If you’re a writer, you’ve probably heard that writers and people pleasing don’t usually go together. One is about self expression. The other is about self abandonment. But here’s something I didn’t know until recently: the same traits that make you creative can also make you a world-class people pleaser.Continue Reading
I ask my students a simple question: Who are your heroes? Most say what you’d expect—YouTubers, bands, maybe a pro gamer or two. But recently, one quiet student, just 13 years old, surprised me. She’s one of my music students, not someone I expected to name a writer. “Bonnie MacBird,”Continue Reading
Are you ignoring your mindset type? Imagine this: You walk into your neighborhood gym. Bright lights. Rows of machines. And then he appears—your personal trainer. His name is Chad. “All right,” he says. “Here’s your plan: Wake up at 5:00 a.m., work the treadmill for three miles, no excuses. Don’tContinue Reading
Memoirist Bridey Thelen-Heidel shares her story of embracing fearless writing—something all of us writers can embrace for the good of our creativity and careers! by Bridey Thelen-Heidel “I got another rejection!” I shouted, adding a seventh tally to the cabinet door in my classroom. “WOOHOO!” my AP Literature students cheered.Continue Reading
If you’re struggling with self-doubt and fear, romance writer Stephanie Fowers can help. She’s been there and has discovered some great coping techniques! by Stephanie Fowers What are my doubts right now? What are my fears? These are the questions I ask myself when I feel the self-doubt creeping upContinue Reading
This year, I’d like to help you reach your writing goals. I know it’s not easy. See if this sounds familiar: You set a writing goal, go after it with lots of energy, then when life interferes (as it always does), you get sidetracked. Soon you’re making only sporadic (ifContinue Reading
What is the key to being a successful writer? Building an identity as a successful writer. But what does that mean? Dreaming is Not Enough Kaylie was discouraged. She’d been dreaming of a successful writing career for years. In high school, she won a contest for a short story sheContinue Reading
by Ruth Bullivant What does a good book coach do for an author? I hope there aren’t any bad book coaches! There aren’t many of us around yet and if you find one trained by Author Accelerator, they are going to be good. Book Coaches Work with Writers While TheyContinue Reading
by Jane Tucker My retirement plans were twenty years in the making. In my imaginings, I knew exactly how each day would be scheduled, down to the hour. But the reality turned out, as you may have guessed, differently. The first year and a half were spectacular. We traded theContinue 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
by Jackie Johansen At its core, astrology is the study of nature. We are nature. As within so without. As above so below. Just as we know the moon affects the tides (and that we are also mostly water), our moods and physiology can be affected by the moon. TheContinue Reading
Setting goals for the New Year isn’t as popular as it used to be. A decade ago, if you looked for information on goal-setting, you’d find all sorts of advice on “how” to set the right kind of goals—those that were more likely to bring you success. Today, if youContinue Reading