Kick-start your writing in 2019 (with a little help from me!)

Why Aren't You Writing (Yet)?

These are the 'Greatest Hits' of excuses... have you used any of them yourself?

Don’t Sweat the Stats! Why ‘Your People’ WILL Show Themselves (In The End)

Genuine connections take time to build.

Why I’m Scared of ‘Building a Following’

Dedication takes courage.

How to Start a Personal Blog

Don't overthink it... just write.

How to Capture – and Expand – Your Best Creative Ideas

Creative ideas are like ghosts...

The Art of Listening (Or How Letting Other People Talk Helps You, Too)

Good listening is more than just letting people talk.

How to Tame the Fear That Lurks Behind “I Haven’t Got Time to Write”

Strategies to beat your writing monster into submission

The Art of Asking for Advice (or Why Should I Care if You Want to Be a Writer?)

What's in it for me?

How to Become a Better Writer

Let me take you back in time…

How Dare They Criticise Me! How To Make Good Use Of Feedback

How not to drown in other people's opinions.

It’s All About You – Why Writing Your Best CV Takes Selfishness

Reading your CV should make you smile, because it contains the very essence of who you are, and what you’re all about.

How To Engage Readers With Your Words

How to entice readers into joining your wordy world

Why Should I Write About That, When Others Have Done It Already?

Nobody else can tell a story in quite the same way you can.

(Don’t) Show Your Work: How To Become A Confident Creator

Create like nobody's watching... so that when they are, you're ready.

How to Shape Your Book Idea… So You Can’t Wait to Write it!

Maybe you haven’t done anything with that idea yet, because it’s just too vague.

Lacking In Experience? Here’s Why You Should Apply For That Job Anyway

A creative approach could work wonders for your career.

Life in the Time of Coronavirus

There’s something reassuring about businesses carrying on as ‘normally’ as they can...

How to Write About Something That Really Fires You Up

What's your personal soapbox topic?

How to Do Feedback

Comments welcome.

The Persian Flaw (Or, Why We Don’t Have to Be Perfect When We Write)

Don't let spelling and grammar fears stop you from writing.

Who Do You Want to Be Today?

This is a story about a career transformation.  And Take That.

Want to Write Like A Human? Mine Your Inner Monologue

"You can’t be on somebody’s side, if you don’t know what they think or how they feel".

How to Learn from People Who Aren’t Like You

No matter how scary it seems, learning from difference will benefit you much, much more than the comfy mediocrity that similarity brings.

How Not to Scare Your Customers

How do you make people feel safe about working with you?

How I Got Better At Public Speaking

My journey from terrified mumbler to casual speaker, in easy-to-follow steps.

How to Transform Your Blog Into a Book

If you have trouble motivating yourself to write that next blog post, whisper a little reminder: this could be a book one day.

Writing Lessons From Improvised Comedy

There’s something fascinating about a group of people being silly on stage, especially when they’ve probably all got mortgages and serious jobs. 

How Do I Start Blogging?

Blogging basics to help you create a rip-roaring read.

Does Your Website Need a Copy Refresh? (Mine Did)

Revamping your web copy will give your business the gift of reconnection.

How I Rescued My Stalling Novel

Struggling with writing a novel? Find the courage (and the effort!) to really get to know your work.

How to Plan Your Career Change CV (Hint: Be Selfish!)

"If you really want to change your career, you have to be determined, and you have to be selfish."

Writing to Sell? Weird Words and Crazy Phrases To Avoid

This is a blog post unlike any other.

How to Write a Review (That's Actually Useful)

Reviews get read, because people assume they might be useful.  Don't disappoint them!

What We Learn from Other People's Blogs

Some surprising insights about blogging...

How to Begin (And Make Progress With) Your Book, Blog, or Story

There's a magic ingredient that will help you start a new writing project, and see it right through to its rewarding end.

Are you too modest to write a book?

If you've always wanted to write a book, but were put off by the people who already have - help is at hand!

OK, so you got a six-figure business. That don't impress me much

Where's the value in empty business gurus?

How to avoid copywriting cliches...like the plague

Being original is easy as pie.

So, what do you do? How (not) to introduce yourself at networking events

Do you rely on a rehearsed networking pitch?

Transform your career...with help from the humble Creme Egg

How do you eat yours?

Is your business preaching to the converted?

How to sell your amazing ideas to a brand-new audience.

The foolproof formula for blogging success

How regular blogging will boost your business - as if by magic!

Top profile clichés – are you guilty?

Are you an easy-going enabler of success who thrives in a fast-paced environment?

Social media bragging - yay or nay?

How to get away with bragging...without bragging about it.

The Art of the Written Compliment

If you're too embarrassed to give (or receive!) compliments, writing it all down can work wonders

Looking for a way to beat the January blues? Start with a letter

It's Universal Letter Writing Week - how will you celebrate?

Don’t let outrage ruin your career!

What really works you up about work?

Kick-start your writing in 2019 (with a little help from me!)

I’ve gathered together some of my most-read blog posts, tips and tools to help you get writing.

Stuck in a career rut? Get someone else to write your CV – and thrive!

"The right person will help you come across as yourself, but in a prouder, more polished, 'look what I’ve achieved' kind of way"

How to give good interview (whatever side of the desk you’re on!)

Simple tips to help you breeze through any interview scenario.

How to choose the right coach or training course – at the right time

"If you like someone, you might be tempted to look for excuses to work with them, even if their particular skills aren’t what you need."

Why giving up on social media is a mistake...

Easy tips to help you fit social media nicely into your life - no mindfulness seminars required.

Beware of the flowers: why customers don't care about your business

Focus on telling interesting business stories that reflect your ideal customers’ lives back to them.

