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I hate long, rambling writing as much as you do. It bores the hell out of me. I’m impatient. But I don’t agree writing should always be brief because brevity can suck the spirit out of your writing.

In contrast, precise writing is sharp, vivid and full of zest. Even if your text becomes longer, precision captivates readers. Want to know how?Read more »

When I started writing, I thought storytelling wasn’t for me.

Perhaps I could learn how to share tips in my writing. But storytelling? It seemed too difficult. Too elusive. Too magical.

And it’s true that there’s magic in storytelling. Because stories transplant readers into a different world.

But telling a story is not so complicated — as long as you know the 7 basic storytelling techniques. Shall I show you? Read more »

A few years ago, I was losing the patience to read.

I scurried around the web. I scanned a few subheads here. Read half a blog post there. Scrolled through my Twitter feed. I was afraid to miss out on the latest social media hacks and marketing tricks. I felt restless, and always behind.

I didn’t like that feeling.

So, I decided to unhook myself from the nervous skimming …
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Want to learn how to say more with fewer words?

Writing a short bio is one of the best writing exercises to polish your skills. You learn how to say more with fewer words. You learn how to position yourself and make a big first impression.

Yet, while reviewing hundreds of bios last week, I found that even professional writers often flunk this challenge completely.

So, let me show you how to write your bio so you can make a rip-roaring first impression. Read more »

How good are you at explaining your ideas?

Do readers jump up to implement your advice?

Let’s be honest, writing a good explanation is tougher than it seems.

Explanations often turn out to be dry and uninspiring. We fail to engage our readers, and that’s when we fail to communicate our ideas, too.

So, what can you do to explain with clarity and zing? Read more »

Do you ever land on a website and feel like you’ve been there before?

But on closer inspection, you might find that site is actually new to you.

It wouldn’t be the first time.

Generic stock images make sites look like every other site.

How about making your own illustrations? Read more »

It happens to me surprisingly often.

I’m half skimming, half reading a fairly interesting article—all the way until the last word. But as soon as I’ve finished, I’ve already forgotten what I’ve read.

Sound familiar? If you want readers to remember your words, you need to invigorate your message and jump-start your readers into action. Here’s how …Read more »

Ever wanted to know which books to read to improve your writing skills?

This post lists the 31 books that have most influenced my writing. These books helped me become a more engaging blog writer and more persuasive copywriter. Plus these books inspired me and taught me how to get unstuck and streamline my writing process.

I’ve categorized the books, and help you select the books most suitable to your writing goals. Read more »

When I started writing in my early 40s, I was a procrastination champion.

I often hated having to write, and I allowed myself to get distracted by everything—the neighbors’ barking dogs, Twitter, email, random thoughts. Staying focused on writing felt impossible.

Shall I tell you how I learned to make writing easier and more joyful? Read more »

Does the idea of marketing your business make you cringe? Do you hate promoting yourself?

Self-promotion and marketing have always felt alien to me. But I’ve learned that marketing doesn’t have to be pushy. The opposite is true. You can promote your business with grace, and still sell bucket-loads. Want to know how? Read more »