Mastering the Art of Persuasion: A Deep Dive into Rhetorical Devices
Hey, there word lovers! You know those moments in literature that make you pause, reread, and go “Wow, that was brilliant”? Often, these are the handiwork of clever rhetorical devices. Whether you’re a writer aiming to elevate your craft or a reader looking to deepen your appreciation for literature, knowing your rhetorical devices can really
How to format an ebook (best ebook maker for 2023, with free online tools and templates)
For years I’ve been trying to figure out how let authors design their own book covers – and although the target is always moving, I’m getting close to an online graphic tool that might help. The majority of authors, however, probably don’t want to make their own covers and would rather hire a professional – they
Free Online Chatbot (best free ChatGPT alternatives)
I’m sharing this free chatbot for you to play with. Think of him as a friendly cowriter or research assistant. He’s not super deep, but he’s really smart. Ask him to tell you a story, or write you a speech, or summarize a famous book. Tell him he’s Vincent Van Gogh and ask about his
Free AI Image Generator
TIPS! Make sure you choose the settings, you probably don’t want “Dali” and “Surrealism” style pictures. Set it to “None” for more realistic images or try some of the other classic painting styles. Stable Diffusion works a bit better: try setting the artist to “none” or and the style to “photorealism” or “hyperrealism” or “realism”
Writing tips, from Spain to Montenegro
I’m going through some of my old content and found some videos from when I was living the dream, writing and travelling full time with my wife. I thought I’d share them here because, well they’re pretty packed with content. I’m also trying a new thing, where I transcribe all the words from the video,
How to become a #1 bestselling author (it’s easier than you think)
Let me tell you a secret: it’s not that difficult to hit #1 on Amazon with a well-structured book launch if you choose your categories well. I’ve done it dozens of times, and it can take as little as 20 sales to get your orange “bestseller” sticker. It might sound impressive, but it won’t put
21 ways to boost your sales funnel (conversion hacks for to sell more books or online courses)
Last week I went to a visa run to Macau and then I went on a three-day kind of jungle survival tour in northern Thailand where we caught frogs and tarantulas and slept on the ground. So a little brutal, but kind of fun. An interesting experience. I have a lot of projects on the
365+ insanely creative office decor ideas for work from home inspiration
Whether you already work from home or are seeking online jobs, it’s important to customize your officespace to inspire your creativity, so you can stay productive and motivated. I can never find home office decor ideas that are as wild as my imagination, so I made some of my own. Well, a lot actually. We’ll
The Best Wordle Starting Words According to Famous Dead Authors (& AI chatbots)
A crazy number of people are still playing Wordle and I get it; it’s a quick mental challenge that’s rewarding and easy. I don’t have a worldle strategy yet though, so I waste too much time brainstorming words until it’s no longer fun. So I decided to ask AI. I started with Google’s new “Bard”
Graphic Design: The Badass Art of Visual Communication and How to Crush it
Alright, all you aspiring Picassos of pixels, let’s talk graphic design, the art of visual communication that transforms dull, lifeless content into eye-candy that sings sweet symphonies to your target audience. It’s not just a job, it’s a calling for those brave enough to wield their creativity like a sword and slay the dragon of
186 Creative Business Ideas to make money online from home fast
Need to make money online fast? Oh, and you want creative business ideas? I’ve got creative. So creative, it’ll make Picasso look like a toddler with a paintbrush. Let’s kick this off: 101 creative ways to make money online Virtual Graffiti Artist: As an online graffiti artist, you can create badass custom designs for websites,
Mastering the Art of Storytelling: The Top Book Writing Methods Every Author Needs to Know
In the realm of writing, creativity and structure coexist, each one vital to the process of transforming a mere idea into a riveting novel. For budding authors and seasoned scribes alike, knowing the best methods to plot, plan, and pen a story can be the key to unlocking their storytelling prowess. This comprehensive guide will
Alliteration: Adding Aesthetic Appeal to Your Articulation (with 64 examples)
In the world of literature, various tools and techniques help writers add depth, beauty, and rhythm to their works. One such tool, beloved by poets and prose writers alike, is alliteration. Alliteration can elevate the aesthetics of your writing and make it more memorable and engaging. But what is alliteration, and how can you use
The Unbelievably True (but not really) History of Chainsaws
Once upon a time, in the small town of Logger’s Leap, nestled among the tallest and thickest forests of Oregon, lived a burly lumberjack named Paul. Paul was known throughout the land for his tree-chopping prowess. But Paul had a secret. He was deathly afraid of…beavers. Why beavers, you ask? Well, as a child, Paul
What Year Is It? A Comprehensive Guide for the Time Traveler
Whether you’re a seasoned time traveler or a new recruit who’s just completed your maiden voyage through the cosmos, one question that invariably arises is: “What year is it?” Unlike our forefathers, who had to rely on sundials and the phases of the moon, we have the advantage of using numerous indicators to ascertain the
Overcome Writer’s Block: Tried-and-True Solutions for Unleashing Your Creativity
