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Articles from Joyce Shafer, Book Doctor | Selfgrowth.com
- Are You a Pantser or an Outliner? - by Submitted on Jun 21, 2016 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorFor some writers, the word “outline” is akin to a four-letter word. It doesn’t have to be that way. Yes, there are successful authors—and I do mean best-selling authors—whose practice is to let their fingers fly and write by the seat of their pants (known as pantsers), but they are few in ...
Views: 809 - Do You Really Need an Editor for Your Novel or Non-Fiction Book? - by Submitted on Feb 19, 2016 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorYou’ve probably read or heard that you should have your manuscript edited. Do you agree or disagree with that statement? I’ll get to the editing part in a moment. There’s something else to cover first. Something you really need to know, especially if you’re a novice author. You see, it’s the ...
Views: 732 - Writing Fiction Is Not Like Playing Make-Believe - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2015 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorAll fiction writers have much to pay attention to in order to create a reader-worthy novel. Something significant new fiction writers sometimes forget to pay attention to are the details. Let’s go back in time a bit. Many of us played make-believe as children. We’d come up with an idea then ...
Views: 712 - An Easy Way New Fiction Writers Can and Should Expand Their Writing Vocabulary - by Submitted on Nov 04, 2015 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorIf you’ve heard this advice for new writers before, it bears repeating: Read novels by other authors, especially, but not solely, in your genre. This is beneficial, but there’s something else you could or should do while you read, to help you improve your writing vocabulary. We all have a ...
Views: 786 - Nifty Manuscript Revision and Proofreading Tips for Novels - by Submitted on Oct 30, 2015 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorYou’ve completed the first draft of your novel. Now you’re supposed to follow that pesky rule that requires you do something called a revision—more than once. How can you make this easier? The first thing you need to know is that there are no real shortcuts when it comes to the revision ...
Views: 813 - What Exactly Is a Ghost Rewriter, and Why Would You Ever Use This Service? - by Submitted on Oct 15, 2015 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorYou’re likely aware there are ghostwriters (I love the movie, The Ghost Writer, with Ewan McGregor), but are you aware there are ghost rewriters who provide services as well? Let’s look at what they can do for authors. You seldom see the term “ghost rewriter” used, if you’ve ever seen it at ...
Views: 874 - Some Beneficial Tips for New Fiction Authors - by Submitted on Oct 10, 2015 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorLet’s start with what is for some writers akin to a four-letter word: Outline. Yes, there are successful authors—and I do mean best-selling authors—whose practice is to let their fingers fly and write by the seat of their pants (known as pantsers), but they are few in number. These authors may ...
Views: 726 - What Reading Does for Writers - by Submitted on Mar 27, 2015 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorHow gratifying it is to read a book that grabs your interest from the start and keeps you turning pages. Such books cause you to forget you’re reading; you become fully engaged with the story and characters. The movie in your mind is fluid. No matter the genre, such an experience is pure bliss ...
Views: 633 - Common Mistakes New and Indie Writers Sometimes Make - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2015 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorThere is a lot to keep in mind when you write a novel, memoir, or other non-fiction book. Enthusiasm is great to have and necessary for getting that first draft and subsequent revisions done. But here are some common issues I frequently see in manuscripts from clients. Are any of them ones you ...
Views: 699 - What Legacy Are You Creating Right Now? - by Submitted on Feb 06, 2015 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorIt’s easy to see how some people create a legacy through how they live their lives, but are you aware of how you are doing this? Does a legacy have to be grand to count? Maybe what follows will answer that question. Years back I watched a PBS series titled "Road Trip," where the narrator took ...
Views: 1162 - How Spiritual Practice Works Best - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2015 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorSpiritual practice is something we fine tune as we go along in life. We learn what works and what doesn’t. But there are a few aspects that we must always be consistent about in our practice. Ernest Holmes said in The Science of Mind that “Perfect belief is the beginning and the end of all ...
Views: 714 - How to Succeed AT Life - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2015 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorWe all think we know what success is. There are certainly enough definitions of it and opinions about how to succeed IN life. But, how can we truly succeed AT life? We can succeed AT life by being true to ourselves. It’s not always as simple or easy to do this as we might imagine or wish; but ...
