In four days, I’ve watched “The Secret” four times, though definitely not my first viewing. I mentioned this to a friend who responded, “I heard the secret is never actually revealed.”
I think the reason some people feel the secret isn’t blatant has to do with the fact our brains don’t respond ... Views: 795
I live in a quiet building in a quiet neighborhood. Awakened at 4:15a.m. by a racket, I couldn’t help but notice it was unusual. A couple was engaged in a squall and had no qualms about sharing it with neighbors when they took it into the hallway. Based on what I overheard, if that relationship ... Views: 704
You’re in the driver’s seat, cruising on the highway, headed to your next destination. The rules of safe driving recommend you occasionally glance at your rearview and side-view mirrors so you know what’s going on around you, but your primary focus is on what’s in front of you. It’s obvious you ... Views: 621
Are you too busy trying not to lose in life and business to learn how to win? Leverage your time and energy the right way to create more of what you want to experience.
“From this moment on, I refuse to settle for less than what I want!” Do you relate to this? Do you know what to do to make it ... Views: 1619
Two days before I realized the New York City marathon is this weekend, I re-visited a technique I used back around the late 1980s, where I’d write or type questions and wait for answers to flow through my fingers. Neale Donald Walsch had the idea to share his use of this technique, and the rest ... Views: 610
I learned about a great bumper sticker: “Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself.” The same day I saw the bumper sticker phrase, I got an email from a friend telling me about how life is not working and the reasons why. I didn’t find one “can” in there or “I intend.” ... Views: 1218
The Law of Attraction states that whatever we hold our focus, specifically, our emotionally-charged feelings on is what we get more of even if it’s not what we desire. It’s easy to relate this to a better job, more money, and all the improvements we typically seek to expand into our lives. If ... Views: 798
Scene 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: 1190
I don’t want to make a unilateral statement, but in my life, solutions are not always obvious. I recently read a parable many of you probably read a long while back called, “The Prisoner in the Dark Cave.”
A man sentenced to death is placed in a dark cave. He’s told there is a way out and if he ... Views: 640
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Some Basics for New Writers - by Joyce Shafer, L.E.C., Author, Publisher--State of Appreciation, Services for Writers
I 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: 963
Let’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: 1160
If 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: 918
Maybe what’s going on in the economy has nudged or forced you to consider how you can amp up every area of your business. Maybe this was on your mind before the shake-up, which has become a catalyst for shift sooner than later.
You’ve probably heard some say that this is actually a time of new ... Views: 619
We love a good story, told well, that entertains us. But there are some who use stories for a different purpose: Justification for why they aren’t in control of themselves and, therefore, their lives.
I have a call scheduled with someone who wants to tell me her story. Basically, she hopes ... Views: 652
I wish I’d coined the phrase, “Success comes in Cans.” Its accuracy was on my mind as I spent time with two people in Can’t Mode. One of them was open to reframing thoughts and statements; the other was not.
One is currently in a funk and has been paying rent to live in Funkville for a couple ... Views: 847
Whether 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: 935
Mainstream comments and thoughts make it easy to think of the economy as something separate from individuals and communities, which is not true. Here are a few ideas about this.
My opinion is that the reason the economy appears as it does right now is because some forgot something basic: Many ... Views: 691
Twice in the last two weeks, I’ve come across information that says many people no longer want (or believe in) magic-bullet solutions. This will set many people free and keep others trapped.
There’s lots of terrific information available that does help you to shift beliefs and patterns. The ... Views: 872
Musing about why people sometimes settle for less in their lives, I wondered if one cause might be because they (we) feel unprepared, unable, or afraid, for some reason, to give more?
Those who fit into the category of over-givers (usually poor receivers) might mutter at me as they read this, ... Views: 726
What 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: 973
Setting 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: 3230
What 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: 4673
I once heard the affirmation, “I am always in the right place at the right time.” I added “with right action” at the end. I used it for the travel aspect in making my transportation connections and in general over this past weekend when I visited a friend.
I’d had a somewhat exhausting week and ... Views: 655
Meaningful life lessons are sometimes derived from unusual or unsuspected methods and revealed many years later.
