I love the ringing sound of “Mind the Gap!” when British train doors slide open at a station platform. “Mind the Gap!” is an audible (or visual) warning. It’s issued to rail passengers to take caution while crossing the space between the train door and the station platform. “Mind the Gap!” The phrase was first […]
career planning
Age: Are You Too Old to Write?
“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?” –Satchel Paige I had a blog reader last week mention that she was probably too old to start writing. I’d like to debunk that myth. It’s never too late to get started. It’s always a good time to tackle a new dream. […]
The Gift of Time
It isn’t my birthday or Christmas or Mother’s Day, but it feels like it today. Why? Because I’ve decided to give myself a wonderful gift now. The gift of time. I’ve been writing and publishing since my kids were babies. They’re in their thirties now, with their own children ranging from toddlers to teenagers. During […]
Writers: Attitude Isn't Everything
I talk a lot about having a positive attitude about the writing life, but your attitude isn’t everything. There’s no doubt about the power of a positive outlook–I would be the first to say so. Dealing with your self-doubts and writing fears is critically important. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking it will substitute for […]
The Writing Season
My daughter’s expecting her second baby any day now, and it’s fun watching her during this “nesting” season. Today it struck me how much her preparations for a new life are like those plans made by writers who want to write for a lifetime. Having babies takes serious preparation. So does having a writing career. […]
Marketing Help is Here!
The Frugal Book Promoter: Second Edition: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher. I very rarely read an e-book and then buy the hard copy–but I did in this case. I have to mark it up, add my colored flags and post-its, and turn down page corners. Why? […]
How to Create the "Not To-Do" List
Back in March, I wrote about pruning some things from life in order to have more time to write. (See my former post “The ‘Not To-Do’ List”.) In order to make time for anything new in your life, it requires some necessary endings. Help Is on the Way So I was thrilled yesterday when my […]
For Your Holiday Weekend
When you take a break on this hot Fourth of July weekend, try some of these articles. They’ll keep you in a writing frame of mind! What If You Think You Might Be a Mediocre Fiction Writer? Every novelist hits the point, sooner or later, where they think they just might not actually have any talent. What do […]
Stage Two: Preparation
In the “Five Stages of Success,” once you know where you’re headed (“Stage One: Exploration”), then you’re ready for “Stage Two: Preparation.” Getting Ready for the Journey This stage comes with a warning. Many people try to either bypass this stage altogether or rush through it. It’s understandable. We’re excited about our goals, and we […]
Stage One: Exploration
If success is a journey, where are you along this continuum? As we go through the five stages of success–and learn to celebrate each stage–you’ll see each milestone for what it is: a huge victory. Getting Started As I mentioned in “The Five Stages of Success,” my first step along the way was taking the […]