We’re still in the beginning months of 2023. As you think about all the things you want to accomplish this year, your mind is probably consumed by one question: “Can I do this?” It’s not a question of whether anyone needs to give you permission. Rather, it’s a question of whether you can muster the … Read more
We’re doing a short series on New Year’s Goals for writers in 2023. Over the last couple of days, we’ve talked about writing a book, and joining a writing group, this year. Today, I want to challenge you with a topic that makes some writers uncomfortable: making money. Why does it make some writers uncomfortable? … Read more
One of the most pervasive ideas in Western culture is the concept of “finding your dreams.” No one knows for sure where this idea came from. It has probably been around in some form for as long as there have been stories about heroes and their goals. The idea goes something like this: the main … Read more
We’re doing a short series on perspectives that go against conventional wisdom. If you’re just now joining us, I encourage you to go back and catch the last few entries in this series. One of the benefits of the modern world of content creation and publishing is that you can get your material to your … Read more
We all wish for success… but sometimes we forget that it comes at a price. Take Harper Lee, for example. She published the classic American novel To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960 when she was just 34 years old. Considering that many successful authors don’t get started until their 40s, she was practically a baby … 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
Have you ever held up an hourglass and looked it closely? From a distance, the sand looks as though it was one single element that can snake through the bottleneck between the top and bottom of the hourglass. But upon closer inspection, you can see that it’s just thousands and thousands of tiny grains. The … Read more
One of the most pervasive ideas in Western culture is the concept of “finding your dreams.” No one knows for sure where this idea came from. It has probably been around in some form for as long as there have been stories about heroes and their goals. The idea goes something like this: the main … Read more
Nothing else defines you quite like your family. It’s where you got your name, your personality, your sense of a place in this world, and so much more. Some writers came from a supportive environment where his or her parents and extended family nurtured their talent. They were encouraged to write and express themselves. Others … Read more
Nobody intends to kill their big dream. After all, our dreams are what keep us going. We think about them day and night, we plan our future around them, we nurture them with books, movies, and other content that keep the dream alive. But inevitably, sometimes we kill the dream. How does this happen? The … Read more