Have you ever seen someone make pottery? It’s actually quite fascinating. It’s fun to watch them at work, and it’s often breathtaking to see the beautiful pots, vases, bowls, and other works of art they create with their bare hands.

But what comes before the beautiful, finished product? You guessed it—putting a messy lump of clay on the table and getting their hands dirty. The clay is not formed. It’s just a plain, old, unformed lump of clay. But the potter shapes it into something useful and eye-catching.

The same is true for you as a writer. You have to put some clay on the table. You have to start with a messy draft. If you don’t, you won’t have anything to work with. Get that draft done as fast as possible, so you can start working with it.

Remember, the mess always comes before the finished product. Don’t be afraid to get messy. The messy potter’s wheel is where all good writing begins.

Daily Question: Are you willing to get messy with your first draft? Do you think perfectionism sometimes prevents us from moving ahead with our writing?

The post Put Some Clay on the Table appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Book formatting is one of the last things authors think about when creating their book. However, it’s absolutely vital since that’s where readers spend all their time. My guest today is here to help us get a handle on this critical area of success for your book.

Jody Skinner is a proofreader, book designer, and avid reader. As founder of both Skinner Self-Publishing Services and Smidgen Press, she is living her best book-nerd life now. Both companies keep her hopping, from coaching first-time authors in the end stages of publishing to bringing old books back to life for the modern reader.

A proud military spouse, Jody loves meeting new people, Ubering her three teens, and drinking just one more cup of Earl Grey. Puns always appreciated.

In this conversation, Jody helps us get a better handle on book formatting. She tackles such questions as: How important is attractive and professional-looking formatting to a book’s success? What kinds of formatting programs are available to everyday writers? Why should we consider using the Vellum app?

Check out the links below to connect with Jody on social media, buy her book, and discover more about Vellum:

Try Vellum for 99 Cents

Learn More About Jody’s Self-Publishing Company, Skinner Self-Publishing Services

Find Out More About Smidgen Press

Purchase Jody’s Book on Amazon

Connect with Jody on Instagram

Follow Jody on Facebook

Check Out Smidgen Press on Facebook

Discover Smidgen Press on Instagram

The post Jody Skinner: Creating Beautiful Formatting for Your Book appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Think about the last time you went to the eye doctor. You probably thought you were seeing just fine until the exam. It turns out your vision was blurry and you didn’t even know it.

Our creativity works the same way. We get busy and distracted. We lose sight of the amazing world around us and forget to maintain a sense of wonder. Our hearts and minds get blurry.

Artist and author Joanne Miller said, “There’s something holy about seeing and listening more intentionally. God’s beauty is all around us in sight and sound, taste, touch, and smell. But unless we intentionally seek illumination we may just continue down the path of mediocrity, never experiencing the richness.”

There’s a lot of truth to the old phrase, “Stop and smell the roses.” When you pause long enough to see the beauty in the people, nature, and world around you, your pathway will be illuminated. You will see the light.

All the inspiration you seek, all the beauty you need, is right there in front of you. Will you open your eyes and pause long enough to see it?

The post The Beauty is All Around You appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.