Shut Up and Write — I Don’t Care If You Write

Are you ready to write?

Are you ready to deepen your commitment to your writing? Do you write or want to write novels, a memoir, or a nonfiction book? Are you ready to deepen your commitment to writing, to your writing self, to the story you want to tell? Are you ready to be a warrior for yourself, act on your creativity, and announce to yourself and others that you are creative?

How to Be a Better Writer

We have an emotional brain, according to Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence.

And emotional brain, not an intellectual one.

I think we learn by hearing and speaking and watching. Speech was the first great transmitter of the culture of ideas, thoughts, and beliefs.

Turn Your Writing Dreams Into a Reality

Integrating writing into your life means looking at what you may have to give up to make room to turn your dream into a reality.
Succeeding at your goal means knowing what you want, why you want it, and what stumbling blocks are in your way.
Writers write. If you are ready to become the writer you [...]

Write Your Book with the Writer’s Adventure Guide

We are all on an adventure – this thing called “life.” At least that’s what I believe. And for me, writing is an adventure, and adventure spells fun. Some people go white water rafting or jump out of airplanes. I write books. That’s my kind of adventure.

Public Domain Books

Is your work in the public domain? What is public domain? And why should you care?
As a writer you automatically own the rights to your work*. Your work is NOT in the public domain unless you put it there, through Creative Commons for example.
For more details on this issue, see the Library of Congress Copyright [...]

The Power of the Human Spirit to Overcome Adversity

Writing is a powerful tool. Don Kirchner is a wondeful living example of what I mean. I met Don at an entrepreneur’s conference in Los Angeles in 2007 and was impressed by his soft smile and compelling story. He had spent time in the federal prison [...]

Online Writing Resources: Marketing Your Writing

 
This post is a first in a series on online resources for writers. I used an online resources to cull my material: LinkedIn, as well as my own research. Some of you may wonder what LinkedIn is. It’s a online network for professionals. More details here.
 
Online Market Listings
 

PublishersWeekly: THE book industry publication. Okay, one of a few. [...]

Oh! Or Om: A Writer Must Write

Some writers are at constant war with themselves, trying to force themselves to write, arguing with themselves, blaming themselves and living in constant strife. Others see themselves at one with the universe, in perfect harmony, guided by Spirit, at peace, and in constant love with inspiration. Yet both struggle with the written word. Both find [...]

Hello to Fear

Hello When I am afraid to write an article then I know I’m where I need to be. My heart is scared, I’m about to reveal a truth. Today, it was my personal note to you, my readers. When I avoid editing the next scene in my novel, then I know that whatever it is [...]

Prepare to Write: Your Ritual of Preparation

Fall is a great time to think about and put in place new rituals for your creative writing.
Why are rituals an important part of our creative practices?
Twyla Tharp, in The Creative Habit: Use it and Learn it for Life, speaks of the power of the “ritual of preparation.”

Massive Chaos of Intricate Perfection

These polar extremes actually embody one another. In Chaos Theory, chaos is depicted as a series of intricately perfect patterns.
Both extremes reside within every human being; one the shadow of the other. Together, they allow us to fully create.

Vision Board Your Story

I find that other art forms invigorate and inspire my writing. The other day my 4-year-old nephew asked, “What’s that?” He was pointing to the two vertical vision boards sitting in my wisdom corner in my office.

I told him what they were, explained that …

Recipe for Success: How to Reconnect With Your Writing

Have you lost your way with your writing and don’t know how to forge ahead? If so, this is a good time to step back, hold on to your courage and re-imagine your current writing project or work in progress (WIP).
Imagine your writing project as a delicious dish. Take a moment to immerse yourself in [...]

Resistance is Powerful

 is also experienced by most artists and can be overcome. Some people call Resistance: writer’s block or procrastination. Steven Pressfield names Resistance the heart of everything and anything that stops us from creating. His little book, 165 pages and change, called The War of Art: Break Through the Block and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, will [...]

Inspiration for Writing: Geography

My spirit is uplifted by grand buildings. I hear the whisperings of times past. Stories seep out of the old stone, echoes of footsteps remind me of people I have never met and never will.
The Montmartre church, the Basilique of Sacre Coeur, makes me think of secret rendezvous and gatherings of folk. I loved gathering [...]

Girlfriend Writing Contest: Ends Soon!

Thank you Josie Brown for bringing this contest to my attention!
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Enter SMW’s Great Girlfriend Getaway Essay Contest!
You tell your friends your dreams and goals. With them, you relay your greatest fears, and cry your bitterest tears. Now, honor these women with your words, by entering the SMW Great Girlfriend Getaway Essay Contest
Grand Prize: A 2-night [...]