Hi Reader, It’s Saturday afternoon. The weather is fine. The to-do list is not. And I’m standing in my kitchen, eyeing a deceptively small box. Inside it? A flat-packed wine rack with approximately 347 tiny screws, a vaguely smug Allen wrench, and instructions that may or may not be translated from ancient runes. Now, for some people, assembling furniture is no big deal. They thrive on it. They hear “some assembly required” and smile like it’s game night. I am not one of those people....
10 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Part 2 Continued from last week’s excerpt of Becca Syme on the BookFunnel Podcast More from Becca Syme on how to strengthen your outlook to deal with industry disruption. You got this! The Wheel Keeps Spinning "But there are so many things that motivate us that we do not understand and know. We think we're in charge of so many more of our choices than we really are. Roughly only 5% of our choices are under our control on a daily basis. We think it's so much closer to 100. And so...
17 days ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, Excerpts from Becca Syme on the BookFunnel Podcast Recently Becca Syme was on the BookFunnel Podcast talking about how authors can ride the wave of disruption happening in the publishing industry. She calls it playing the rules of the game. I thought what she had to say was insightful and helpful, so I have excerpted some of the podcast here. What she says also applies to screenwriters and the entertainment industry. Disruption is never fun. I know some of you are struggling and I...
24 days ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, I made a book trailer! Check it out! You can make one too for your book or screenplay! As writers, we play with words. It's fun to play with images to tell our story. Now using AI tools, you can make the movie in your head. Don’t let AI Trigger You In my decades long career, nothing has triggered creatives more than generative AI. The only time I have I have received a death threat (from someone I know) was in response to a private e-mail over his reaction to a newsletter. He told...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, What If Every “No” Was a Good Thing? Stick with me. You pitched your story. You queried the agent. You posted the excerpt. And what you got back was… silence. Or worse, a “pass.” Cue the imposter syndrome orchestra. (Hello darkness, my old friend.) But wait! Before you spiral into a Netflix-and-regret marathon, let me offer you a spicy little reframe: A “no” isn’t the end of the road. It’s a neon arrow saying: “Not here, not yet—but keep going.” A No Means Someone Read It First...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, Let’s face it—talking about your own work can feel just as awkward as showing someone your eighth-grade yearbook photo. (You know the one. With the braces and the unfortunate haircut.) But here’s the deal: people can’t read your brilliant screenplay or novel if they don’t know it exists. So how do you promote your work without feeling like a walking billboard or a pushy used car salesperson in a tweed blazer? Welcome to the first installment of Building Buzz a playful peek at ways...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, On Monday this newsletter was four years old! I can't believe how the time has flown and how much I have enjoyed writing for you and interacting with you. If you have been here since the beginning, thank you! If you are new here, welcome! Celebrate Happy Birthday GIF by Jessica Lau To celebrate, I have put together a list of my favorite podcasts, books, and tools. These are things I use in my own writing and publishing. Download the clickable list here. In the meantime, if you...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, On Monday this newsletter will be four years old! I can't believe how the time has flown and how much I have enjoyed writing for you and interacting with you. If you have been here since the beginning, thank you! If you are new here, welcome! To celebrate, I have put together a list of my favorite podcasts, books, and tools. These are things I use in my own writing and publishing. Check out the list here. I was going to make the list downloadable, but I ran out of time. Look for it...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, You know those days when writing feels like flying through a glitter-filled sky on the back of a caffeinated unicorn? That’s one kind of fun. And then there are the days when writing feels like crawling through a tunnel of emotional tar with only self-doubt and a deadline to light the way. Shockingly… that’s fun too. What? Enter: Type 1 and Type 2 Fun These terms come from the world of adventurers, mountain climbers, and outdoor masochists—people who willingly dangle from cliffs...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read