Last week I took a trip to Charlotte Russe, the fast fashion store for high school girls and 32-year-old brides-to-be who need white, mildly inappropriate dresses for their upcoming bachelorette parties. (Guess which one I was?) As I stood in the dressing room struggling to sandwich my body into a tiny lacy dress, the thought…
Ditch your definition of writer, please. 🙂 Sooooo the dictionary defines a writer as “a person engaged in writing books, articles, stories, etc., especially as an occupation or profession; an author or journalist.” As a result, you probably think you can’t be a “writer” until you’re making money from it, or you publish an article, or…
Nobody wants to sit down at the computer feeling like they’ve got a gun pointed to their head and some sweaty psychopath shouting, “Okay, go time! Be smart and clever and funny and write a bunch of things! Go!” Yet this is exactly what we do to ourselves, right? Something happens—we finally invest in a…
Right now, you’re in the grind, working hard to promote yourself and your Next Big Thing. That means: Perfecting your brand story and popping it in your pocket so you can be quick on the draw Telling boatloads of mini-stories to get new followers interested, engaged, and on board Getting clear on why your message and product make…
When I quit my job in September 2011, I knew I needed a website. I wasn’t sure how I’d make money as a freelancer, but I knew I had experience in marketing and writing. So I chose the title “marketing communications consultant” and decided to learn from the market itself. (Click here to read more about…
Remember when you were 2.25 years old and you cuddled on the couch with your mom? You both stared at a picture book splayed out in your lap, and she pointed to an illustration and asked, “What animal is that?” “DEER!” you shouted, beaming. And your mom smiled back. Or perhaps you gave the wrong…
As a child, I consumed the written word the way I now consume brownie batter: in small, rapid bites, each flavor distinct but devolving quickly into a flurry of blurred indulgence. The pleasure never gets old, even though I seem to. After devouring all the text on a cereal box, in a library book, or…
You’re staring at a blank Word doc, watching the cursor flash, when suddenly the thought hits you: Would anyone notice if you just crawled under your desk, curled into a ball, and nursed a bag of Swedish Fish until tomorrow comes? And by “bag” I mean “bottle.” Dear reader and fellow writer, I get it….
Walking through Wal-mart the other day, I happened upon a mid-aisle display of pumpkin- and foliage-scented Glade air fresheners. Images of hayrides and color-changing leaves wreathed the cardboard display, which touted the “feelings of fall.” To an outsider, it looks innocuous, a gentle reminder that autumn is here and you can decorate your space with…
When was the last time you bought something? Like actually pulled out your wallet and handed cash to someone else in exchange for a product or service? For me, it was this very cup of iced tea. It cost $2.21, which I paid for in exact change. (Yes, I’m that guy.) The funny thing is,…
