I’ve spent the last couple of posts being pretty firm about the importance of doing the work. In Hauling the Bricks and The Indie Author’s Scam Survival Guide, we talked about how there’s no magic shortcut—just putting in the effort, day after day, is what gets you there. But let’s take a moment to step […]
Writing a Lot Isn’t Intimidating—It’s Just Math Read More »
Indie publishing is booming, which means writers have more control over their careers than ever before. But with opportunity comes risk—and scammers are circling like sharks in a feeding frenzy.
Every year, new scams pop up, often just repackaged versions of old ones, designed to prey on authors who are still figuring out the publishing game. Because while anyone can write a book, successfully publishing and selling one is much harder. That gap—between the dream and the reality—is where the scammers strike.
The Indie Author’s Scam Survival Guide: How to Spot, Avoid, and Outsmart the Predators Read More »
This site is dedicated to productivity. Writing productivity, to be specific. There are hundreds of hints, tips, tricks, and hacks on PIFW to help you write more, write faster, and write better. Beyond this site there is trillions of posts, books and essays with golden nuggets of wisdom and experience that can help you get
Hauling the Bricks Read More »
Ah, keyboard shortcuts—the secret sauce that transforms a writer’s workflow from a clunky tricycle ride into a sleek, high-speed chase. If you’re still dragging your mouse around like it’s 1995, it’s time for an upgrade. Embracing keyboard shortcuts isn’t just about shaving seconds off tasks; it’s about reclaiming your creative flow and keeping those brilliant ideas from evaporating while you hunt for the “Paste” option.
The Tiny Time-Saving Trick That Adds Up to Hours of Extra Writing Read More »
Recently, Anne R. Allen published a post titled “Can Marathon Writing Sessions Lead to Depression?,” citing studies that suggest long, intense writing sessions might mimic symptoms of depression. If you’re an indie author pushing for a prolific writing habit, this kind of claim can be alarming. I get it. No one wants to wake up
The Joy of Writing Prolifically (No, It Won’t Make You Depressed) Read More »
Let’s talk about something that makes indie authors break into a cold sweat: cutting subscribers from your email list.
You built this list from the ground up. Every name on it represents hard-won sign-ups, countless freebies, maybe even ad spend. And now, after all that effort, you’re supposed to… delete them?
Yeah. You are.
Email List Hygiene: The Pain and Profit of Culling Deadheads Read More »
Let’s talk about a topic that’s been making the rounds lately: the idea that Microsoft is using your Word documents to train its AI models. Recently, concerns have been raised about Microsoft potentially collecting data from Word and Excel to enhance their AI algorithms. However, Microsoft has clarified that they do not use customer data
Is Microsoft Using Your Words to Train AI? Here’s What Writers Need to Know (and Do) Read More »
Ah, the dreaded 3 a.m. wake-up. You know the drill. You’re drifting in and out of sleep, and suddenly, your brain decides now’s the perfect time to replay that awkward email you sent at work. Or it spins a delightful doomsday scenario about how your project will implode, your reputation will be ruined, and your
Harnessing the 3 A.M. Dread to Supercharge Your Writing (and More) Read More »
Ah, the dash. That versatile little line that writers love to use—sometimes too much. Recently, I was asked to assess an ebook prepped for sale. There were many formatting errors in the book, most of them arising because the author, a long-time trad published writer, was making the transition to indie. They knew standard formatting
Dash It All! A Writer’s Guide to Em-Dashes, En-Dashes, and Manuscript Dashes Read More »
