In a writer’s life, a series of difficult little things can easily add up to one big feeling of discouragement. Then we can find ourselves smack dab in the middle of a crisis that can threaten our careers. If you’ve noticed this happening in your writing world lately, this postContinue Reading
Americans are the most stressed out people in the world. That’s the news according Gallup’s most recent annual Global Emotions report. A total of 55 percent of Americans said they’d felt a lot of stress the day before the survey. The global average was 35 percent. If the survey hadContinue Reading
How can you improve your writing life? After over 20 years as a full-time professional writer, I’ve learned some things about that. Whether you’re writing part- or full-time; fiction, nonfiction, or freelance; it doesn’t matter—the bottom line is you’re spending a lot of time using your creative brain, as wellContinue Reading
You have dreams of becoming a real “author.” But how do you get there? Here’s how it usually goes. You create a story and take it somewhere for feedback, maybe to a writer’s group, some writing friends, a contest that offers critiques, a workshop, or an editor. Your ultimate goalContinue Reading
Overcoming procrastination is critical if you hope to make your writing dreams come true. You may blame yourself for not getting your projects done, but new research shows that approach won’t help. In fact, the key to getting past procrastination may be something you’ve never tried: compassion. Why A Writer’sContinue Reading
We like things to be clear. Unfortunately, they seldom are. In writing and in life, there are always gray areas. How should you market your book? It depends on the type of book, your audience, and the marketing tasks you enjoy. How should you structure your writing day? It dependsContinue Reading
Are you sabotaging your future success before you even begin? I’ve spoken at several writer’s conferences and events over the last few years, which means I’ve talked to a lot of aspiring and experienced writers. Many come to me with questions about one facet or another of their writing careers.Continue Reading
What does it take to be a successful writer? Ask around and you’ll get a lot of answers. A writer needs a desire to write, a regular writing practice, and an ability to accept feedback and grow. She needs persistence, courage, grit, and ambition. He needs to be open toContinue Reading
Do you have a to-do list? As writers, we spend a lot of time learning what “to do” in terms of plot, characterization, setting, pacing, and more. We also try to learn what to do when it comes to social media, marketing, publishing, and other parts of the business sideContinue Reading
by Heidi DuPree Within a week of publishing my first book, The Other Medicine That Really Works: How Energy Medicine Can Help You Heal in Body, Mind and Spirit, my life was in a tailspin. I had just spent three years writing a lifetime’s worth of information and insights gainedContinue Reading
Did you set good writing goals for the New Year, or did you set goals that will only discourage and delay your progress? I talk a lot about goals in the Writing and Wellness “Start the Year off Right” bundle, which you can download for free here, but I thoughtContinue Reading
What do happy writers need almost more than anything else to enjoy creative and lasting writing careers? It’s not instruction from a bestselling author, a top-notch laptop computer, or a winning lottery ticket, though these can all help. Instead, to manage the ups and downs of the writing life andContinue Reading