Recently, an image from when I was twelve years old came to mind. It was the first year a local elementary school held a weekend carnival. The usual junk food booths were there; but ... Views: 742
Ask someone to walk to the moon and you’ll hear, “Not realistic,” as a response. They wouldn’t have a problem giving that answer. Ask some people to be perfect and you can almost hear the inner and outer dialogue start — “You have no idea how hard I try to be just that.” This person might even ... Views: 902
“A crisis only becomes a breaking point when we fail to use it as a turning point,” wrote Guy Finley recently. His words, words of others, and inspirational and funny videos that began to fill my in-box were responses to a silent request I made the other day when I came face-to-face with an ... Views: 665
We tend to think of time wasters as too much TV viewing, daydreaming, or anything that isn’t a productive use of minutes and hours.
Here are a few you may not have considered.
Gossip. What’s the point, really? Conveying needed information to the appropriate person or people is okay, but ... Views: 737
Best-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: 960
I use a three-day process when I feel or see a shift in my life and don’t want to jump without knowing where to jump. I state that between that moment and the end of the third day, I‘ll absolutely know what to do; and then I Put It Down, metaphorically, and do and think about other things.
This ... Views: 572
If you take hold of a pendulum and pull it a certain distance from center point then release it, the rebound swing in the opposite direction matches the distance you held it from center point.
When we’ve felt restricted (allowed it) and “free” ourselves from that scenario, we may experience ... Views: 986
This is a question many of us ask once or maybe a thousand times. It’s also a question that can only be answered by each of us for ourselves.
This article isn’t about Barbara Sher’s Scanners, but I want to mention them first before I go on to what I want to say. If you have ever felt concerned ... Views: 1968
I spoke with a friend who just started a new job she doesn’t like. She really wants to start her own business doing something she’s very good at and enjoys. It’s not a matter of figuring out what it may be, she already knows and has done it in the past.
During our conversation, she wanted to ... Views: 605
Do you know the quote, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten?” A preacher’s wife restated this in a way that made me take notice.
Once again, I woke and channel surfed to the early-morning religious program. A preacher interviewed his wife; and though I’ll ... Views: 735
You’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: 1303
Recently, I read an article that was based on questions stated by two lead characters in a movie. The male lead was fretting over changes and pending changes in his life, and kept saying to his wife, “What if it all goes wrong?” Her response was always, “What if it all goes right?”
I’d had a ... Views: 510
How 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: 1025
Bill Bullard said, “Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge…is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world.”
Our society seems to admire highly ... Views: 4824
If you ever feel overwhelmed, pause for a moment and look around you. More than likely, there’s clutter in your physical (outer) space, which means there’s clutter in your inner space.
A funny thing happens when you get rid of clutter in your physical space: you see your life. You lighten up in ... Views: 1400
When something goes missing, do you lose your cool or move to Plan B?
Saturday morning, I woke to find myself unable to access my email account. Any of you who actively use your email for professional and personal reasons might identify with what I might have felt at that moment. And when a ... Views: 799
Maybe you’re like me and you’ve been diligent about letting go of limitations in an area or areas of your life. You’ve experienced and continue to experience the shift as a result of your focused thoughts, words, feelings, and actions.
Though I’ve been working with this for years (okay, ... Views: 611
All 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: 1138
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Writing Tense - by Joyce Shafer, L.E.C., Author, Publisher--State of Appreciation, Services for Writers
Writing 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: 1002
In the universe, matter and anti-matter exist. In equal amounts, they cancel each other out. If there’s a greater quantity of one than the other, that’s the one that “wins.” Though there are pockets of anti-matter in space, there are more elements of matter or nothing would exist.
A parallel ... Views: 614
“You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; and yet you incessantly stand on your head—do you think, at your age, it is right?” (From the works of Lewis Carroll)
George Berkeley said, “Our youth we can have but today. We may always find time to grow ... Views: 618
Is your tendency to believe greatness has to look a certain way? Does this belief hold you back from your true greatness?
Your greatness is unique and reveals itself at the right time. You might as well be excellent until you’re great. But first, understand what this means.
What your ... Views: 828