Views: 876(1 vote) - What Fears Are You Willing to Let Go Of? - by Submitted on Jan 09, 2015 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorIt’s a new year. Do you really want to carry all the same fears you had in the last year into this one? Which ones can you let go of that you will let go of? There’s nothing like getting ready to write an article like this one then having to live its message before you write the first word. ...
Views: 727 - Some Facts about Working with an Editor - by Submitted on Dec 22, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorIf you’ve never worked with an editor and you’re wondering things like what’s involved, how much it will cost, how long it will take, and other such aspects, here are some helpful facts for you to know. The more informed you are, the easier the editing process will be for you. First, it’s ...
Views: 554 - What Does Being In Flow Really Mean? - by Submitted on Dec 12, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book Doctor“Get into the flow” has been a catchy phrase for several decades. We think we know what it means: good stuff happens, right? Is that all it’s about? If you’ve ever been aware that you were in flow, you know how good that feels. We’re actually always in the flow, but the fact is we don’t ...
Views: 1021(2 votes) - The Simple Meaning of True Magic - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorWhen we get Law of Attraction to work the way we prefer, it feels like true magic, doesn’t it? Here’s something that puts what really makes it work, what our true magic is, into practical perspective. Trying to figure out how to make Law of Attraction work for us, in our favor that is (it is ...
Views: 1124 - Do You Ever Feel Restricted or Limited? - by Submitted on Nov 21, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorHow easy is it, really, for you to manage your thoughts when negativity sneaks up on you and bites you on the bum? Maybe this will help. You’re going along just fine then wham! Something or someone throws you off kilter, and you feel restricted in some way. This feeling of restriction causes ...
Views: 1125(2 votes) - What Is the Main Thing You Should Focus On? - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorBob Proctor said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” We are best served if the main thing is what we focus on. So, what is the “main thing?” Is the main thing one of these: Actions? Beliefs? Desires? Goals? Results? Nope. The Main Thing is stated in this additional ...
Views: 1081(2 votes) - What Are the Three Levels of Thankfulness, and How Do They Influence You? - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorAs children, we were taught it’s important to say thank you, but not so much about the importance of feeling thankful. As adults, it’s time to give this a closer look, to better understand its more subtle significance to us and our lives. There may be some buried treasure to ...
Views: 1052(2 votes) - What Is Your Mental Atmosphere? - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorWhy do the same types of events or same types of people—ones we don’t want to experience—keep turning up in our lives? We work on ourselves, we know about Law of Attraction; so, what the bleep is going on? That’s a big topic, of course, but we need to start somewhere: We’ll start with mental ...
Views: 1112 - What’s in Your Memory Bank Account? - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorThose darn negative thoughts that just won’t go away, no matter how much inner work you do, are just plain annoying. What’s up with that? Best-selling author Barbara Berger (with Tim Ray) wrote in her book, The Awakening Human Being: A Guide to the Power of Mind, about the Law of Thoughts ...
Views: 989(1 vote) - Setting the Scene: Fiction and Non-Fiction (Including Memoirs) - by Submitted on Oct 20, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorScene setting, whether that’s for fiction or non-fiction, which includes memoir, is all-important to give readers a sense of time and place as they read. And, you want to provide setting early in each scene or segment, and as you go. You can provide scene setting through narrative, as well as ...
Views: 775 - What Am I Meant to Do in This Life? - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorLife Purpose: It’s a topic on the minds of many. It’s a question (and an industry) that’s like the siren’s song, luring us into its depths. What is this yearning really about? I don’t think the question of life purpose is as deep as we make it out to be. I think what drives the question, ...
Views: 2658(1 vote) - What to Do When Affirmations Don’t Cut It - by Submitted on Oct 10, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorSometimes affirmations seem like the best thing to do, and then they don’t. Nor do they always quiet that annoying negative voice in the mind; but there’s something that does. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get really excited about one or more new affirmations. This is usually when ...
Views: 957 - Writing Tense - by Submitted on Sep 28, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorWriting tense doesn’t refer to how tense a writer may feel when writing, but is instead about the tense the story is written in. There are a few no-no’s about this that writers, especially new writers, should be aware of. It doesn’t occur often, but occasionally a client sends me a ...
