I used to sit and wait for inspiration to strike before I started writing. I spent more time thinking about the fact that I wasn’t writing than actually writing. There was always something else that I should be doing – another email that needed replying to, another meeting I needed to attend or a cupboardContinue reading “Why writing belongs on your calendar (and why waiting for inspiration to strike isn’t the best way to get your book written).”
Author Archives: Dr Lizzy Tanguay
Successful writers know that grit is more important than talent
‘That’s it’, I told my husband. ‘I’m quitting’. Sitting in the sunshine, sipping lattes and penning my thoughts. That’s what I’d thought it would be like to do a PhD. Instead, here I was surrounded by discarded toys and a mountain of washing. I was ready to throw the whole damn 50,000 words out theContinue reading “Successful writers know that grit is more important than talent”
Why understanding genre is the best thing you can do to improve the writing for your business.
An understanding of genre does not mean learning a set of rules to be followed. Rather it involves being aware of your context and your reader and what works and why.
So be genre aware.
How to develop a daily writing practice
If you write, you’re a writer. Simple as. If you’ve heard before that you should be writing daily, but still find it a struggle, I hear you. This isn’t one of those hero’s journey stories where I say I never used to be able to write daily and now I’ve been writing every day withoutContinue reading “How to develop a daily writing practice”
Focus on being productive rather than ‘busy’ using the Pomodoro® technique.
I’m writing this on a day when I spent two and a half hours on the phone on hold with HMRC (for my international friends, the HMRC is the UK tax office). The worst bit—the automated voice that kept saying ‘please bear with me’.. ARGGHHH Anyway, that stupidly long phone call brings me to theContinue reading “Focus on being productive rather than ‘busy’ using the Pomodoro® technique.”
Why starting a blog will save you time in your biz
I recently made a series of videos for social media. If you know me, you’ll know this is a massive step for me and way out of my comfort zone. This time last year, I’d have used any excuse not to appear on camera – haven’t washed my hair… urgently need to alphabetise my clothingContinue reading “Why starting a blog will save you time in your biz”
Why a vision board isn’t the answer to finishing your book (or why habits trump goals).
Do you have writing dates? Why a vision board isn’t the answer to finishing your book (or why habits trump goals).
Why you should stop proofreading your work right now! (Or why thinking, writing, editing, and proofreading should be four separate steps.)
Do you ever find that you open your work-in-progress document and keep reading back over what you wrote in the last session? Perfecting every sentence and making sure the flow is just right? I’ve been there, done that, and got the T-shirt. I’d win the prize for perfect prose every time, but it’d take me an age to getContinue reading “Why you should stop proofreading your work right now! (Or why thinking, writing, editing, and proofreading should be four separate steps.)”
What motherhood taught me about writing
Should I tell my PhD supervisor I’m trying to get pregnant? This question – posted anonymously on Twitter recently by a third-year PhD student – really got me thinking about my own PhD journey. I had my first baby in my second year of my PhD and my second two years later, but it wasn’t inContinue reading “What motherhood taught me about writing”
Detox your to-do list
Who doesn’t love the feeling of ticking things off the ‘to-do’ list? Get the kids to school. Tick. Hang the washing up. Tick. Answer emails. Tick. Ring the library. Tick. Write the article. This one will probably go on tomorrow’s ‘to do’ list. Sound familiar? The truth is that long ‘to-do’ lists don’t necessarily getContinue reading “Detox your to-do list”