought I’d …
11 Reader Tips for Writers
For new writers it can be tricky to know what to focus on. In a sea of rules and guidelines, what are the most important elements to perfect first? I’m always wondering what readers want in the books they read, so I asked readers what they would tell new writers if they had the chance. This was a savvy group …
Freedom for Writers: 4 Tips
Last week we celebrated the Fourth of July, and over on a Facebook group I’m part of we talked about how it’s a great time to be a writer because independence is achievable. Today I want to share some thoughts and see what you would add. How do you know when you’re ready to publish? @Cara_Putman shares 4 tips. Click To Tweet 1) Know your …
Fiction Friday: What are You Reading
As writers, one of the things we need to do is read voraciously. There are so many reasons to read: To know what readers like. What’s got them grabbing books? Why does that title resonate with them? To see what works and doesn’t work. It’s often as I’m reading that I think “oh, I want to write like that.” Or …
Hidden Figures & Writing
Last night I had the chance to see Hidden Figures. If you haven’t gone, go. Now. Drop what you are doing and run to the theater. It was so well done. But here’s the warning: It will make you feel. There will be tears, outrage, cheering, etc. Here’s more about it from the Smithsonian. But here’s what I’m thinking about today. …
5 Ways to Write More than One Book at a Time
I have often written multiple books at the same time. It’s a part of life when one of your hats is professional writer. But it can also be a real part of the writing journey when you’re getting started writing. The challenge is learning how to juggle the multiple characters, plots, and timelines. Here are a few tips I’ve developed over the years to let me do exactly that:
Traveling Tips for the Writer: Part 1
It’s summertime and that means many of us will take vacations of some sort. Maybe we’re staying close to home and exploring places around us. You know you drive past them everyday and never quite make the time to stop. Or maybe you are traveling where the flight takes 10 or 15 hours and you have to deal with jet …
What Fuels Your Writing?
If you’ve been writing for any length of time, you know that it can be a hugely draining endeavor. You will spend hours plugging away at your keyboard praying that what you are writing will sometime be read and appreciated by others. And if you’re realistic, you know there are no guarantees that will happen. Writing is a tireless dictator. …