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Ann Handley

Writer. Speaker. Marketer.

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writing advice

Specific Writing Is More Relatable Writing: Standout Sentences #1

Normally I celebrate standout marketing writing. But this week I’m sharing a line from a novel I’m reading. It’s simple. It’s compact. And it’s perfect: “His skin was not just clammy but the color and consistency of actual clams.” —Ann Patchett, Bel Canto Ann is describing a Bel Canto character—a Russian bureaucrat named Fyodorov. I […]

Filed Under: Annarchy, best writing advice, Ideas you can steal Tagged With: Ann Patchett, Bel Canto, specific writing, writing advice

6 Signs That It’s Time for You to Write Your Book Already [A Checklist]

A version of this story appeared in Total Annarchy, my fortnightly newsletter that helps you be a better writer, storyteller, marketer. Get it in your inbox; you’ll love it. * * * From time to time I answer reader questions. This is one of those times. <Hoists mailbag onto table. Rummages around. Pulls out reader letter.>* […]

Filed Under: Annarchy, best writing advice, career advice, Writing Tagged With: book, writing advice, writing process

TikTok with the Best Writing Advice (No Really)

postcard with a blue and red heart stamp

A version of this story appeared in Total Annarchy, my fortnightly newsletter that helps you be a better writer, storyteller, marketer. Get it in your inbox; you’ll love it. * * * I sense I’m being watched. Followed. Stalked, almost. He’s quiet as a ninja. And like a ninja, he seems everywhere at once. Often […]

Filed Under: Annarchy, best writing advice, Writing Tagged With: show don't tell, Social Media, TikTok, writing advice

A Writer’s Hierarchy of Needs: How to Do Our Best Work

A version of this story appeared in Total Annarchy, my fortnightly newsletter that helps you be a better writer, storyteller, marketer. Get it in your inbox; you’ll love it.   Where to Do Your Best Work Yesterday, I disturbed the spider ecosystem thriving on Tiny Porch (TP), the official name of the screened porch of my […]

Filed Under: Annarchy, Annecdote, best writing advice, Writing Tagged With: create space, tiny house, tiny house office, Writing, writing advice, writing space

Is It Better to Write When You’re In a Good Mood? Or When You’re Not?

A version of this story appeared in Total Annarchy, my fortnightly newsletter that helps you be a better writer, storyteller, marketer. Get it in your inbox; you’ll love it. Recently, I gave a mini writing workshop for a MarketingProfs client. The workshop (“How to Write Your Face Off”) was online, which meant the 30 or so […]

Filed Under: Annarchy, best writing advice Tagged With: Writing, writing advice

A Writing Prompt for an Anxious World

abby handley

 There are two truths I’ve realized about the Coronavirus pandemic: Everyone feels they are dramatically, uniquely affected. Everyone is right. Every one of us is affected. No one knows exactly how much. There is a relentless, invisible virus among us, and there is also a weird anxiety in the air. Like one minute I’m in […]

Filed Under: Annarchy, best writing advice Tagged With: coronavirus, writing advice, writing prompt

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