A few weeks ago, I published a video titled "You Have a TINY Book in You. Write It." My story resonated with many people. Some viewers asked me specific questions too. This video is to answer those questions. Hope this helps! LINKS Subscribe to Better Writers for free. You'll get 1 short email a week to help you achieve 1 goal: become a better writer. -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/ The "tiny book" video - You Have a TINY Book in You. Write It. My (tiny) book - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/any-langu... My website - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/

Kathleen Adams is one of the most prominent and established voices in the field of therapeutic writing. She's a best-selling author, speaker, and psychotherapist.

She's the founder and director of the Center for Journal Therapy, the premier source of education and training on the power of writing for healing, growth, and change.

She's also the director of the Therapeutic Writing Institute and adjunct faculty at the University of Denver, where she teaches Writing and Healing, a 10-week course. In an internet poll, Kay was listed (with Anne Frank and Anais Nin) as one of the three most significant influences on contemporary journal keeping.

I learned about her work when I read her first book, Journal to the Self (1990), a classic that has helped define the field of journal therapy. I then had the privilege to meet Kay to ask her questions about journaling.

- What is journaling?

- Why is it helpful?

- What misconceptions do people have about journaling?

- How can we start journaling?

- What journaling techniques are there?

- Is it better to keep a handwritten or digital journal?

- Should you journal only when you're sad?

- How can you become a better writer by journaling?

Kay and I hope this recorded chat will inspire you to write down your thoughts more often.

Enjoy the episode here or watch it on YouTube --https://youtu.be/8FvaRuz21uM

KAY LINKS

- Kay's first book, “Journal to the Self” - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/353624.Journal_to_the_Self

- Kay’s Books - https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/F7818742-54B0-4A8F-8DED-F5CFFC3B2148

- Kay’s gift for you - https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:571b7eb5-8dfa-4d29-8c3f-70d583a05bd9

- The Center for Journal Therapy - https://journaltherapy.com/

- The Therapeutic Writing Institute - https://twinstitute.net/

MY LINKS

- Subscribe to Better Writers. You'll get 1 short email a week to help you achieve 1 goal: become a better writer. -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

- My website - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/

"Avoid the passive voice" is cheap writing advice that helps no one. I'll tell you why in this rant.

Join Better Writers - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

Watch the rant on YouTube - https://youtu.be/eQJpUhZi9-g

You can write a TINY book today. You don’t need to have a talent. You don’t need to have an extraordinary life. You don’t need to have a big audience. These days you don’t even need a contract with a publisher. I had none of those things, and yet I published a tiny book — one of my proudest achievements in 37 years.

You can do that too.

LINKS

My Book - https://www.amazon.com/Any-Language-Want-Fabio-Cerpelloni/dp/B0CDYT58HW

Visit my website: https://fabiocerpelloni.com/

Watch the video on YouTube - https://youtu.be/2TrxmpeiKAM

"Several Short Sentences About Writing" by Verlyn Klinkenborg. I struggled not to highlight every sentence in this book. I loved it so much. It surprised me in so many ways and taught me things about writing I had never heard before. Here are my key takeaways, nerdy stuff only writers will find interesting. LINKS Subscribe to Better Writers for free. You'll get 1 short email a week to help you achieve 1 goal: become a better writer. -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/ The blog about linkers - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/avoid-overusing-linking-words/ The blog about this book - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/several-short-sentences-about-writing/

Watch the episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/UEJmxMuKecg

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

01:05 The writer's job

05:39 Writing by implication

09:00 Transitions and logic

14:05 In your head

18:20 Write what

24:00 Conclusion

In 1997, Derek Sivers (accidentally) started CD Baby, the largest distributor of independent music in the world. Ten years later, he sold the company for $22 million. What did he do with the money? Did he buy a Ferrari? A mansion? A private jet? He gave it all to charity. He then became a TED speaker and a writer. He's published 5 books: - Anything You Want (2011) -- Best business book I've ever read. - Your Music and People (2020) -- Best marketing book I've ever read. - Hell Yeah or No (2020) -- Best book on productivity and decision-making I've ever read. - How to Live (2021) -- Best book on life philosophies I've ever read. - Useful Not True (2024) -- Best book on beliefs I've ever read. Derek Sivers is the person I've watched, read, and listened to the most since I got an internet connection in 2000. No joke! I could’ve asked him questions about music, business, productivity, marketing, or public speaking, but many YouTubers and podcasters have done that before.

For 1.5 hours, we talked about one thing only: WRITING. - What brought him into writing? - Which writers inspire him? - How did he write his books? - Why succinct writing?- Why does he not use semicolons? - What does he do to actively improve his writing? - Does he have a sentence he's particularly attached to? We discussed this and other nerdy stuff about writing. Enjoy! DEREK'S LINKS His (succinct) website - https://sive.rs/ FABIO'S LINKS Better Writers - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

YOUTUBE LINK for this episode- https://youtu.be/jI3efiQ2u_M

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

03:30 Starting to write

11:30 The influence of bad writing

15:55 Reading reviews

19:00 Different reasons for writing

23:20 Writing "How to Live"

28:43 Writing one sentence per line

34:34 The influence of writing songs

39:06 Derek's best sentences

40:00 Imitating other writers

44:51 Reading old books

47:15 The work is the practice

53:25 Publishing daily?

01:04:00 Why succinct writing

01:05:30 Using stories to illustrate a point

01:07:05 Semicolons

01:07:45 Reading with a writer's mind

01:09:50 Academic writing

01:12:40 Writing for English as a second language speakers

01:15:00 Next book?

01:17:30 Being disciplined

01:19:28 Saying just enough

01:30:30 Conclusion

Behind any creation, there's the work of a mind. That mind is often fearful and insecure.

"They might not like this. They might not like ME."

You're an artist. You can't afford to let someone else's mind harm your own. But you're also an artist who wants to be liked and accepted.

Do you have the courage not to be?

I invited my friend, Bree Aesie, to talk about this.

Bree studied psychology and has been building on the internet since 2020. Consistently. She's the host of "Into the Story," a wonderful storytelling podcast for learners of English I wish had been around when I was a learner myself.

You'll learn more about the psychology of creativity, and hear about our fears, frustrations, and joys as creators.

Enjoy!

(You can watch us on YouTube too -- https://youtu.be/eSJQR-TuBq0)

BREE'S LINKS

Into the Story (Bree's show) - https://intothestorypodcast.com/

FABIO'S LINKS

Better Writers - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

We mentioned...

- Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

- The Practice by Seth Godin

- Alan Watts (British writer)

- Laurie Skreslet (Canadian mountaineer)

- Sound School podcast with Ira Glass

- This American Life (podcast)

CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro

03:15 Bree + creating

09:10 The practice

15:55 Sincere vs serious

19:10 Move your body

26:00 The Lizard Brain pt.1

29:20 Creating is satisfying

37:35 Originality

41:30 AI for creativity

47:20 The Lizard Brain pt.2

54:40 Productivity and discipline

58:40 No.1 tips

01:02:10 Conclusion

Suggestions on how to cut the fluff in your writing (watch on YouTube - https://youtu.be/MTll-KJl0ps?si=Szxbcuu_radtBZGL) Join Better Writers, my weekly newsletter for online writers who speak English as a second language. I share writing tips, insights, and resources to help you do one thing: become a better writer -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/ My website -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/