If you are familiar with the organization Alcoholics Anonymous, you have probably seen or heard about the way people sometimes introduce themselves at these meetings. “Hi, my name is Kent, and I’m an alcoholic.” Now, I’m not actually an alcoholic and I’ve never been to an AA meeting. But the phrase has been portrayed enough … Read more
Writers are people who create things. We can literally create books, articles, speeches, podcasts, or stories out of thin air. It’s what we do. Why, then, do so many writers look at the world in “glass half empty” sort of way? A writer can be the most creative person in the world when it comes … Read more
Have you ever had this experience? You just finished a writing project that is important to you. It might be creating a blog post, writing a book, getting a cover design, getting a new client, or something else. You’re sitting with someone you admire over dinner and mention that you completed it. You show them … Read more
The #1 problem that stops most people from writing has nothing to do with talent or ability. It has nothing to do with a lack of time or opportunities. But it has EVERYTHING to do with them not believing they are a writer. When you stop and think about it, this is kind of crazy. … Read more
As writers, there is a constant pressure to conform to what we think others want from us. This influencer writes about a certain topic and has had a lot of success, so we feel we have to do the same. That writer has a specific style, so we try to mimic it, because we won’t … Read more
It’s not unusual for writers to remain hidden. There is something about writing that attracts people who don’t want to be on camera, on stage, or behind a microphone. The writing world is also home to many ghostwriters, who by definition are hidden behind someone else’s name. And then there are novelists, who create characters … Read more
One of the most famous lines from Shakespeare’s Hamlet is “To be or not to be, that is the question.” More than a line in a famous play, it’s also the central idea of the writer’s life. The American novelist Paul Theroux said, “You can’t want to be a writer, you have to be one.” … Read more
On July 4th, 1776, the Second Continental Congress pronounced that it was officially independent of British rule. Known as the Declaration of Independence, this document made it clear that the thirteen colonies had their own sovereign identity. They would no longer be content to stay under the rule of another entity. July 4th is a … Read more
If you ever run a race, you’ll notice there are two kinds of runners: those who are competing against everyone else, and those who are competing against themselves. The ones who are competing against everyone else take running very seriously. They like to set records and get the glory of being known as a winner. … Read more
There is a good chance that you know someone who has a tattoo, or you have one yourself. What is the purpose of a tattoo? It’s a way to mark your identity. A tattoo can be a picture, a name, a date, or a symbol. Any of those images can be a reminder to yourself … Read more