So you want to write. What's stopping you? Most writers are halted at the outset by lack of knowledge. How about you?

People tell me they know what they want to write, but don't know how; or they know how to write, but they don't know what to say or how to say it; or they know how and what to write, but they don't know how to publish. Or they… Continue reading

Posted on November 9th, 2009 under Uncategorized. Tags: Business, Craft, Creative Non-Fiction, fiction, get published, Non-Fiction. Comments: None

Are your expressions property, the same as your car or your jewelry? Or is there some higher public interest your writings are meant to serve? Are these values mutually exclusive?

Copyright law is in a state of continuing development. Modern technology has made copyright violations of every stripe, whether in the form of e-mail, audio recording, music, fiction, non-fiction, film, news, magazines, graphic design, or any other form of expression easy… Continue reading

Posted on October 7th, 2009 under Business. Tags: Business, Law, marketing, promotion. Comments: None

All lawyers are writers, but not all lawyers focus on writing as a career builder. Developing your law career through writing for publication doesn't have to be dull, boring, or a total time drain.

Online publishing in various venues is a good place to start using writing to build a wider legal reputation that can lead to clients. Most law firms have blogs now and writing for the firm's blog… Continue reading

Posted on August 14th, 2009 under Business, Craft. Tags: Business, craft nonfiction, Law Career Development. Comments: None

I love my Kindle. I resisted buying one until the second version was released and the price became more reasonable. Even then, the thing that pushed me into the purchase mode was using the Kindle app for a while on my iPhone. Before that, I'd wondered whether I would like reading on such a small screen. One of my stories, Surviving Toronto, had been available on… Continue reading

Posted on August 9th, 2009 under Business, Reviews. Tags: book publishing, Business, Product Review. Comments: None

As I mentioned, the business of publishing in all its forms is rapidly changing. The old model of write the book, find an agent, sell to a New York City publisher still works. But it's slower than a U.S. Supreme Court death penalty opinion. Unlike death penalty cases, though, where lawyers and defendants must simply slog through the process even if it takes 20 years, the internet now provides writers with… Continue reading

Posted on May 21st, 2009 under Business. Tags: Business, Craft, fiction, legal writing, nonfiction. Comments: None

Legal writing is a highly specialized art form that should be employed only when it can't be avoided. Every audience will appreciate your adherence to a simple plan: never use highly technical writing techniques when more reader friendly versions will do the job (and be more effective in the process). This is a good rule for all technical professionals. Doctors, pharmacists, engineers, marketers, human relations experts, and rocket scientists. I'm not simply… Continue reading

Posted on May 14th, 2009 under Craft. Tags: Art, Business, Craft, legal writing. Comments: None