success

Don’t Tell Me You Don’t Think These Thoughts When You Write

/ Stuart Danker / 109 Comments

A woman with a beret lying down on a table

So you’re writing—which, if you’re me, means going down the YouTube rabbit hole for five hours—and you’re overcome by a bunch of emotions and thoughts that shouldn’t be part of the deal.

Sometimes, these thoughts discourage you from writing. Other times, they could even make you doubt your worth as a writer.

If you’re going through a similar thing right now, fret not because I have just the thing for you. Today we’re going to put these thoughts under the spotlight and help you realise that you’re not alone, and that it’s all just part of the process.

And perhaps we should start with the most common thought, which is…

Continue reading →

This Is Why You Will Never Write Like Me (And Why You Shouldn’t)

/ Stuart Danker / 125 Comments

A woman sitting in front of few laptops with a red glowing VR headset on her head

I don’t know exactly when I made the transition from regular writer to a consultant of sorts, but I’m thankful for the messages I’ve been getting. Most being questions on how they too can write for a living.

And the more I listen to to their dreams and circumstances, the more I realise something—that I’m not the best person to give advice, even if I were to continue writing professionally for another decade.

Continue reading →

Here Are Some Copywriting Tips That Don’t Include ‘Learn SEO’ Or ‘Find Your Niche’

/ Stuart Danker / 84 Comments

Man in cafe with a Macbook holding a book titled Expert Secrets

If you google ‘how to be a copywriter’, you’ll find 33.6 million articles that supposedly cover the ins and outs of the vocation.

But upon further inspection of the search results, you’ll quickly learn that some of these posts have typos in the first paragraphs (automatic disqualification), while others read like fresh-grad material instead of actual copywriting. There are a few posts that offer solid advice, though most of them end up trying to sell you a course.

But I digress. We’re not here to judge content. Instead, for this week, we’re going to discuss things beyond ‘build a portfolio’ and ‘learn SEO’.

Continue reading →

I Read Someone Else’s Journal And It’s Teaching Me How To Live Life

/ Stuart Danker / 132 Comments

A row of stone statues in a library

You know what I love more than journalling? Reading other people’s journals.

What’s with the look? You’ve probably done the same, or at least know someone who did. Anne Frank’s diary, perhaps? Leonardo da Vinci’s? Sylvia Plath’s?

Anyway, the journal in question (Meditations by Marcus Aurelius) is a couple thousand years old, so I doubt that there’s any invasion of privacy. Besides, Meditations is loaded with so much wisdom that it’d be a waste not to share it with the world.

Here’s my best takeaway to entice you to read more: No matter how separated we are by time and culture, we all still share the same fears, hopes, and desires.

Continue reading →

I Finally Got COVID, So I Might As Well Share The Lessons I Got Out Of It

/ Stuart Danker / 166 Comments

Man in orange sweater and mask

It’s finally happened. No, I didn’t become a New York Times bestselling author. I have instead contracted COVID, after two years of dodging it like Neo in The Matrix.

But you know what I always say: when something bad happens to you, at least you’ll get a story out of it. And that’s what brings us to today’s post, my account with the virus, seven days in.

So sit back, put on your masks, and enjoy the lessons I’ve learned from this weird, weird week I’ve been having.

Continue reading →