The Complete And Definitive Guide to Writing Autoresponder Email Sequences Getting someone’s email is something like the Holy Grail in the marketing world. But the real trick is hanging on to that cherished digital real estate long enough to figure out if your subscriber is just another time-sucking “freebie seeker” or if you can turn… Continue reading
THE “BELIEF CHANGE” FORMULA THAT WORKS
This is how televangelists convert athiests. It’s how climate change deniers convince people that scientists are wrong. It’s how politicians win office. It’s how great salesmen (and women) get rich. Understanding Your Audience The people who read your sales copy or hear your sales pitch aren’t blank canvasses. They are complex, multi-faceted human beings. They… Continue reading
How To Start Writing Again
I hate to say that I told you so, but… Being Right Has Nothing To Do With Success In Fiction That Kboards post went live last night, just a short time after I sent you an email about how little “being right” actually matters. Take notice of how “wrong” she has been about so much… Continue reading
[Day Whatever Of 90] The “19th Century Prisoner Method” For Faster Writing
Here’s a history lesson that’ll make you more money as a writer (I know from experience): On May 10th, 1864 Confederate Captain Walter Bowie* was visiting an American Civil War POW camp called Andersonville. About his visit, he wrote: “On the inside of the stockade and twenty feet from it there is a dead-line established,… Continue reading
Maybe this isn’t for you…
Here’s a bit of recent feedback from someone who submitted a short story today that I critiqued: “Hey Mike, The feedback gutted me, but that’s important. I’d rather get my game straight now, than finish another 150,000-word piece of work only to see it not sell lol Thanks” I feel pretty bad actually. The last… Continue reading
[Day 22 of 90] Better Hurry…
Early this week I told you that if you’d send me a brand new short story (of about 5,000 words) by May 1st, that I’d give you my honest critique and feedback. I’ve already received and critiqued a few. Here’s what that’s like: “Holy crap — thanks Mike! Ha I thought you might be too… Continue reading
[Day 21 of 90] What To Do If You Don’t Have Good (Or Any) Ideas
A professional writer is an idea dealer. Pure ideas sell for more than tainted ones cut with other low grade ideas. The worst thing that can happen to an idea dealer is that their supply run out. Idea addicts (readers) have no loyalty to their dealers (the writer) only their supply (the ideas). You want… Continue reading
[Day 20 of 90] If You’re Allergic To Hard Work Read This…
It takes a lot of words to build up a writing career. Each word a brick, stacked one on the other, until you reach the “top” or whatever. For some, that fact is enough to stall them out. They look at the mountain of work before them and quit on the spot. But here’s the… Continue reading
[Day 19 of 90] If You Don’t Have This You’ll Never Succeed As A Writer
There is only one real way to guarantee success as a writer. The problem is… It’s so mind numbingly boring that you won’t believe me when I tell you. But I know it works. It’s worked for me, for the writers I’ve helped personally, and for the writers I’ve hired in the past. To guarantee… Continue reading
[Day 18 of 90] Double Your Writing Speed By Writing Less
You write too much. Too many words where a few would do. If you want to write fast, write less. Tell me what is happening, not what happened. Remember, I have to choose between your book and a 5 season binge of Breaking Bad. My attention span is short. Getting shorter all the time. Want… Continue reading