TCK Publishing Videos

So you want to be a successful author. You’re hardly alone, as the idea of working from anywhere in the world and doing what you love in exchange for a decent check appeals to many. But you’re going to need more than just a way with words if you truly want to become a “successful” author—you’ll need plenty of time, effort, and some marketing savvy on your side. We’ve developed a blueprint for success—14 steps, plus the most valuable tools and resources you’ll need—so you can get to work today. Is Being an Author a Good Career? When we think about a “successful” career, each of us likely has a slightly different idea of what that word means. For some, success might mean becoming the next Stephen King, making millions of dollars per year, and seeing your characters portrayed by stars on the big screen. For others, success might mean making a bestseller list for even just one Amazon category Or maybe getting your book published at all is a huge success (which it definitely is!). ...

The term “creative nonfiction” tends to puzzle many writers and readers. If nonfiction is supposed to be about the facts, how is there room to get “creative” with it? It turns out, there are many ways to present real facts and events besides boring reports and charts. In fact, the best journalists and writers are often the ones who can present accurate information while also telling a riveting story. Creative nonfiction combines 100% factual information with literary elements to tell real stories that resonate with readers and provide insight to actual events. This is what your favorite memoirists, travel writers, and journalists do every day, and you can, too. Even if you don’t intend on publishing your work, learning to be an effective storyteller can enrich both your writing and communication skills. What Is Creative Nonfiction? Creative nonfiction is a genre of writing that uses elements of creative writing to present a factual, true story. Literary techniques that are usuall...

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a tool that measures a person’s psychological preferences in terms of how they perceive the world and make decisions. Catherine Cook Briggs, together with her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers, developed this personality profiling system based on Carl Jung’s typological theory. The Myers-Briggs Test In this system, 16 different personality types are formed from a combination of 4 descriptors that use their initials (except for “intuitive,” which uses the letter “N”):  Are you an E xtrovert or an I ntrovert?  Are you a S ensor or are you more i N tuitive?  Are you a T hinker or a F eeler?  Are you a P erceiver or a J udger?  For example, if you are an extrovert who uses your intuition more than your senses, thinks through things and typically uses perception to make a decision, based on the Myers-Briggs Personality Types Indicator, you are an ENTP.  An introvert who uses intuition , moves according to fee...

History’s greatest playwright and writer William Shakespeare did not only write words—he actually invented quite a few of his own! But can anyone just “invent” words? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of communicating so people can understand you?  Did Shakespeare Really Invent Words?  Writers can invent words in the same way that scientists invent things: by piecing together different parts to create a new whole. Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky poem starts off with 11 made-up words in the first stanza:  Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. —From Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky One major difference between these invented words and those that Shakespeare used, however, is that these words are considered nonce, or nonsense, meaningless, and intended for use only once. Shakespeare, on the other hand, used existing words and altered them or used them in new ways. He did this through ...

Biographies are stories of a person’s life written by someone who has thoroughly researched that individual. This genre offers a great opportunity to learn about important figures, study the time period they lived in, and even understand more about the human condition. When you’re choosing a biography to read, consider the people you admire, as well as the individuals you’d like to better understand. What Are the Best Biographies to Read? We’ve compiled a list of the best biographies to add to your reading list, featuring the life stories of people from all walks of life. A Beautiful Mind  by Sylvia Nasar The award-winning film A Beautiful Mind took its inspiration and content from this biography of John Nash, a well-renowned mathematician. Nasar expertly follows Nash’s career, starting from MIT to his work at RAND Corporation. She also explores his battle against schizophrenia, a disorder that deeply challenged his life. Carry a Big Stick: The Uncommon Heroism of Theo...