What is clickbait? Simply put, it is a headline or graphic designed to generate interest that leads to a story or article that does not deliver the promised content. If the headline is “Disney+ cancels a Star Wars show” then the article needs to tell you what show is being cancelled. Yes, it’s designed to…
The second line in my bio is this: “He has contributed to more than 50 book projects that have generated over $20 million for their authors.” A recent reader of this blog seemed skeptical of whether such a statement could possibly be true. Given all the exaggerated claims out there from people about their supposed…
Newsletter 60. Why our culture fetishizes the new and what to do about. Plus, little free libraries take on book bans, the FTC bans fake reviews, why everyone should write a book proposal, three people to follow, and three books to read. Change is Seductive, But It Creates Cognitive Conflict I want you to think…
Writing your own bio ought to be easy — after all, what do you know better than your own accomplishments? Even so, this essential little book element is often problematic for authors. Here are a few tips to help you make your “About the Author” exactly right. Reflect It’s good to take a look at…
If you are writing a nonfiction book, you probably have lots of knowledge about your subject matter. But when it comes time to put that into a book, you need to know two more things. Unless you get both right, you’ll struggle to be successful. If writing a book is a journey, the mindset relates…
Consider the pie chart shown below, for a survey of grocery shoppers who were asked “What is your favorite fruit?” and given four choices: apples, bananas, cherries, or dates. Is something wrong here? Pie charts are supposed to add up to 100%. But the percentages here add up to 101%. Clearly the people collecting and…
The most demoralizing problems in a nonfiction book happen near the end of the project. A setback at the point when you were hoping to be moving the book to its completion might force you to redo a lot of the work you already did. Here’s a list of what might go wrong, how to…
Newsletter 59. Why rules without reasons are dumb. Plus, how now to support journalism, tips for book titles, three people to follow, and three books to read. Never impose a rule without sharing a reason All experts become familiar with the rules that apply in their area of expertise. Typically, they try to teach others…
I’ve been talking with several highly skilled professionals who are preparing to leave their companies at the end of their careers. Some are ready to retire. Others aren’t sure. My advice is: keep your options open. If you’re done working for a company but still feel like you have something to offer, it’s easy to…