I’m going to let somebody down this week. I have to choose one of the following options: Something’s gotta give My simple philosophy on working with clients is: start strong, continue strong, finish strong. My objective is that at any given time, anyone who contacts the client about me will hear, “Yes, he’s excellent to…
At least twice in my career I got offered lots of money to do something I didn’t believe in. I refused both times. And I have never regretted it. Just starting out In 1983 I was making $25,000 as a technical writer. I had started working for a software company part-time, then they plucked me…
Months ago, I joined up with four author service organizations — Amplify Publishing, Gotham Ghostwriters, Thought Leadership Leverage, and Smith Publicity — to undertake the first-ever large-scale study of the return on investment from business and thought leadership books. Today, we release the results of that study free to the public. You can download your…
Newsletter 65. Raise your right hand and promise to edit faithfully. Plus, Tucker Max spills the truth, Jane Friedman reveals the fakes, and the copyright office in the crosshairs. The editor’s oath Doctors take a Hippocratic oath, a set of promises to their patients. This is necessary because the patient needs to know the doctor…
In an article by Tal Kopan published today, The Boston Globe asks “Why are election polls all over the place, and which should you pay attention to?” Here’s the lede: WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris leads Donald Trump by 3 percentage points in Michigan. Or maybe it’s by 1 point. Or maybe Trump leads by 2. Or 4. It…
Today, a little something different. Look at the graphic below. It includes the names of 16 writers I admire. Can you classify them into four groups of four? In true New York Times Connections style, there are maddening overlaps, on purpose. I’ve embedded the code for this below — if it works, you can play…
My fellow authors: It has been a dark time in the world of books. Influencers and big-name keynote speakers have flooded our world. And publishers’ reputations continue to decline. But I’m here to promise you that, with my help, better days ahead. If you select me as your book coach, consultant, and consiglieri, your prayers…
You should make friends with authors who write in the same sphere as you, even if your approaches differ or your books compete. Why? Because readers of competing books are far more likely to want to read yours — and because together, you’ll be defining a perspective worth considering and publicizing. And, of course, because…
Newsletter 64. Why progress requires embracing people’s right to be wrong. Plus the decline in publishing workers, Gucci vs. Lord & Taylor, three people to follow and three books to read. The freedom to be wrong We’ve gotten to a point where we rip people apart for being wrong, when we should be celebrating them….