I, like every other Microsoft Word user, started a document on January 16 only to find a strange icon cluttering up my word processor screen. This is Microsoft Copilot, which exists to provide me with artificial intelligence help in writing documents. I’ve been a professional writer since 1982 and am making my current living as…
John Taylor “Ike” Williams was my agent and publishing lawyer. He died on December 26, 2024 at the age of 86. Ike was a commanding presence at his literary agency, Kneerim & Williams, and law firm, Sennott & Williams. Six-foot-six and good-looking, he had a unique combination of unshakable Boston Brahmin confidence and good humor….
Two of my clients gave me unsolicited bonuses in 2024. Should I feel good about myself and my work? Or should I rethink how I work and how much I charge? Fundamental (and wrong) truths about freelancing Here’s what everyone tells freelancers: I reject all of that. Every bit of it. I don’t want to…
There may come a point in your life when you have an epiphany. You look at yourself and your own behavior and realize you’ve misjudged or mistreated people for decades. I’m talking about generally shitty behavior. But I’m also talking about casual race prejudice, homophobia, fatphobia, sexism, piggish behavior, elitism, and preconceptions about people with…
My Christmas present in 2024 is that I get to work all day with words, ideas, and idea people. I could retire, but this is much better. Thanks.
Bill Belichick, the 72-year-old former longtime head coach of the New England Patriots and winner of a record six Super Bowls as head coach, just accepted a role as head coach of the football program of the University of North Carolina. Everyone seems to think that, by choosing a college role instead of another NFL…
Newsletter 72. Integrity is a pain in the ass, but the only long-term way to live with yourself. Plus, AI grannybots to annoy spammers, a ghostwriting compensation study, three people to follow, three books to read, and my self-serving holiday gift recommendations. The price of integrity A few years ago, I was given the opportunity…
Everyone is creative. The value of experience is the application of experience in the right place. The newbie cook applies his creativity to understanding the instructions in the recipe, figuring out how to slice the tomatoes, finding the right knife, determining if the meat is fully cooked. The experienced chef does all that by habit…
A small crowd of authors and prospective authors recently connected with me on LinkedIn. Based on their comments, apparently a highly respected publishing industry expert had mentioned me as a qualified nonfiction book expert during a workshop she gave and prompted them to connect with me. That’s very nice, and a gratifying reflection on my…