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Articles from Joyce Shafer, Book Doctor | Selfgrowth.com
- What Have You Done to Earn the Good Stuff in Life? - by Submitted on Feb 25, 2009 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorIt’s been said repeatedly that you’d have most of what you want in life if there wasn’t a belief, or more than one, blocking you. One of the biggest blocks for many is the one that says, “I don’t deserve.” Anyone who’s practiced attracting what they want knows they have to allow it; they have ...
Views: 1073(1 vote) - Write, Get Published, And Promote - by Submitted on Jun 27, 2008 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorThe title of this article is the reality of writers culled down to five words. You want to see your article available online or in print or hold a copy of your book in your hands. The next desired reality is to see a response to all the energy, time, creativity, and passion you put into what ...
Views: 841(1 vote) - 2 Components of Real Change - by Submitted on Aug 26, 2011 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorThere’s one particular thing that often stands in the way of any desired change; and, its partner has near-equal influence. Do you know what these are? Consideration about the ignition switch for real change started with an email from an associate saying he was in a state of flux and it ...
Views: 1785 - 7 Steps to Reinvent Your Retirement Years - by Submitted on Feb 12, 2009 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorWhether you’ve retired voluntarily or not, do you have a plan about how to make the most of your life experience? Is there something you’ve always wanted to do, a little flame inside that begs you to let it glow? Maybe you were able to demonstrate your unique qualities, talents, skills, and ...
Views: 1081 - 7 Tips to Manage Overwhelm - by Submitted on Aug 05, 2011 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorOverwhelm blocks productivity, creativity, enjoyment… and even income! You can begin to improve this starting today. In my article, “What Does Feeling Overwhelmed Really Mean?”, I mentioned I’d created a mind map. Since then, I revisited my mind map and removed a few things listed there. ...
Views: 1567 - A Different Form of Stress and Management - by Submitted on Sep 14, 2012 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorLike any emotion, stress is an individual, personal experience. But there’s one KEY stressor we’d benefit from knowing more and doing something about. One stressor all of us have in common is the stories we tell ourselves and others that tend to be based on our interpretation of the facts of ...
Views: 1601 - A Different Kind Of Color Therapy - by Submitted on Oct 09, 2007 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorI did my daily practice of walking to the waterfront to sit on a bench and let go of thinking, as much as possible. My mind (like many others) is usually a-whirl with thought, so deliberately letting go for a period of time is beneficial. Then I decided to add something I never though of before: ...
Views: 864 - 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: 1518 - 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: 1595 - Are You an Innie or an Outie? - by Submitted on May 06, 2008 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorDuring a conversation with someone who wishes to move out of a lifetime of negative behaviors and beliefs, I realized as she spoke, that what it takes for her to feel better is for something outside of herself to improve or indicate a circumstance is getting better. Anyone even minimally ...
Views: 768 - Are You in Drive or Reverse? - by Submitted on Nov 13, 2011 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorAre you traveling through life or are you on a journey? Are you looking forward or at the past? Your answers reveal a lot about the direction you’re going in and what kind of experiences you’ll have. Maybe you can relate… It was a major life change for me to move from New York City to my ...
Views: 1755 - Are You Stuck in Survival Mode? - by Submitted on Jun 13, 2011 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorAnother word for survival mode is stress. When stressed, we tend to become something we don’t really want to be: self-absorbed. There is a way out. An associate brought me up to date on her project. I offered a particular level of assistance. Here’s what she wrote back: “You’re so sweet to ...
Views: 17718 - Are You Talking About Me? - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2008 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorThere are times when what others say or do triggers us and we feel a need to comment or even rant. Can we do this better, from a place of personal power? You bet. Any time we speak about others, no matter what we say, we speak loudest about ourselves. This realization came to me after a ...
Views: 742 - Are You Traveling Or On A Journey? - by Submitted on May 28, 2008 from Joyce Shafer, Book Doctor“Bill, you asked me if I was just traveling or if I was on a journey. Aren’t they the same thing?” “Not at all, A. J. Not at all.” “And the difference would be...” “When people are just travelin, they start out with the notion they’re gonna end up someplace by a certain time. They get ...
Views: 779 - Ask and You Receive - by Submitted on Aug 07, 2007 from Joyce Shafer, Book Doctor“He who asks questions cannot avoid the answers.” Cameroon Proverb My friend and I talked about what’s next for him. His story is, indeed, part of history. Years ago, he easily earned a million a year in the entertainment industry. Then his head and heart alignment about his work went out of ...