Finding your freelancing tribe: be uncompromising (and don’t be too nice!)

My advice to freelancers: never lose sight of what freelancing is all about!

When it comes to recruitment, manners cost nothing

Recruitment moves so fast, and so stressfully, that I think we forget how it feels to be treated like we matter.

Ramp up your summer content to reap winter rewards

Keep your summer content fresh and updated to be remembered all year long.

Appreciate your freelancers, and be rewarded with their best work

How to become every freelancer's favourite client!

Five New Year's Resolutions for Freelancers

Lone wolf or team worker - which is best?

How to write interesting content for any business (even yours)

What are your customers really saying about you?

Why storytelling is your secret weapon in business (and how to do it properly)

Learn how to live happily ever after through the power of storytelling

Take control of your career this summer

Take advantage of summer downtime to learn and grow in your career - or discover a new one!

Try this simple formula to create a killer profile headline!

Headlines are always difficult to write, so here's an easy way to craft something original for your personal and professional profiles.

What do successful entrepreneurs and guests on the Jeremy Kyle Show have in common?

There's a lot of vague career advice out there, so if you're looking for insight that goes beyond "be yourself and follow your passion" you may have to leap before you look!

How to beat those pre-presentation jitters

Standing up and presenting to a group of people is something that strikes fear into the hearts of even the most confident people - so if you're an introvert like me, it can really be the stuff of nightmares!  Here's how I tackle my nerves head-on, with some careful preparation and relatable content.

On creating a writer's life

This week I'm responding to the questions people have asked since my Careershifters' Success Story was published recently - all about creating a writer's life.

Home truths for aspiring remote workers

Remote working is on the increase - so here's some advice on how to work it well!

Discovering your unique writer's voice is easier than you think

You don't have to be a professional writer to discover a unique writing voice that speaks to its readers.  Finding your own voice is often easier than you might think, and it all starts when you write from the heart.

Real-life lessons I learned from changing my career

I'm a 'Success Story'!  My career change journey was featured on Careershifters' website this week, and I'm incredibly proud of it.  But I wouldn't want anybody to think changing my career has been easy.  And so this is a reflection of sorts, on where I was when I began, and how I've ended up where I am now.

“Telling it like it is” – giving effective feedback in writing

There's a new trend sweeping Silicon Valley - giving honest and direct feedback to your colleagues.  Before you go rushing in, focus your message by writing it down first...your colleagues and your career will thank you for it!

Share your expertise - write a business book!

All those celebrated business gurus had to start somewhere...and the most successful ones know how to tell their stories in a relatable way that inspires others to act on their dreams and ideas.  By writing a business book, you can do just that yourself!

Read this before you write your next recruitment ad!

Writing a recruitment ad is often a rushed activity, with the words used ones you've read many times before ("dynamic" anyone?)  Here's how the Banks children managed to recruit their ideal candidate - Mary Poppins! - by using clear and creative words that stood out.

‘CV Greatest Hits’ Countdown – 10 ultimate CV tips to prepare you for the Great 2017 Job Hunt!

'Greatest Hits' countdowns are rife at this time of year - so now, here's one featuring the best CV advice.  This list will give you the ultimate steer if you're looking to get your CV on track for the new year job hunt.  Wishing you a very happy 2017!

Give yourself a special Christmas gift...a happy working life in 2017!

If you're stuck in a job you don't particularly like, mindlessly searching job boards for something else, it can be hard to dredge up any enthusiasm to make a change.  But that little bit of rest time between Christmas and a brand new year beginning is perfect for considering exactly what you want, and how to take the very first step towards making 2017 your happy work year!

How to write your life story

With a new year on the horizon, why not make a resolution to tell your life story?  Committing your personal tales to paper can be a rich and rewarding experience for you to write and others to read...for generations to come.  Here's how to get started.

Writing to get what you want at work!

Have you ever thought that making a few tweaks to your working life would help make living it much easier?  Harness the power of well-chosen words to state your case and win better work-life balance in the process.

Fitting in ‘me’ projects – five panic-free time management tips for the professionally overwhelmed

Is time getting the better of you?  With a growing business, several passion projects on the go, books to read and friends I'd quite like to see, I was starting to feel overwhelmed...until I decided to take a closer look at planning my time more effectively.  Here's how you can do the same.

Use your sense of style to build trust and win business!

Looking for ways to sound consistent and authentic in your written communications?  Here are a few tried, tested and original ways to do just that.

Ghost stories…how shadowy script can light up your life and work

BOO! Like a ripe pumpkin Hallowe'en has rolled around yet again, so what better time to extol the benefits of ghostwriting, definitely not just the province of bargain-bin bound celebrities.

STOP! Attention-grabbing writing – made easy

Everybody's busy these days - far too busy to read all the words that come their way.  Get the right people to read YOURS by honing in on your ideal audience and creating compelling copy that will get them hooked.

The (Not-So) Secret Life of an HR Manager

Ever wonder what your HR Manager is really thinking, or what they do all day?  I worked in this oft-misunderstood profession for a number of years and now I'm safely out of it, I'm free to vent!

Making meaningful business connections…in writing

Speaking up in networking groups used to bring me out in a cold sweat.  So I sought out the people I really wanted to talk to and introduced myself in the way I'm best at - in writing.

Special Deliveries - writing fabulous letters

Getting the tone of a letter right - especially when you're writing to someone you don't know - can be difficult.  No matter whom you're writing to, here's how to get started on a letter that's relevant, informative and authentic.

Writing memories - the story of a eulogy

The thought of telling stories about a loved one for the last time can be daunting.  But you can create the most special memories by recalling all the details that made them human and real.