The working experience of writing: perfectionism, procrastination, imposter syndrome, focus, and the habits that help writers do their best work — grounded in research.
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 500 words a day: why he stopped writing while it was still going well
One of most common complaints I hear from people who work alone in somewhat creative jobs is some version of the same thing: I…
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 Therapy: How Writing Can Improve Your Health (Infographic)
We often write to meet deadlines or because we have ambitions to become a published. But how often do we write for the sheer…
Did Hemingway really say ‘write drunk, edit sober’? The science behind the myth (Infographic)
Editor’s note: This article was reviewed and updated in July 2026 to meet Expert Editor’s latest editorial standards. Ernest Hemingway’s famous advice was to…
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)
Editor’s note: This article was reviewed and updated in July 2026 to meet Expert Editor’s latest editorial standards. Making a full-time living as a…
George Orwell the Tyrant? Redoing His 6 Rules for Writing
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
Editor’s note: This article was reviewed and updated in July 2026 to meet Expert Editor’s latest editorial standards. “Use short words, short sentences and…