Hi, I’m Lindsey. I love helping people discover their superpower, create compelling content, and feel excited about pitching and networking. I teach people how to pitch like a boss, network like a VIP, and write like an Oscar winner. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for actionable creativity and career tips.
Love What You Write!
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Hi Over the holiday break, I listened to a podcast where an author was unhappy that he wrote thrillers instead of literary fiction. This man has written 7 novels, both traditionally and independently published. He writes entertaining, well-written books. Success by any measure. But he feels like they're not important because they are not Art. He's fighting against his author brand, which is funny thrillers with heart. That is a great brand to write; it's fun to read and easy to sell. Lots of writers think entertaining people has less value than fancy, often erudite Art. I disagree. (I'm capitalizing Art here because people put it on a pedestal, making it more important than it is.) One of my mantras is stories matter. Entertaining and moving people is an important part of the human experience. Just because you think the kinds of stories you write are not important, doesn't mean they're not important to some people. Unfortunately, as writer we rarely know the impact our stories are having on our readers and viewers. Maybe someone is reading your cozy mystery while they get their chemo. Or someone is binge watching your sitcom as they grieve the death of a loved one. If you are feeling like your stories aren't important enough, I encourage you to watch the old movie Sullivan's Travels (1941). It's a comedy gem about a film director during the Great Depression who wants to make important movies, so he runs away from Hollywood to live life as an ordinary person. During his adventures, he gets to see the impact his frivolous movies are making, and it changes his perspective. Whatever kinds of stories you gravitate to telling, embrace them! Your stories are delighting your audience. And maybe changing their lives, even for a moment. Happy New Year! And happy writing! In Case You Missed ItTwo Real Life Examples of Screenplays Turned Into Novels: A screenplay A pilot How to Make the Most of the Holiday Slow Down Cheers, Lindsey Thanks for reading! You can share this article here. Was this week's newsletter useful? Help me to improve! Click on a link to vote: 👍Super! - 😐 Meh - 👎 Not my jam |
Hi I'm Lindsey Hughes
Hi, I’m Lindsey. I love helping people discover their superpower, create compelling content, and feel excited about pitching and networking. I teach people how to pitch like a boss, network like a VIP, and write like an Oscar winner. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for actionable creativity and career tips.
Hi Reader, Last week, we talked about the basics—passwords, email accounts, and the keys to your digital kingdom. Now it’s time to take the next big step in estate planning for writers: organizing your creative assets. Think of this like a treasure chest. You’ve been adding jewels—books, scripts, blog posts, contracts, domains—for years. But if no one knows where the chest is buried, or how to open it, your heirs will never see the riches inside. Let’s fix that. Inventory Everything (Yes,...
Hi Reader, The next few weeks we’re diving into a subject that makes many writers squirm but absolutely needs our attention: what happens to your creative work after you die. I know—morbid. But stay with me. Because this isn’t just about mortality, it’s about legacy. Your words, your stories, your ideas, they can keep earning money and inspiring people long after you’re gone. But only if you put a plan in place. Think about it: Will your heirs receive royalties? Can they manage your books,...
Hi Reader, When we think of something going viral, our brains usually jump to TikTok: a flashy video that dominates everyone’s feed for about twelve seconds, then vanishes into the digital abyss. Poof! Forgotten. But here’s the delicious twist—sometimes old content gets a surprise second act. A book, a song, a blog post suddenly pops back into the spotlight years (or even decades) later. That’s the beauty of digital content: it doesn’t expire. Unlike books on a physical shelf that eventually...