Discover the best tips and tricks to beat writer’s block and boost your productivity We’ve all been there—staring at a blank page, struggling to find the right words or ideas. Writer’s block can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be a creativity killer. In this friendly, conversational guide, we’ll share the best solutions and
How to Be a Productive Writer: Ancient Philosophy Tips
You’re tapping your pen on the table, looking wistfully out of the window, waiting for the words to flow through your fingers and onto the page. Many of us have experienced the crippling hold of writer’s block and frustration due to a lack of productivity. For centuries, ancient philosophers have provided us with the knowledge
Sudowrite Review: is this AI writing tool worth the hype? (How it compares to chatGPT)
I’ve had SudoWrite for awhile but only started playing with it today, using the new story engine feature. The first part I’m stumbling around, but once I figured it out, I write about 20,000 words in an hour (and that’s up to 100K words now from finishing my outline). Absolutely nuts, so I’m motivated to
How to use Publisher Rocket to find the best keywords and rank #1 on Amazon (plus MORE keyword research tools to get free visibility and sell more books)
I’ve started this post multiple times of the years but decided to put everything together in one place, so you can get help fast. So real quick: Why choosing a keyword-rich book title is a necessary evil for self-published writers When you publish a book on Amazon or any other online ebook store marketplace, people
Adult printable coloring pages: 476+ FREE creepy kawaii anime dark fantasy printable coloring book sheets
I’ve been playing around with fantasy art for a few months and have gotten some great images, so I’ve decided to share them here. These are printable coloring book pages, but they aren’t the simple, clean lines you might be used to. This is high-quality stuff: stuff that looks cool and gorgeous. Stuff you may
How to write a satisfying conclusion to your novel (multiple character arc plot resolution: ending with a powerful final battle scene)
There are two important things I want to cover in this article: the first, is how to get your book finished and make sure you have a strong conclusion and plot resolution. The second is how to resolve a plot with multiple main characters and give each of them a satisfying character arc. To do this, I’m going
Character traits generator: dynamic fictional character development creator, questions and personality attributes list
Traditionally, if you want strong interesting characters, you might use a worksheet or checklist to flesh out their personality. Down below I’ve added a list of 140 personality traits, but they’re a bit simple. So I’d like to suggest something else. AI writing tools like GPT3 are pretty good at brainstorming ideas with the right
Static vs dynamic character development: How to write fictional characters (Last of Us backstory example)
As a quick definition, static characters remain unchanged through the course of a story, and dynamic characters grow and change. Most book novels are about a series of crises that force the protagonist to change – the protagonist is the character who changes the most. People also ask about how to create well-rounded characters with
Is Vellum Worth it? (review: best book formatting software for PC or Mac)
I’ve reviewed a ton of book formatting software, and while I still do most of my writing in MS Word, formatting a word document can get tricky, even if you know what you’re doing. The best formatting software is Vellum, but it’s a Mac-only formatting software so I never really got into it. Until, finally,
45 best book writing software and apps for authors (write faster with these amazing features!)
When asked about the best writing apps or software, I used to say, “Just use whatever you have and are comfortable with.” But recently I’ve been focused on upping my productivity and wordcount, so I’m testing everything to see if anything helps. Here’s a quick review of some of the things I think are cool,
A Six Step Plan to Creative Independence

Hey there! I started this blog over a decade ago and mapped out a six-point plan to a radical new way of creating work that matters. But like all creatives, I’ve since started a thousand projects and finished very few. But I’m working on a free course/book that (finally) walks you through the whole system, and I’ll share that soon if you want to stick around. Otherwise, I’ll try to organize a few of my best articles in the categories below, or you can click here to read more about the six steps to unlock your best work.
I wanted to thank you for your wonderful books and great advice on self-publishing. Your words make much more sense to me than anything else I have read on the subject. I am feeling substantially more confident now, and I am most grateful for that. Just wanted to make sure that my voice joins the many voices of your admirers. Your work is very important and wonderful in so many ways."
I just wanted to reach out and thank you for all the content that you've put out. I'm right in the middle of finishing up my first two books and will be self-publishing hopefully soon. The amount of mistakes you've saved me from making... thank you is all I can say. People like you are the reason that this is becoming possible to jump into this market and compete!"
I’ve been a writer for a long time. Researching how to sell books online, I have read a lot of material as you can probably imagine. Most of it is pure trash. But, your publishing resources had some meat. These tips are going to come in handy for me and I have no problem giving you a shoutout. Keep that up. I like people like you who actually have something to offer."
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