nonfiction

The 6 Mistakes That Make Most Business Books Useless

Let’s start with an uncomfortable truth: Most business books fail. Not because the author lacks expertise, the topic isn’t valuable, or nobody wants the information. They fail because they’re difficult to read, impossible to apply, and quickly forgotten. Readers don’t finish them or recommend them or take action because of them. And ultimately, they don’t remember much about them at all. The good news? Most of these failures are entirely avoidable. After working with authors … Read more

The Problem with “Realized”

Most writers use the word realized far more often than they think. It’s one of those invisible words that slips into manuscripts unnoticed because it isn’t technically wrong. In fact, it’s often accurate. The problem is that accurate writing isn’t always the strongest writing. Every time you tell readers a character realized something, you’re placing a layer between the reader and the experience. Instead of letting readers discover information alongside the character, you’re announcing the … Read more

What Is a Business Book Really Supposed to Do?

One of the biggest mistakes business owners make when writing a book is misunderstanding the job of the book itself. They spend months—or years—writing, editing, publishing, and promoting a book, only to be disappointed when it doesn’t generate significant sales or transform their business overnight. The problem usually isn’t the book. The problem is the expectation. Many business owners believe their book is supposed to be the product. In reality, a business book is usually … Read more

Stop Explaining Dialogue And Let Your Characters Speak for Themselves

One of the fastest ways to weaken good dialogue is to explain it. Writers often spend hours crafting conversations, only to immediately tell readers what the characters meant, how they felt, and how the dialogue should be interpreted. The result? Dialogue that feels repetitive, over-explained, and less powerful than it could be. If the dialogue works, readers don’t need a translator. They need the writer to get out of the way. The Problem with Explaining … Read more

Stop Writing Your Life Story: How to Turn Experience Into a Business Book That Actually Helps People

Memoir creep is real. It starts innocently enough. You sit down to write a business book based on your experience, your expertise, your hard-won lessons, and your professional journey. Then suddenly Chapter 1 begins with your grandmother’s kitchen, your first job, your worst boss, your divorce, your dog, your spiritual awakening, and the time you realized spreadsheets could ruin a person’s soul. Some of that may be meaningful. Some of it may even be interesting. … Read more

Your Writing Has Favorite Words, And They’re Probably Weak Ones

Every writer has favorite words. Not favorite words in the poetic, literary sense. Not the words you carefully choose because they create the perfect image. I’m talking about the words you use so often that you don’t even realize they’re there anymore. The sneaky little crutch words that appear on every page of your manuscript. The bad news? You probably have them. The worse news? Your readers can see them even when you can’t. What … Read more

Stop Overloading Your Sentences: One Thought at a Time Works Better

Most sentences don’t fall apart because of grammar. They fall apart because they try to do too much at once. When a sentence carries multiple ideas, actions, and emotions all piled together, nothing stands out. The meaning gets buried, the pacing slows down, and the reader has to work harder than they should to comprehend the meaning. The Issue Overloaded sentences try to pack too many thoughts into a single line. You’ll often see this … Read more

Weak Sentence Openings Are Killing Your Writing And You Don’t Even See It

Most weak sentences don’t fall apart in the middle. They fall apart at the beginning. The first few words of your sentence carry more weight than you think. They set direction, establish clarity, and determine how quickly the reader understands what’s happening. When those opening words are weak, everything that follows has to work harder. And most writers don’t even notice they’re doing it. The Issue Weak sentence openings usually rely on placeholder words instead … Read more

Your Book Is Not the Business: What a Business Book Is Actually Supposed to Do

There’s a moment every business owner hits after publishing their book. You upload it. You announce it. Maybe you even get a few congratulations, a handful of sales, and a tiny spike of excitement. And then… nothing. No flood of clients. No speaking invitations. No magical transformation into “thought leader of the year.” Just a book sitting there. Here’s the truth most people don’t want to hear: Your book was never supposed to be the … Read more

