If writing feels difficult, unpleasant, or slow, it’s time to refocus. After all, slogging through a writing project means you aren’t excited or passionate about the subject. But if you change the subject to one you are obsessed with, writing will feel easy and joyous, and you’ll write quickly. I know this is true. When I sit down to work…
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Deadlines are my friends. While many people despise them, I’ve cozied up to deadlines since I began getting published in high school. They inspire and motivate me while keeping me focused and productive. If you want to succeed as a writer, you need all those things—inspiration, motivation, focus, and productivity. I know this because I’m a journalist, blogger, and author,…
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Have you found yourself in a writing funk? You don’t have writer’s block, but writing feels hard, unpleasant, and a “should” on your to-do list. What’s up with that? After all, you love writing and dream of publishing your work, right? Yet, you just can’t get motivated or inspired to write, and when you do sit down at the computer,…
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If you are like most writers, I bet you’ve seen more than one ad or email that said, “Write that book already!” Or perhaps it promised, “You can write a book in a weekend!” In response, perhaps you thought, “Maybe someone else can write a book, but not me.” Or maybe you said, “Yeah, right. It’s impossible to write a…
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How many years in a row have you resolved to write consistently? Maybe you started a book or article manuscript or even a blog and then lost interest. You started out strong and wrote daily, and then wrote sporadically…and then stopped. Or perhaps you never managed to write consistently enough to get more than a few pages written. Whatever the…
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Let’s be honest, shall we? The reasons why you claim you can’t write consistently or publish a book are excuses. Plain and simple. And everything you desire—like being a successful writer, blogger, journalist, or author—could be yours if you take responsibility for and commit to self-mastery. No…not writing, skill, or craft or even submitting or marketing. Self-mastery is the same…
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Everyone talks about building a platform online and how that impacts book sales. However, you can also build a strong local audience by teaming up with bookstores and libraries in your community. Today Jay Artale (@BirdsOAFpress) provides all the information you need to create avid readers and book buyers with face-to-face meetings. As a writer and author, you spend so…
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As long as there are writers, there will be critics and rejection. They are part and parcel of the writing life…if you want to share your work with the world. Yet, fear of criticism and rejection are the two most prevalent reasons writers don’t write and publish their work. In fact, they can steal your creativity—if you let them. It’s…
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For writers, November is all about participating in events that challenge them to write a book in a month. For many, this is a once-per-year chance to be a productive writer and make time to finish a manuscript. Some succeed. Some do not. The positive impact of succeeding can be great. On the other hand, failing at this endeavor can…
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