Views: 759 - At Least Open A Window! - by Submitted on Jan 31, 2008 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorMid-January, I posted an article, “Success Really Does Come in Cans,” where I mentioned conversations with two individuals. One was a Can’t-Do person; the other was a Can-Do type. I haven’t heard from the former, but I heard from the latter. She called to say she was utterly confused and ...
Views: 768 - Be on the Agenda Alert - by Submitted on Jan 03, 2009 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorAn agenda that lists things to get done is terrific; but that's not the kind of agenda this article is about. I recall being angry with someone, so angry in fact, that I harbored that feeling for a long time. My attention to this was triggered when I faced a particular challenge after the ...
Views: 790 - Boldness is its Own Reward - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2009 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorWhen you read the article title, does it rev you up or make you want to crawl back under the covers? Let’s look at what it means and go from there. The dictionary offers several meanings for the word bold, not all of them nice. One of its definitions is fearless. There’s a difference between ...
Views: 2301 - Can't See Your Life for the Clutter? - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2007 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorThe New Year is around the corner and a time we consider new beginnings or fresh starts in one or more areas of our lives. A good way to get into this is to see if there’s any outer or inner clutter that holds us back. Outer *Do you search for items you use every day like keys? How much time, ...
Views: 659 - 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: 1454 - Choosing Faith, Choosing Fear, And Field Of Dreams - A Personal Story - by Submitted on Aug 13, 2008 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorBefore “What the Bleep” . . . before “The Secret” and any other similar movie since . . . there was a film that provided The Key. And, it was so subtle (yet obvious, now) I only just got it nearly two decades later. And, just when I needed it. If you’re not ...
Views: 1564 - 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: 1422 - 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: 1430 - Darn Darkness! - by Submitted on Jun 18, 2007 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorConfucius said, “It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.” Some might consider the quote’s candle a metaphor for the word “hope.” It could be that. It could also be trust in whatever we believe is larger than ourselves; a small action taken on our behalf as opposed to ...
Views: 942 - Distilling Thoughts - by Submitted on May 08, 2007 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorPart of my ritual is to write the same I Am statement 20 times in order to focus on what’s intended, claim it, and do so until it’s the result that’s lived. Rather than doing this by rote, I allow my mind to engage with what’s taking place. I listen to what’s happening at the inner level as I ...
Views: 917 - Do You Possess Your Life or Endure It? - by Submitted on Oct 23, 2008 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorIt may seem like we’re watching things crumble and tumble around us. What if we, even as and especially as individuals, now stand at the threshold of expanding our personal power and potential, no matter what? What if expanding this inner power is the very thing we should do? Are you ...
Views: 805 - 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: 1438 - 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: 1157 - Fearless Living - by Submitted on Jan 13, 2006 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorFear is natural and necessary. Why? It helps keep us safe. But, fear is supposed to protect us from danger, not keep us from living fulfilling lives. My Life Coach training was through iPEC (Institute for Professional Empowerment Coaching). Bruce Schneider, founder, presented keys to success ...
Views: 975 - Funny What Laughter Can Shift - by Submitted on May 15, 2007 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorMy friend and I were to attend an event near her house, so I went to stay with her for that purpose and a mini-break. Another houseguest she met a month ago was there. I’d heard a bit about the guest, but wasn’t prepared for how over-the-top she is. I discovered the guest doesn’t have “soft” as ...
Views: 997 - Gratitude...or Appreciation - by Submitted on Jan 07, 2006 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorA funny thing happened on the way to writing an article about Gratitude. I changed my consciousness. For quite a while, I’ve been attaching "I am grateful for"in front of all of my affirmations. I had heard, and accepted, the words of others who spoke about the importance of gratitude. But ...
Views: 810 - Happiness Comes In Bites - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2008 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorChoosing happiness when its not your habit is like the old joke about how you eat an elephant cone bite at a time. A friend shared she finds it challenging to switch from negative, unhappy mode (usual habit) to positive, happy mode (preferred habit) and gets frustrated when she feels anything ...
Views: 716 - How and Where Does Your Garden Grow? - by Submitted on Jul 16, 2007 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorAre you a peach attempting to grow in a banana field instead of an orchard? On a whim, I placed one of the extra copies of my book, “I Don’t Want to be Your Guru, but I Have Something to Say,” in the laundry room of my building. A woman I speak with every time we meet up was who found it, and ...
