Last week I went on a writer’s retreat with three writing friends. I packed up my suitcase, my laptop, my manuscript notes, my highlighters, my sticky notes, and my good attitude and headed for Pine Knoll Shores, NC. I turned on an out of office message, cleared the decks of coaching work, and prepared toContinue reading “Favorite Investment: A Writer’s Retreat”
Category Archives: creative life
Writing & Baseball
Earlier this week, I posted on Instagram: I was feeling pretty motivated after that “no,” to be honest. I was firmly in the “let’s get rejected today” mindset of using it as fuel to keep going, keep trying. And then… I got another rejection on a partial Tuesday. The doubts crept in. Cut toContinue reading “Writing & Baseball”
What I Learned About Writing From My Son’s Track Meet
My youngest and a group of his pals decided to try out for the track team this spring. Despite having an uncle for a track coach, my knowledge of the sport is limited to whatever I happen to soak in during the summer Olympics and is quickly forgotten for four years until the next round. Continue reading “What I Learned About Writing From My Son’s Track Meet”
Finding Time to Write Your Novel
At the end of January I gave a talk at a local women’s empowerment conference about the importance of creativity in our lives, regardless of whether it is our career or not. In fact, I’d argue that it needn’t be our careers. Creating for creating’s sake is a beautiful endeavor. I hate that our capitalistContinue reading “Finding Time to Write Your Novel”
Creativity is Your Super Power
We watched Spider-Man: Homecoming this weekend for family movie night. It was a re-watch for us, but I loved Peter Parker’s earnestness all over again. He’s hungry to help people, to be useful, to use his unique talents for good. While waiting for a possible call from Tony Stark (aka, Iron Man) he monitors hisContinue reading “Creativity is Your Super Power”
Finding the Writing Routine that Works for YOUR Work
Writing is about perseverance. You have to keep going. The work only gets done if you keep writing. The revision only gets done by revising. The querying is only successful if you keep sending them out. This week, I posted a quote from Neil Gaiman over on Instagram: “This is how you do it: youContinue reading “Finding the Writing Routine that Works for YOUR Work”
When the Work of Writing Isn’t Writing
I am heading to the beach for a writing retreat with some dear writing friends next week. I am excited and desperately looking forward to it. Beach. Words. Writers. What’s not to love? I’m querying my most recent project and have had enough distance from it to know that it’s time for something new. ThisContinue reading “When the Work of Writing Isn’t Writing”
Why We Need to Step Out of Our Comfort Zones to Grow as Writers
This fall, I am stepping out of my comfort zone. A lot. I am going to a large writing conference in two weeks and while the conference part isn’t inherently out of character, the stress of extroverting for that many days in a row is intimidating. I know I can, I know I will loveContinue reading “Why We Need to Step Out of Our Comfort Zones to Grow as Writers”
A Writer’s Perseverance
My son turned 17 earlier this month and this week, he finally got his driver’s license. It has been a story of perseverance and patience. COVID meant a cancellation in driver’s ed classes that pivoted to virtual with a backlog of folks on the wait list to get into a class. When he was finallyContinue reading “A Writer’s Perseverance”
What is Really Keeping You From Writing?
We all have a myriad of reasons why we aren’t getting the writing done. Some require a large dose of grace to put the work down until a better time arrives (illness, death, moving, etc…). But other roadblocks are barriers we put up ourselves. Ah writing, where the writer is both the protagonist and antagonist.Continue reading “What is Really Keeping You From Writing?”