Social media for authors can be great because it lets us connect with so many others around the world. It also has a downside: jealousy and bad feelings from seeing all the wins that other writers are having. We don’t see the struggle, failure, or heartaches that went into creating those wins. That’s why you … Read more
One of my all-time favorite movies is the classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Millions of people around the world watch this movie every Christmas season. Why? Not only because it’s a great story with relatable characters, but because it represents one of the most basic truths about life: the value of friendship. If you’ve seen … Read more
Have you ever stopped to wonder why we sometimes don’t do the things we really want to do? Maybe you have wanted to write a book, start a business as a writer, or work toward some other goal that’s important to you. We can all think of times when we have shrunk back and didn’t … Read more
In the previous two entries in this series, we have taken a look at the destructive nature of jealousy, and why you should focus on what you can do to make yourself successful rather than spending your emotional energy being envious. Let’s dive into three questions that will help you focus on attitudes and actions … Read more
Have you ever felt like you live in a room with invisible walls that have you trapped? You’re trapped by questions like this: Why does that so-and-so writer get all the attention? Why do they have more book sales? Why is my blog traffic so stagnant? Why isn’t anyone paying attention to me? Sound familiar? … Read more
If you’re alive and breathing, you have struggled with jealousy. It’s part of the human condition. But for most writers, jealousy is more than an occasional struggle. It’s a daily battle that threatens our very souls. It’s nearly impossible for us to separate ourselves from our creative work. It’s part of who we are. When we see … 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
This is the fourth entry in our series on dealing with rejection. One of the biggest paradoxes of feeling hurt is that everyone experiences it, but when you’re going through it, you feel totally alone. This happens to every great writer, leader, and artist. Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, and Steve Jobs all faced … Read more
There are a lot of reasons people give for avoiding the hard work of writing. One of the most common ones is a lack of time. Others include not knowing what to write about, or confusion about processes like blogging or publishing. Another reason exists that is worse than all the others combined. It also … Read more
Do you struggle with being a perfectionist? If so, here is a strategy that can help you overcome it immediately. But first, what is perfectionism? It is the tendency to get paralyzed by the idea that your work is never good enough. Perfectionists imagine there is a standard out there and they can never reach … Read more