The Secret to Writing Success Time for some tough love. There’s only one way to become a successful writer. You have to write.  If you never get words on the page, you can never share your story.   It’s not always … Continue reading →

Confidence Comes From Adversity Scenario 1: my daughter orders a beloved book online; a few days later it arrives. She reads it. Scenario 2: my daughter orders a beloved book online; it doesn’t come for weeks. She checks the mailbox … Continue reading →

…Accomplishment Better I’m an achievement junkie. I set goals and I work hard to achieve them. When I do, I get my high. It’s why I make to-do lists. The hit I get from crossing off a completed item is … Continue reading →

Finding the Right Writing Support Eons ago, I had no other writing support besides my husband. The problem was, he didn’t share my interest in the craft.  But I’d still bug him to read my writing. And not just read it. I’d … Continue reading →

…Writing Is, Too When I was in high school, I walked into my Grade 12 English class, stoked to learn my boyfriend would be in the same class. But the next day, he handed me a note saying that “God … Continue reading →

Enjoy Your Dreams! There are dreams you can’t fully control (ahem, famous bestselling author, perhaps) but that doesn’t mean you should ditch them. Heaven knows writing is hard enough; why not occasionally indulge in a break from reality?  Speaking of … Continue reading →

Hierarchy of Dreams We often avoid the distinction between dreams and that can lead to frustration and disappointment. Yet if we call out our dreams for what they are, we can manage expectations. Here’s the ladder of dreams: Utterly impossible, so … Continue reading →

We Do Our Best The 1984 movie Amadeus is about the 18th century fictional rivalry between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and fellow composer Antonio Salieri. Mozart, a transcendental genius, is also portrayed as obscene and immature, and Salieri, who devoted his music to God, … Continue reading →

When It’s Hard to Enjoy Writing How do you write an engaging story?  The same way you eat an elephant.  One bite at a time.  One word at a time. One idea at a time.  We live in a society … Continue reading →

Writing can be Manageable Here’s what writing is like: cleaning out a closet.  And you know how much fun that is, right? 🙂 Bear with me: our heads are stuffed full of ideas—some terrific, some garbage, some that just don’t fit … Continue reading →