Views: 589 - Characters and Dialogue - by Submitted on Sep 23, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorA novel, and even a memoir, will have characters and dialogue. You want to make sure dialogue is easy to read, sounds natural, and does what it’s meant to. Good character development in fiction includes making characters’ voices so distinctive that readers can tell who’s talking without ...
Views: 696 - The Importance of Setting in a Fiction or Nonfiction Book - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorSetting is where the story and each scene take place, which you know. But do you grasp that setting can set the tone and mood readers experience, and can reveal and or trigger characters’ moods? You want to give enough (not too much) description for each scene to set the appearance, atmosphere, ...
Views: 2343 - Don’t Put the Cart before the Horse with Your Manuscript - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorA writer, especially a new writer, is understandably excited and eager to get his/her manuscript to an agent for consideration or self-published. But, it’s imperative you submit writing that shows an agent there’s reason to be interested in you as a promising writer, or make certain it’s ready ...
Views: 573 - The Importance of Suspense in a Novel - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorWhat makes suspense work in a novel? There’s quite a lot to know about this, but here are some highlights. Every story benefits from some level of suspense. Plot relies on it. For suspense to work well, readers have to care about or be curious about what will happen to one or more characters. ...
Views: 3292 - The Importance of Plot in a Novel - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorWhat makes plot development work in a novel? There’s quite a lot to know about this, but here are some high-points. A strong novel writer causes readers to feel they experience a slice of someone else’s (one or more characters) “real” life. Even Science Fiction and Fantasy must accomplish ...
Views: 593 - How to Develop Strong Characters in Your Novel - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorPeople fall in love with novels because of the characters. This means it’s imperative for you to know how to develop them, and why. Plot development is important, but action and events, alone, cannot hold readers’ interest or keep them interested in a series that involves one or more ...
Views: 631 - Proper Use of Abbreviations in Fiction and Nonfiction - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorTo abbreviate or not to abbreviate—that is the question. In this day and age of texting, people are becoming adept at using abbreviations. However, this is not appropriate, for the most part, when writing fiction or nonfiction, unless your characters have dialogues that involve texting. You have ...
Views: 3520 - Tips for Creating and Proofreading Your Manuscript Draft - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorBest-selling author James Michener said, “I’m not a very good writer, but I’m an excellent rewriter.” Many writers impede their progress and stifle their creativity by not doing two particular “somethings” while writing their first draft and once their draft is completed—and waste time and ...
Views: 597 - Costs of Becoming a Writer - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorThere’s a lot involved in becoming a self-published or traditionally published author, but there’s nothing like seeing your efforts in a paperback or hardback copy you hold in your hands. Your dream becomes your reality, and it’s a feeling of accomplishment you don’t soon forget. But it’s also a ...
Views: 725 - The Basics of Good Storytelling - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorWhether it’s fiction, non-fiction, or a memoir you’re writing, a good story is deemed good when it is told well. There are things to keep in mind to assure this is your result. As a writer, do you understand the basics about storytelling? Shouldn’t you just write what you feel like writing? ...
Views: 567 - Some Basics for New Writers - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorI love new writers. I really do (I was one, once upon a time). They are my favorite clients because they need the most assistance and guidance, and usually have tremendous enthusiasm about moving forward. They also don’t know what they don’t know. Some new writers have a fair understanding ...
Views: 600 - What Does Being Authentic Really Mean? - by Submitted on Sep 19, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorDo you ever judge yourself as not being as authentic as you believe you should be? Do you know why you feel this way? Here’s something to think about. I was reading about character vs. characterization in novel writing, and this led me to contemplate what it means to be authentic. When ...
Views: 672 - Contentment: The Secret Sauce of Life - by Submitted on Aug 29, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorMy dictionary offers a definition of content as having or showing no desire for something more or different. Hmm…Is that an accurate enough definition? I say no. How content do you feel right now? How contented would you say most of the people you know are right now? How many truly contented ...
Views: 973 - How Perfect Do You Believe You Have to Be? - by Submitted on Aug 24, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorDid anyone ever tell you, “If you’re not going to or can’t do it right, don’t do it at all”? That “advice” can be appropriate at times, but the rest of the time, it sets you up for self-sabotage and lack, actual or perceived. Obviously, there are times when you hope that’s the motto of a ...
