What Do A Secret Illustration, Meeting An Idol and Chocolate Cake Have In Common?
Wow, what a weekend at the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop ! Last weekend, I attended the EBWW in Dayton, Ohio to teach two classes. It was such a privilege to work with so many talented, passionate and dedicated writers. The spirit of Erma was everywhere. As Erma said, “It takes a lot of courage to […]
Writing Wednesday Inspo: Taking Risks
For some reason, the idea of creative risk-taking keeps coming to mind today. I usually think about it when I hear Bohemian Rhapsody and remember what Queen’s agent said to the band (in the movie) when they wanted to record it as a single: “Opera? Six minutes long? No radio station will ever play it.” […]
(Mostly Undiscussed) Advice for Beginning Authors
One of the great joys of speaking at a writer’s conference is meeting new authors. Many are starting their writing career, and they’re often seeking advice. While I’m certainly no expert, I seem to have a firsthand grasp of the pitfalls. From my experience, this is my advice. On How To Start: If you haven’t […]
I Can’t Write My Story Because I’m Not A Writer
Someone said this to me the other night at an event I attended for people who have consulting businesses. This guy is a consultant with a compelling personal story, and he’s been told numerous times that he should write a memoir. Earlier in the evening, I told a group of people my own professional […]
Please Don’t Be Alarmed By What I’m About To Tell You
Just because I could not find my writing mug this morning (the one I’ve used every single morning of my writing days — not my entire writing life — only those days (years) during which I’ve been writing my current WIP, even that really dark year when I thought it was all a big […]
Art Vitamin: Your Recommended Daily Dose of Art
Hi friends! Welcome to the introduction of Art Vitamin: your recommended daily dose of art. If you’re an artist you know your art needs to be nourished. We thrive on inspiration, whenever, wherever we can get it. So pop this daily Art Vitamin and soak it up! If you’re not an artist, you know how […]
The Writer’s Life
“You do not need to leave your room, remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait. Do not even wait, be quite still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice. It will roll in ecstasy at your feet.” Franz […]
Act Before You Think
On a Facebook writers group I’m a member of, someone started a discussion by asking who among us were Indies, who were traditionally published, and who were “authors in waiting.” I suspected the term “author in waiting” to be someone with a completed manuscript who was waiting to either secure a literary agent, or a […]
Indie Bookstores Are Like Cheers Minus the Beer
Small Business Saturday, the day after Black Friday, and two days before Cyber Monday, is a relatively new national campaign to drive business to stores once known as Mom & Pop Shops. While we think of Black Friday as the day to shop department store deals and Cyber Monday as a day to shop online […]