Views: 822 - How do I Find or Define My Life Purpose? - by Submitted on Jun 19, 2009 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorWhat is your motivation to discover or define your life purpose? Is this influenced, in any way, by the opinions of others? Someone I believe to be in her forties, shared that amid the busyness of her life, she’s trying to figure out what to do for the rest of her life (I suspect she really ...
Views: 1075 - How to Be the Experience You Wish to Have - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2008 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorEver have one of those moments, events, or days when it appears if it can go wrong it seems to? Were you pleased with how you managed yourself, and the outcome? The event was one I not only looked forward to, but carefully planned for. My handouts, business cards, and artificial bonsai tree ...
Views: 816 - 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: 1296 - How to Have What You REALLY Want - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2007 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorThe first step towards a balanced life is to become clear on what it is that you really want. If you’re like most people, you tend to think that what you want is a thing like a house or car, a relationship, a particular job, or—fill in the blank. You may believe if you have the thing(s) you ...
Views: 829 - How to Have What You REALLY Want (Excerpt) - by Submitted on May 20, 2007 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorYou experience life at both an inner and outer level. The inner level is about your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, perceptions, assumptions, etc. The outer level is where you take action based on what was just listed for the inner level. It’s also where you interact—or collide—with the results of ...
Views: 999 - How to Know when to Surrender and What This Means - by Submitted on Nov 18, 2008 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorYou agreed to a situation or event, but it’s not going as you expected. In fact, it seems out of your control at times. Do you fight or surrender? A misconception exists about managing our lives, especially if we use spiritual tools. The misconception is that everything should go ...
Views: 1120 - How to Use a Prior Issue to Solve a Current One - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2009 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorIt’s believed best not to look back to move forward; but if you do this wisely, it can make a difference. Pick an issue . . . any current issue that has your attention by the, umm . . . balance point. Underlying this issue is a belief you have about it, a belief that’s not serving you. Take a ...
Views: 852 - Life As A Bird - by Submitted on Nov 27, 2007 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorJohann Wolfgang Von Goethe said, “As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” I speak with many people who don’t trust one thing or another in life. Ultimately, what they don’t trust is themselves and their ability to make right choices. The result is dissatisfaction and a feeling ...
Views: 985 - Life Is To Be Possessed, Not Endured - by Submitted on Nov 13, 2007 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorThe actual line is from a novel by P.D., James: “...preserving always the same look of puzzled acceptance of a life which had to be endured rather than possessed.” Every day, each of us endures something even if it’s an inconvenience of lesser magnitude. Some people endure much more than most ...
Views: 1150 - Manage Your Energy to Manage Your Manifestations - by Submitted on Sep 08, 2008 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorAhhh...the confusion about Law of Attraction, affirmations, ask/don’t ask...these things do swirl around in our minds. Can you really get the hang of using this Law so it works for you, and release doubts and fears? Of course. What are some of the things we need to know or remember in ...
Views: 906 - 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: 1530 - No Mistakes - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2006 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorWhat might life look like if we held the belief that there are no mistakes? For some, this concept is, well, inconceivable. At first blush, it may even seem as though it excuses every thought, word, and action. Not really. A friend of mine once said, “I’m beginning to believe the only thing to ...
Views: 952 - Not Your Ordinary Sand Castle - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2007 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorMorning stretched itself awake as I made my way down to the shore and joined the handful of early risers. Lacy edges of waves lapped gently over my feet and I scrunched my toes in warm sand. Good time to build a sand castle. It was modest, done mostly for relaxation and meditation, not something ...
Views: 1126 - One Thing Leads to Another - by Submitted on May 02, 2009 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorThere are times when we pay attention and are able to see moments string together like a jeweler stringing pearls. Alter even one moment, especially because of an assumption, and the potential outcome shifts. One reason the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, is a popular classic is because of the ...
Views: 1109 - 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 ...
Views: 1929 - 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: 4895 - Pulling Against the Leash - by Submitted on Jul 23, 2007 from Joyce Shafer, Book DoctorAh...to live a dog’s life. While in the park, I saw a young girl walking her miniature dog. Something caught its eye that I couldn’t see yet because shrubs blocked my view. The dog would surge forward, barking non-stop at the top of its miniature voice, and the leash would pull it back. I ...
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