Views: 883 - Something Wonderful Happens Today! - by Submitted on Aug 08, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorEmma Curtis Hopkins’ words may not be easy to hear and digest, but they are on point: “The world in which we live is the exact record of our thoughts. If we do not like the world we live in, then we do not like our thoughts.” I’m sure some are ready to disagree with that. "It never stops," a ...
Views: 939 - How Do We Release the Past? - by Submitted on Aug 01, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorHow often we hear that it’s important and freeing to release the past. But, how exactly do we do that? If doing this hasn’t been easy for you, maybe this will help. I’ve recently written about thoughts that have come to me from Catherine Ponder’s book, The Secret to Unlimited Prosperity, ...
Views: 846 - Mental Attitude, Beliefs, and Faith: A Foolproof Way to Shift What You Believe in Your Favor - by Submitted on Jul 04, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorWhat do mental attitude, beliefs, and faith have as a common denominator? Self-talk—that great self-saboteur. Ready to take your conscious and subconscious self-talk to a whole new level? Often, the topics of mental attitude, beliefs, and faith can feel like something outside of us. Let’s ...
Views: 848 - What Really Blocks the Good Stuff From You and Your Life? - by Submitted on Jun 27, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorMaybe you’ve been on the spirituality/metaphysical/Law of Attraction path for quite a while, yet don’t feel as in the flow as you’d like to or that it’s easy to get in the flow, no matter what you know. What’s up with that? You may or may not like what this is really about, but until you take ...
Views: 863 - The Awakening Human Being: A Guide to the Power of Mind - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorThe author Barbara Berger (with Tim Ray) asks some important questions, including: Do you live your life, or do you live your interpretation of it? Do you look for happiness in all the wrong places? Do you know the right places to look? If you do look in the wrong places, it’s because that’s ...
Views: 1218 - Children of a Living Universe: Discovering Our Legacy Will Change Our Future - by Submitted on Jun 03, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorDoes the prevailing history of the Earth and human origins, and human capabilities, satisfy you? Or do you feel—or know—there’s more to the story, our story? “Desiring to stake out areas of specialized knowledge and control, we have suppressed the consciousness of our cosmos.” Not only is this a ...
Views: 1233 - What’s Your Inner Game? - by Submitted on May 23, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorAccomplishing what we desire for ourselves or our lives is sometimes or often a struggle. Strategy is important, but your inner game has all to do with it, as well. Maybe it’s time to review yours. Coach Jeanna Gabellini offered a free e-book with the intriguing title, “10-Minute Money ...
Views: 927 - The Wisdom of Sound and Number: Phonetic Chaldean Numerology—Reclaiming an Ancient Oracle - by Submitted on May 21, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorThis is by no means your typical, light book about numerology, an ancient system that addresses the questions: Who am I, Why am I here, What is my mission in life. The author, Leeya Brooke Thompson, was assisted in her research by Dr. Loren Fisher, a scholar and former professor of ancient ...
Views: 2047 - Whenever There’s A Storm, Open Both Doors - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorThe article title is not advice for inclement weather, but for times when life brings inner storms into our experience. It’s advice to keep in mind for good reason. A character in the PBS program “Call the Midwife” was a former prisoner of war and was talking with a midwife who’d been put ...
Views: 1898 - Breaking the Chains to Freedom: Finding the Power within You by Esther Adler - by Submitted on May 06, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorEsther Adler’s book, Breaking the Chains to Freedom: Finding the Power within You, is part memoir, part self-help, which focuses on how to switch from victim mentality to a spiritual warrior mindset. Adler is a bright spirit born into a strict Orthodox Jewish family and culture filled with ...
Views: 1337 - Out of the Kiln: Vessels of Hope by Wendi Romero - by Submitted on May 06, 2014 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorIn the 75 poems that reflect on life transitions and moments of keen awareness, found in Out of the Kiln: Vessels of Hope, accomplished poet Wendi Romero writes so that words no longer remain on the page but merge with the “tissues and bones” of the reader. Romero captures texture and substance ...
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