Forrester’s legacy; burgeoning audiobooks; Boundless greed: Newsletter 4 June 2025
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Forrester’s legacy; burgeoning audiobooks; Boundless greed: Newsletter 4 June 2025

Newsletter 97: Two decades of persistent value from my long analyst gig. Plus, in defense of a dash, hallucinatory “formatting issues,” three people to follow and three books to read. How 20 years at Forrester changed my life I spent 20 years at one company: Forrester. It’s been 10 years since I left. When I…

Humans with skills; AI’s manifest destiny; robotic Melania: Newsletter 28 May 2025
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Humans with skills; AI’s manifest destiny; robotic Melania: Newsletter 28 May 2025

Newsletter 96. Value at the intersection of humanity and excellence. Plus, ludicrous justifications for AI copyright theft, billionaire boosting big beautiful bill, three people to follow and three books to read. The value of humans with skills Career success comes from two qualities. Skills. And humanity. Everyone knows that having skills — like writing ability…

Artificial wisdom; fake reading list; Congress’s librarian sacked: Newsletter 21 May 2025
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Artificial wisdom; fake reading list; Congress’s librarian sacked: Newsletter 21 May 2025

Newsletter 95. How AI could extend the productive careers of millions. Plus recommended fake books to read, nonfiction writing tips from fiction, three people to follow and three books to read. AI: Aging intelligence I’ve gotten pretty used to the way my brain works. Based on decades of historical evidence it’s quick, retains almost everything,…

Coaches and creators; AI copyright kerfuffle; copyediting tool foibles: Newsletter 14 May 2025
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Coaches and creators; AI copyright kerfuffle; copyediting tool foibles: Newsletter 14 May 2025

Newsletter 94. Never trust a coach who wants credit for your hard work. Plus training on copyrighted content is not fair use, standing out from 2.6 million books, three people to follow and three books to read. Coaches don’t take credit About a week ago my lower back went out. What that meant was that…

Zero to thought leader; zombie Agatha Christie; Harvard U Press scandal: Newsletter 7 May 2025
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Zero to thought leader; zombie Agatha Christie; Harvard U Press scandal: Newsletter 7 May 2025

Newsletter 93. How to think before you write and lead. Plus, three questions for all writers, writing advice from a dead mystery writer, a university press in crisis, plus three people to follow and three books to read. Thought leadership from a standing start With the churn now taking place in corporate boardrooms, countless smart…

The high road to writing; AI is normal; Wikipedia as propaganda: Newsletter 30 April 2025
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The high road to writing; AI is normal; Wikipedia as propaganda: Newsletter 30 April 2025

Newsletter 92. Why you should put in the most effort at the start of a writing project. Plus, AI as normal technology, five strategies for authors who are stuck, three people to follow, and three books to read. Climbing mount prose Any cyclist or runner will tell you this about hills: you can start by…

Model journalists; book theft; promotion tips: Newsletter 23 April 2025
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Model journalists; book theft; promotion tips: Newsletter 23 April 2025

Newsletter 91: Why all writers should think like reporters, a clever writer’s AI hacks, scientific proof that ChatGPT steals books, plus three people to follow and three very timely books to read. Think like a journalist I didn’t go to journalism school. I wish I had, though, because so many of the lessons I’ve learned…

Write right; hand-to-hand books; defiant Harvard: Newsletter 16 April 2025
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Write right; hand-to-hand books; defiant Harvard: Newsletter 16 April 2025

Newsletter 90: Why writers think like imposters, what it’s like when the Supreme Court argues about your book, Harvard’s $53 billion in “f– you!” money, plus three people to follow and three books to read. How to write anything with confidence I have many author clients who say they are bad writers. That may be…

Charming clients; untariffed books; avoiding backsplash: Newsletter 9 April 2025
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Charming clients; untariffed books; avoiding backsplash: Newsletter 9 April 2025

Newsletter 89: Why charm, competence, and respect aren’t just good for business, but are a way of life. Plus Shopify won’t hire for what AI can do better; suing Trump to preserve libraries, Amazon recaps books with AI, plus three people to follow and three books to read. Charm, Competence, Respect How in heck was…