A friend wrote from Mexico last week. She said she was having a hard time letting go of the words she was writing. There were sentences she liked in her essay and she didn’t want to delete them. She suggested this might be something I’d like to write about. And she was right. Letting go […]
I’m reading a book about judgment. Yes, judgment. It’s called Judgment Detox by Gabrielle Bernstein. I love this topic because I am a very judgy person and I don’t often see it addressed. Yet, it is important–so important, especially for anyone trying to do anything creative. Like writing. The first self-help book I ever read […]
On my writing retreat last weekend, I reread my novel. Yeah, that’s right. The one I told everyone how terrible it was. How it needed major surgery. How it had plot holes so big you could drive a truck through them. How the characters were undeveloped. In re-reading it I found that all of the […]
As writers, we don’t have a lot of tools. A computer, pen and paper. Oh we can buy all sorts of software and hardware to support us, but basically all we really need is something to write with and a scrap of paper. Not like, say, a contractor, or a graphic designer, or a landscaper. […]
The other day I wrote a post about how writing has become a bit of a slog for me lately. One of my clients (Hi, Mitch!) asked me about it, saying, “You’re a professional. That’s not supposed to happen to you.” He was kidding. I think. But it brings up an excellent point. Because, as […]
Wherein I talk about what it takes to be a writer, in my humble opinion, anyway. To finish a book project, or even an article or short story. To get the book out in the world, either into the hands of an agent and editor, or publish it yourself, which is a whole other enterprise. […]
I’m working on a book with an awesome client and we have the best conversations as the book flows out. We talk about a lot of spiritual and universal principles as she tells me her story. One anecdote she told me last week has stayed with me. There was a time when she was confused […]
“In the beginning mind, there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” Suzuki Roshi I don’t know about you, but I consider myself an expert. Yep, I sure do. Because I’ve been writing novels for a gazillion years and teaching fiction writing for half that time. I’ve studied long enough to have […]
Here is one thing I have learned for certain in the gazillion years I’ve been writing: that resistance always has meaning. Always, always, always. It is up to you to figure out what that meaning might be. But here’s the deal: once you do figure it out, then you can explore it. And get over […]
Here's one from the archives for you: We're awfully hard on ourselves, our own worst enemies. At least I am! And I suspect I'm not so different from other creatives: I'm judgmental of myself –hyper critical at the best of times. My thoughts run all over: That thing I just said? How idiotic! What a lump […]
