The working experience of writing: perfectionism, procrastination, imposter syndrome, focus, and the habits that help writers do their best work — grounded in research.
Procrastination isn’t a discipline problem: what editors see in the drafts of chronic deadline-missers
The manuscript arrives three weeks late, and the covering email always says the same thing: "Sorry — I’ve been so busy." But editors see…
What forty years of marking maths papers taught me about giving feedback on writing
I marked mathematics papers for the better part of four decades — first as a teacher, later as an assistant principal who still couldn’t…
Perfectionism is an editing problem: Why “one more pass” is where manuscripts go to die
Every editor knows the manuscript. It arrives with an apology attached: the author has been working on it for four years, has rewritten the…
Imposter syndrome and the first-time thesis writer
The email that accompanies a first thesis draft is a genre of its own. It apologises for the draft’s existence before describing it. It…
Stephen King’s 2,000 words a day — and why he finishes a draft in a season
King's argument, when you strip away the prolific-novelist mystique, is uncomfortable. He is not saying you should write quickly because you'll get more done…
Hemingway’s writing rule: why he stopped each day while it was still going well
One of the most common complaints I hear from people who work alone in somewhat creative jobs is some version of the same thing:…
16 easy ways to unleash your creativity (Infographic)
Only 25% of people believe they're living up to their creative potential. You may think there isn't a lot you can do about this.…
Writing as healing: how writing can improve your well-being (Infographic)
We often write to meet deadlines or because we have ambitions to become published authors. But how often do we write for the sheer…
Did Hemingway really say ‘write drunk, edit sober’? The science behind the myth (Infographic)
Ernest Hemingway's famous advice was to "write drunk, edit sober". Alcohol and writing certainly have a reputation as bedfellows, with famed authors Edgar Allan…
13 authors who hit the big time (after they died)
If you're a writer, it's likely you've spent at least a few minutes fantasising about what it would be like to see your work…
The day jobs of 20 famous writers (infographic)
Making a full-time living as a writer is no easy task, even for the most prolific and talented scribblers. Many a Nobel and Pulitzer…
George Orwell’s 6 rules for writing were too absolute. Here’s a more flexible version
George Orwell's essay Politics and the English Language, published in 1946, is a battle cry in the fight against bad English. In Orwell's eyes,…
David Ogilvy: Be concise & precise when you write
"Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs" – David Ogilvy In 1962, Time Magazine declared advertising guru David Ogilvy as "the most sought-after…