Blog

Forcing Inspiration

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12 Sep 2009
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Since I haven’t stated it in earlier blogs, I do marketing and communications work as a remote employee for Goodwill Industries International, which is located in Maryland. I didn’t mention it because work was going to stay separate from my writing life. Yeah, right. Friday was my first full day off under the new part-time work schedule and I blew it. Thought I’d be up and writing by 7:30 a.m. My mistake was checking my work email ON MY DAY OFF. There were two urgent messages. If I responded I’d be setting a precedent that work could encroach on my...
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Smother the Inner Critic and Listen to the Smart Ones

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10 Sep 2009
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I’m my own worst critic. I know that. I’ve always known that. But I’ve devoted a good deal of time nurturing a voice that stifles the critic or at least drowns it out. They really go at it some days: Critic: You’re not that great a writer. Champion: You’re a GREAT writer. Critic: You’ll never make a living at it. Champion: You can achieve anything you want. Critic: Get a sensible job. Champion: Do what you love. You can see why I feel a bit schizophrenic at times. My goal is to completely smother the critic voice one day but...
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Shine a Light on the Shadow Artist

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09 Sep 2009
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About 15 years ago, my brother gave me a book called The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I browsed through it and thought, “Eh, not for me. Too woo-woo.” I gave that copy away only to buy another one 10 years later. Flipped through the table of contents again, and thought, “Nah, too busy for those damn morning pages.” Gave away that copy, too. Then, about six weeks ago, my friend Mindy emailed and asked if I’d like to read The Artist’s Way and meet weekly to discuss our challenges or insights. I was moved that she trusted me with...
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A Thrilling, Frightening New Path

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09 Sep 2009
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Some time ago, I ran across a quote by Lao-tzu that hit me like a ton of bricks. “At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” I immediately e-mailed it to several friends. My wise friend Wendy wrote back and asked, “What’s the answer?” Without hesitation, I responded, “I must write.” This statement needs clarification. I’ve been a writer my entire life, starting as a journalist and then serving as a writer/editor for national and international nonprofits for 20 years. In October 2008, something shifted. I have...
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Connect with Me

LINKS FOR WRITERS
   
WRITING RESOURCES
  • “On Writing,” by Stephen King
  • “What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers,” by Ann Bernays and Pamela Painter
  • “250 Things You Should Know about Writing,” by Chuck Wendig
  • “Unless It Moves the Human Heart: The Craft and Art of Writing,” by Roger Rosenblatt
  • “The Fire in Fiction: Passion, Purpose, and Techniques to Make Your Novel Great,” by Donald Maass
  • “How to Grow a Novel: The Most Common Mistakes Writers Make and How to Overcome Them,” by Sol Stein