~Writing Well Wednesday Tip~ Could you have dyslexia and not even know it? It’s possible. Maybe you’ve struggled with reading much of your life, but you’ve hid it from family and friends. Maybe you have wonderful stories in your head, but writing them down is challenging. Dyslexia is a learningContinue Reading
Do you struggle with migraine headaches? I used to get them a lot. Now, only occasionally. Fortunately through my regular health research and writing, I discovered what was causing mine and was able to find treatments that work for me. (My main one is butterbur—you can read more about thatContinue Reading
The biggest emotional challenge for me as a writer is guilt. This emotion completely derails my forward momentum. It’s as if I’m sneaking time to write in between day job, laundry, and cooking for a husband and our two boys. Add to that the guilt of leaving my characters inContinue Reading
~Writing Well Wednesday Tip~ If you’re walking on the road, you’ve got to be more careful than ever. According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association’s (GHSA’s) most recent report, nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2017. That’s a 27 percent increase over the number of pedestriansContinue Reading
Lucky writers…it’s just not fair! I’ve heard many times in my writing career that it helps if you get lucky somewhere along the way. “So how do you become a bestselling author?” writer Rod Raglin asks. “You get lucky….success is less about talent and more about opportunity plus it’s greatlyContinue Reading
Being a writer isn’t about fame and fortune, at least not for most of us. And it’s not easy. Probably the hardest part for me is the lack of validation in any timely fashion. Nobody Pats a Writer on the Back When I worked in an office, I got regularContinue Reading
In honor of Independence Day, I thought it might be cool to reflect on the pros and cons of being an independent (or freelance) writer. I’ve been a professional writer for over 21 years, and an independent writer for 18. What I mean by that is I have my ownContinue Reading
I think the biggest emotional challenge to writers and artists alike is the thought, “Is my work good enough?” I have met many people in the creative industry who worry about this and it can be paralyzing to the creation of future work. I don’t think I’ve met anyone whoContinue Reading
~Writing Well Wednesday Tip~ How many stairs did you climb today? If your answer is “zero,” that’s bad news, and not just for your physical health. Turns out that climbing stairs—and performing other exercises that work those large muscle groups in your legs—is critical for brain health. In other words,Continue Reading
Here’s something I didn’t know until now: July 2nd is World UFO Day, and the annual Roswell UFO Festival takes place July 6-8, 2018. World UFO Day is a day dedicated to UFOs (unidentified flying objects), and is usually celebrated with parties and sky-watching events. The Roswell UFO festival invitesContinue Reading
I first started writing, I had troubles dealing with rejection. One critical word was enough to have me tossing my stories and sending me into long bouts of depression. It took time to develop a thick skin and to turn critiques into something that motivated me, encouraged me to becomeContinue Reading
~Writing Well Wednesday Tip~ There are a number of health benefits to keeping a journal. Studies have found that a regular journaling practice can help reduce stress and anxiety, clarify your thoughts and feelings, improve mood and emotional well-being, and help increase healing from both physical and mental traumas. ManyContinue Reading