You’re blogging consistently, but you feel like you’re talking to the wind. Few people actually read your blogs. You don’t understand it. You’re doing the best writing you can do, so why aren’t they interested? I’ve found blogging to be the best way to get more readers for my books.Continue Reading
by Melissa Muldoon Nobody warns you when you set out to write a novel that it could be detrimental to your health! I found out the painful way! During the past five years, I’ve been glued to my computer pounding out three novels set in Italy that celebrate art andContinue Reading
Should you start napping, if you haven’t already? Research shows that the health benefits are many and the effects can be cumulative. It is important, though, not to allow your naps to last too long. If you do, they can damage rather than enhance your health and creativity. How longContinue Reading
Self-doubt by far is the biggest emotional hurdle I deal with. It creeps up on me right before I publish something—whether it’s a book or a blog post. I really have to talk myself through it right before I hit that publish button. Fortunately, it hasn’t ever completely derailed myContinue Reading
Struggling to make any real writing progress in your busy life? Writers dream of having uninterrupted months to attend solely to writing. If you’ve ever managed to grant yourself an extended weekend or even a week or two to write, however, you may have noticed—it doesn’t make it easier toContinue Reading
Here’s what we writers tend to do: We work super hard for long periods. We strive, push, try new things, spend our nights and weekends learning and writing and editing and publishing, take classes, go to conferences, write and write some more, blog, present, do public readings, and on andContinue Reading
I’ve been writing for over 25 years now, and I did some reflecting recently. As they say, hindsight is 20/20, and I can see now where I made some important mistakes early on. I’m sharing those mistakes with you here, in the hopes of saving you from making the sameContinue Reading
I’ve wrestled with self-doubt, especially since I used to compare myself to other, more experienced, writers. When I wrote my first book, I expected certain people in my life to be happy for me, but instead, they didn’t even acknowledge my accomplishment. That hurt me. Anxiety also torments me fromContinue Reading
We writers rely on our emotions. They propel our stories. They help us empathize with our characters. They pave the way to story themes. Our emotions keep us dreaming big. They provide the rich tapestry from which our creativity emerges. Without emotion, a writer is no more than a wordsmith.Continue Reading
It takes a certain kind of person to slave over something very personal for a long time and then hurl it out the door for every aspiring critic in the universe to have a shot at. You trust your editor, your spouse, and your friends to give you helpful advice,Continue Reading
If you’re struggling with stress and anxiety, you need healthy activities to help you relax. Below are five easy ones you can do anytime that are proven to not only help you relax but to create other health benefits as well. Healthy Activities to Relax Tip 1. Take a HotContinue Reading
by Rebecca Olmstead I had completed my first mystery novel and done a marathon of three writers’ conferences, my first ever, pitching my baby to less-than-enthusiastic agents and editors. Still, I loved my book, the first in a planned series. Nothing was going to stand in the way of myContinue Reading