Bryan Collins's Blog, page 87

What Is Evernote? A Beginner’s Guide With Bethany Stephens

Evernote is a tool for capturing and arranging your information and ideas. It serves as a digital file cabinet, personal notebook, and project management tool.

Bethany Stephens is the founder of Soapbox Influence, a marketing agency based in Bentonville Arkansaw. Her company employs 15 people and works with Fortune 500 brands, including NBC Universal.

Stephens is also a writer and blogger who considers Evernote a key part of her creative workflow. In this interview, Beth explains:

How she...

How to Work from Home: A Short Guide Featuring 10+ Proven Tools

Are you looking for a guide to working from home? Like many, I've worked from home for years as a journalist, copywriter, and more recently while running my site Become a Writer Today.

My story is hardly unique.

More than 57% of workers have a flexible schedule, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. That number has grown exponentially since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Experienced home-based workers are independent, self-motivated, and focused. If this describes you, how can you get...

Masterclass Review 2020: Is It Worth Your Money?

Learn from the best writers in worldTRY IT NOW →No,Thanks

Is Masterclass worth it? And who is Masterclass for?

In this Masterclass review, I share my thoughts about this online learning platform for creative professionals. I also offer tips to help you answer the important question, “Is Masterclass worth it?”

You can also watch a Masterclass course preview.

WANT TO LEARN FROM THE BEST?Learn from the best teachers in world✓   Affordable✓   Includes succinct materials✓   Produ...

How to Start A Creative Business In Two Hours a Day With Dane Maxwell

Could you start a creative business in two hours a day?

That's how I launched Become a Writer Today. I got up early in the mornings to write, create courses and figure out what readers wanted.

I'm hardly unique.

Dane Maxwell believes one can do it.

He is the author of Start From Zero: Build Your Own Business & Experience True Freedom and the founder of several software-as-a-service businesses.

In this interview, Dane explains:

How to build your creative business in two hours a dayWhat...

How To Write an Allegory With Jordan Gross

Would you like to write an allegory?

An allegory is basically a story that reveals a hidden meaning or moral. One great example is *The Alchemist* by Paulo Coelho.

An allegory isn't necessarily as long as a novel, but it should leave the reader with an understanding of a key concept or idea. An allegory is a little like self-help, except in the vein of a story.

Jordan Gross is author of the allegory The Journey to Cloud Nine and a TEDx speaker. He's also a prolific non-fiction Medium...

12 Essential Note-Taking Apps for Writers

What's the best note-taking app?

Perhaps, you know how important it is to take notes regularly. And you make an effort capture ideas everyday. You also spend time recording your thoughts. But, you're having trouble finding the best note-taking app.

If you're a writer, you need a note-taking app you can depend on. This way you can spend more time developing your ideas and less time waiting for inspiration to arrive.

Don't worry.

In this updated article, I feature 12 of the best digital note...

The Wall Street Journal Review 2020: Is It Worth It?

Because there are more places to get your business, finance, and general news than ever before, you may wonder, Is The Wall Street Journal worth it? 

Even though paper options may be fewer, digital choices are abundant. Some of these are more reliable and engaging than others.

The digital version of The Wall Street Journal is just one option that many working professionals, investors, business owners, and others may consider as a go-to source for news.

Writers, especially nonfiction writers...

Collaborative Writing And Creative Projects With Jared Geller of HitRECORD

What is HitRECORD?

HitRECORD is a creative platform where writers can collaborate with illustrators, graphic designers, and other creatives across disciplines on short films, animations, scripts and more.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jared Geller founded the company in 2004. It claims over 900,000 users and employs 40 people in Los Angeles.

I recently interviewed Jared and in this interview, he explains:

How writers can use a platform like HitRECORDWhy every creative project needs a leader...

Terrible Writing Advice: 20 Common Mistakes You Must Avoid

I've collected lots of terrible writing advice over the years from talks, seminars, courses, and books. It's easy to find good writing advice for self-publishing, writing a book or earning more money as a freelance or nonfiction writer. 

But what about terrible writing advice? What advice should you avoid if you want to become a successful author or profitable writer? 

This guide to terrible writing advice also includes some practical tips from one of my favourite writers: Ernest Hemingway.

...

Writing a Memoir, Making Big Decisions and Bonus Time With Author Brian Pennie

Will it make our boat go faster? That's a question Great Britain's 2000 Olympic rowing team asked itself every day for months prior to winning gold in Australia.

As a writer, your boat might represent writing a memoir and publishing it, for others, it could mean landing a new client or launching a course. So when faced with a decision about what to do more or less of, frame it around the boat question.

This is an idea Irishman Brian Pennie speaks about regularly. The author of Bonus Time,...