Onward
Yeah, she’s a little bit tilted. Imperfect, but still standing. Just like the rest of us. See you tomorrow.
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Laid off for the holidays
Some of you who are reading this may have just lost your jobs. My heart goes out to you. I’ll tell you a story about when this happened to me, how I hit rock bottom, and how that was the beginning of my success. If you’re hurting, I hope the same good fortune eventually happens…
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Why you’re going to freelance sooner or later (and how to prepare)
Most of you reading this have a job. You have a steady paycheck and health benefits. Good for you. A job is great if you don’t want to think too hard about what you’re going to do every day — your bosses mostly figure that out for you. But even if you have a job,…
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Should you go forward with a ghostwriting project? Here’s how to score it.
A ghostwriting relationship often lasts a year or more. That’s a long time to be stuck in a terrible situation. Here’s a scorecard for your next potential nonfiction ghostwriting client. You’ll notice that there are more communications criteria than financial ones here, and that’s no coincidence: most ongoing painful ghostwriting problems are communications problems. Add…
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Inefficient
Experts often share advice that equates to “Do as I do.” But I don’t recommend you work as I do. The way I work works for me, but it’s massively inefficient. It won’t work for you. How an inefficient artist works Here are some things I do. Copy at your own risk. This is a…
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Vanity Unfair? How the Trump White House ended up looking like idiots in “Vanity Fair.”
Vanity Fair just published a two-part article on the brain trust surrounding Donald Trump. The writer, Chris Whipple, is the author of a book on chiefs of staff in the White House. The photos were by Christopher Anderson, an accomplished portrait photographer. Trump’s advisors look very, very bad in this piece. His chief of staff…
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Ghostwriter conflicts; Kindle’s AI rights grab; secondhand royalties: Newsletter 17 December 2025
Newsletter 129. Strategies for principled ghostwriters, Kindle enables AI queries, the polarization risk of closer social connections, plus three people to follow and three books to read. Who wins when a ghostwriter disagrees with a client? Sometimes ghostwriters and their clients have a serious disagreement. I’m not talking about the Oxford Comma (although as serious…
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How the reviewer squeeze spawns creativity: thesis, antithesis, synthesis
Every writer whose work is subject to review — by editors, clients, or anyone — has experienced the phenomenon of receiving contradictory reviews. This creates great angst, because you can’t please everyone. For example: This happens so often it needs a name. Call it the reviewer squeeze: when you’re caught between people in authority whose…
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Thank you, Rob Reiner
Some movies are iconic experiences. They leave an indelible mark on culture. The Princess Bride (“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”) A Few Good Men (“You can’t handle the truth!”) When Harry Met Sally (“I’ll have what she’s having.”) This Is Spinal Tap (“The numbers all go to eleven.”)…
