One of my writing coach clients, Jim Mazziotti, just gave me a tee-shirt with the following saying: Yup, having a sense of humor definitely helps when you're a writer. And no, being a writer is not always easy. On the other hand, it's amazing the progress you can make...
It's always cracked me up that writing coach prospects would inevitably mention how beautiful and sophisticated my website was. They never said a word about the writing. Their comments were always just about the look and feel of the site. So why would I even consider...
"Would you know what to do if you or a loved one was injured or, worse, killed in an accident?" the TV commercial's narrator asked before advising the viewer not to be pressured into signing anything. No problem. If you've been killed in an accident, no one is going...
We all know that you can't just publish a book or a blog post and expect people to read it. You have to market your writing. Social media has made that a lot easier in some ways, but it can also be pretty darn confusing. Take Twitter. I have writing coach clients who...
Inspiration related to creativity, the creative process and writing sometimes comes when you least expect it. Like when you're on vacation and trying your hardest not to think about work at all. During a recent trip to Denver, the friends I had gone to visit and I...
“Dashiell has a large abdominal mass,” the vet said in a soft, matter-of-fact voice tinged with empathy. “The x-ray isn’t showing what it’s attached to, but it needs to go.” I looked at my dog who just that morning had been prancing in the park showing off his ball to...
Memoirs, by definition, examine a part of the author's life through a particular prism. That's what sets them apart from autobiographies. According to Webster's Dictionary, a memoir is an account of one's personal life and experiences. More and more, however, those...
My five-day trip to Denver this past week revealed three things: Time off is downright restorative. Denver is a surprisingly beautiful city, especially cool if you're outdoorsy or a foodie. If you pay attention, you'll find evidence of a uniquely quirky sense of humor...
I'd been pushing too hard for too long and the day was too nice. I closed my computer and piled the dogs in the car for a hike. Our destination: a trailhead where we'd find a lake after an easy mile and a half and another lake a mile and a half after that. From the...
I was recently asked to consider teaming up on an e-book project about writing books. "Listen to the presentation I gave last month and let me know what you think," the publishing professional said. So I listened to a funny, informative, 90-minute seminar that...