Stop Repeating the Same Sentence Structure Before Your Writing Puts People to Sleep

If your writing feels dull, it’s not always the content. Sometimes it’s the rhythm. And more often than not, that rhythm is being quietly wrecked by repetitive sentence structure. The Issue Writers fall into patterns without realizing it. They start sentences the same way. They follow the same structure. They repeat the same rhythm over and over. It looks something like this: She walked into the room. She looked around carefully. She noticed the broken … Read more

Stop Filtering Every Moment Through Your Character And Let the Scene Do the Work

One of the fastest ways to weaken a scene—without realizing you’re doing it—is by filtering everything through your character. Is your writing filled with these? I saw.She noticed.He heard.She felt.I realized. These words seem harmless. They feel natural. They even feel like they help anchor the reader in the character’s experience. They don’t. They create distance, and distance kills immersion. The Issue Filtering happens when the writer inserts the character’s perception between the reader and … Read more

A Gift of Strength, Energy, and Well-Being: Victorious Aging for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a chance to celebrate everything a mother has given—her time, her energy, her care, and often, her health. This year, instead of another short-lived gift, consider something that gives back to her. Victorious Aging by Dr. Martha Lucas is more than a wellness book—it’s a thoughtful, empowering guide to feeling stronger, healthier, and more vibrant at any age. A Different Way to Think About Aging Many women have spent decades caring for … Read more

The 5 Biggest Time Wasters When Writing a Business Book (And How to Cut Them Fast)

Most business books don’t fail because people can’t write. They fail because too much time is wasted on the wrong things. If writing your book feels slow, overwhelming, or like it’s never going to be finished… you’re probably stuck in one (or more) of these. Let’s fix that. 1. Endless Editing Loops What it looks like: You rewrite the same chapter over and over, trying to “get it right” before moving on. Why it’s a … Read more

The Problem with “There Was” Sentences

One of the easiest ways to weaken a sentence is to begin it with “There was” or “There were” or “There is.” These sentence openings rely on a placeholder instead of leading with the person, object, or action that actually matters. While this structure isn’t always wrong, frequent use creates slow, indirect prose and hides the real subject of the sentence. Consider this example from the world of Pinocchio: There was a boy standing in … Read more

The Problem with “It Was” Sentences

One of the easiest ways to weaken a sentence is to begin it with “It was.” Writers use this structure constantly in early drafts because it feels natural while telling a story. Unfortunately, sentences that begin with “It was” often delay the real subject of the sentence and drain energy from the prose. Instead of presenting a clear image or action, the sentence introduces a vague placeholder. Consider the difference. It was strange for Pinocchio … Read more

The “Would” Problem: When Conditional Verbs Weaken Storytelling

One small word can quietly drain energy from a memoir: would. Writers of fiction and nonfiction often use would when describing past experiences, but the word frequently creates distance between the reader and the action. Instead of stating what happened, the sentence shifts into a conditional or habitual structure that weakens the verb. Consider this example: Pinocchio would lie whenever he was afraid. This sentence summarizes behavior rather than showing it. Now compare it to … Read more

Mastering Research Techniques: Effective Methods for Gathering Accurate Information and Sources

In the world of nonfiction writing, thorough research is the cornerstone of credibility and depth. Whether you’re writing a biography, a historical account, or a business book, mastering research techniques is essential. Here we will explore effective methods for gathering accurate information and sources, including the use of archives, libraries, and digital resources to enrich your nonfiction work. Understanding the Importance of Research Before diving into specific techniques, it’s important to understand why meticulous research … Read more

The Problem with “Seemed” Sentences

Words like seemed, appeared, and phrases such as seemed like often weaken a sentence by introducing uncertainty where the writer could state the idea directly. These words act as filters between the reader and the moment being described. Instead of presenting the experience clearly, the sentence suggests that the narrator is interpreting or guessing. Consider this example from the world of Pinocchio: It seemed like Geppetto was disappointed. Now compare it to a more direct … Read more

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