April 21, 2017
In the last couple of months, it feels like I have done everything possible to sabotage my writing time. I decided to move. That meant getting my place ready for showings, getting it up on the market, selling it (yay!), and then finding a new place and packing. Every one of these steps takes time: hours and sometimes days. Add…
March 17, 2017
Welcome to Coach’s Corner, where I offer some thoughts on the creative process and breaking through moments of self-doubt. In Part 1 of this series on when life sucks you back in, I talked about freeing ourselves when family and friends pull us away from our writing. There is a greater force that life uses to pull us away from our…
March 3, 2017
Dear Sherry, I’ve been working on this novel for almost two years now. I’ve finished the first draft. I’ve filled in the plot holes. I’ve added description, and fleshed out the characters. I’ve sent it to my critique group for feedback, edited based on that feedback, sent it back to them and edited it again. That should be enough, right?…
February 17, 2017
Welcome to Coach’s Corner, where I offer some thoughts on the creative process and breaking through moments of self-doubt. Never has there been a quote more apt for writers than the one by Michael Corleone in The Godfather: Part III: “Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in.” No, I’m not talking about the mafia here.…
January 20, 2017
Welcome to Coach’s Corner, where I offer some thoughts on the creative process and breaking through moments of self-doubt. One of the things I do with my coaching clients is make sure that they set achievable goals for themselves. Many factors need to be considered, especially making sure whatever physical, emotional, and psychological roadblocks that come up can be dealt with.…
December 23, 2016
Welcome to Coach’s Corner, where I offer some thoughts on the creative process and breaking through moments of self-doubt. By most accounts, 2016 has been a rough year that we’re all happy to see the back of. I wonder if this year has really been as bad as at it seems, or if it just feels so terrible because of…
December 9, 2016
Dear Sherry, I don’t know if I can take it any more. I’ve been submitting stories for a few years now, but I keep getting rejections. I’ve read the magazines I submit to so I know what the editors like, and yet they reject me. I’ve been taking classes and have been working hard to improve my writing, but I…
December 6, 2016
It’s that time of year again. The time of year where I scour the Internet for gifts, find cute stuff I want for myself, and lament my lack of limitless funds and space. Should I stop eying the Star Wars merchandise? Logically yes, but…that Darth Vader tree topper calls to me. It’s a time of great internal struggle, but rather…
November 11, 2016
Welcome to Coach’s Corner, where I offer some thoughts on the creative process and breaking through moments of self-doubt. Defeating writer’s block is a huge industry. There are dozens upon dozens of books available at the bookstore on it (including mine). There are hundreds of workshops advertised on Facebook every day that are dedicated to it (including mine). Most writers…
October 21, 2016
Dear Sherry, I’ve been writing for several years now. I have a handful of books published. Lately, the writing has just been, well, hard. This isn’t about writer’s block. I can get the words on the page if I have to, so I know it isn’t being “blocked” that’s slowing me down. Frankly, I’m burned out on writing. What are some…