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…

Fractional author; AI on trial; trademark your name: Newsletter 2 April 2025
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Fractional author; AI on trial; trademark your name: Newsletter 2 April 2025

Newsletter 88: Find the missing piece of your author self. Plus, business books jump the shark, AI threatens our humanity, three people to follow, and three books to read. What is a fractional author? There’s an huge pool of editorial talent now working freelance. Like many of those folks, I’ve filled varied roles working with…

Chaotic balance; grammar movie; LibGen ripoff: Newsletter 26 March 2025
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Chaotic balance; grammar movie; LibGen ripoff: Newsletter 26 March 2025

Newsletter 87. While life is an unending battle against chaos, chaos is where all creativity comes from. Plus, Meta rips off every author on the planet, AI “insights” are anything but, three people to follow and three books to read. Chaos in perspective Do you love chaos? Of course not. No one wants to be…

Idea theft normalized; library funding cut; AI citation screwups: Newsletter 19 March 2025
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Idea theft normalized; library funding cut; AI citation screwups: Newsletter 19 March 2025

Newsletter 86: Insisting on crediting idea creators, AI can’t cite articles properly, a new business hybrid publisher, plus three people to follow and three books to read. Fight the rip-off culture I recently accepted a job to write a book chapter. The clients were expert business thinkers. The topic was a business discipline that should…

Book as startup; Meta’s Streisand Effect; AI antimarketing: Newsletter 12 March 2025
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Book as startup; Meta’s Streisand Effect; AI antimarketing: Newsletter 12 March 2025

Newsletter 85: Questions to ask when you treat your book as a startup venture. Plus paperbacks in decline, authors reveal their secrets, three people to follow, and three books to read. A book is a startup venture I help authors with nonfiction books. I’ve also been studying the principles and culture of startups of late….

Better stories; digital audiobooks boom; tariffs raise book costs: Newsletter 5 March 2025
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Better stories; digital audiobooks boom; tariffs raise book costs: Newsletter 5 March 2025

Newsletter 84. Why well-told case study stories are here to stay, another Gathering of the Ghosts, a section 230 podcast, plus three people to follow and three books to read. About those case study stories . . . “Tell me a story, Daddy . . .” My kids are well into their twenties now, but…