The history of writing is replete with stories about authors who were rejected, but kept trying until they found success. Here’s just one example. A number of years ago, an aspiring author decided he wanted to write a book about the key personal decisions that determine personal success. Except he didn’t want to write it … Read more
If someone gave you an assignment to write a sentence without the letter E, how would you respond? Would you think it’s too difficult, that it can’t be done? What about a whole paragraph, a scene, or even a whole chapter? And ultimately, an entire book? It sounds impossible, doesn’t it? After all, the letter … Read more
This week, we are celebrating the release of the book The Faith of Elvis, which I co-wrote with Billy Stanley, Elvis Presley’s stepbrother. Here on the podcast, I’m sharing a few lessons I’ve learned from working on this project. If you were to guess what the most requested image in the National Archives is, what … Read more
If someone gave you the assignment to write a sentence without the letter E, how would you respond? Would you think it’s too difficult, or that it can’t be done? What about a whole paragraph, a scene, or even a whole chapter? And ultimately, an entire book? It sounds impossible, doesn’t it? After all, the … Read more
Think back to your high school years. Like most of us, you probably knew a kid in high school who was supremely gifted. His or her natural talent was head and shoulders above the rest. They might have even been voted “most likely to succeed” or “most talented.” Everyone fawned over their natural talent. Everyone … Read more
There is a common trait among successful writers, and it has nothing to do with skill, talent, genre, or style. Instead, it has everything to do with taking responsibility for your own life choices. Most people are passive observers of their own lives. They accept the choices that life hands to them. They assume what … Read more
We deal with a lot of obstacles as writers, but one of the biggest is rejection. Rejection can come in many forms. A publisher or agent can reject your book proposal. Your subscribers can reject your emails by not opening them. Your followers can reject your social media posts by not liking or sharing them. … Read more
One of the hardest things for any of us writers to swallow is being ignored. We work for months—or in some cases years—on a book. Then when we put it out into the world, only a few people seem to notice or even care. This is not unique to writers. Anyone in a creative field, … Read more