The LAST Word

 I have either ghost-wrote, co-authored or edited all these books . If you haven't checked out the books yet, you might want to consider reading them. They all will help you in some way. Let's get started. Common Sense by James E Razzino is a thought-provoking book to cut through the noise about issues affecting the United States. The government is chipping away at our rights. As authors and business owners, we should protect our freedoms and rights to say whatever we want. The book also will help you decide who to elect for Congress, president, governor, state legislatures and councils. Go to https://www.amazon.com/author/jameserazzino to get your copy. Are you having back pain? You should read this book before you agree to have surgery on your back. Michael Ahearn went through four back surgeries, and now his back doesn't align correctly. He has had issues stemming from the surgeries. However, The Back Bible is more than one man's account of bad surgeries. It quotes ...

 This week is Holy Week. It is the week we walk with Jesus as He goes to the cross to die and save us from our sins. It is more important than Christmas week. As business owners, we can learn from this walk to Calvary. Here are some ways you can reflect this week and improve your writing or business marketing . 1. Add Prayer to Your Routine -- This week and every week, you should include prayers in your routine. This week is more important, but you should be doing it anyway. When you invite God into your business life, it becomes easier to get through the daily crises. God will direct you on how to market your business too. In addition, adding prayer to your routine allows your writing to come alive . You will get inspiration that you didn't already have. You might move your characters into a new direction. If you are struggling with something, God will help you through your troubles if you ask Him. This is a resource you don't want to forget. 2. Walk the Path -- Look at th...

   Every business owner and employee knows that to avoid burn-out and stress , you need to take a break. You could take a short trip within your state, a staycation or you could spend the money to take a longer trip. My husband and I are celebrating a big event -- our 30th wedding anniversary, so we decided that this was going to be the year we traveled to Alaska, see our natural resources and the midnight sun. We were gone for a week in June. Many people were telling us that we wouldn't want to travel that distance or that it might be cold. We went anyway. It was not cold (80 degrees most days in Fairbanks), and the plane ride was long but nothing unbearable. We wanted to do this, so we did. The point is if you work nonstop, you will quickly become stressed. You will be uninspired, and you will not want to do your job any more. Everyone needs time away from their writing and marketing. Although staycations can be helpful for some, I find that they are tempting to go back to...

    January is a great time to reflect on the previous year and revise your marketing plans for the next year. You can decide where to focus your marketing and what you can do differently. It always is a good idea to try something different in the new year. This is true whether you are an author, small business owner or employee. Although employees are told what to do every day, they do have to market themselves to land the job in the first place and to keep their job. Here are my tips for your market plans this year. 1. Do Video Marketing -- Authors often don't like being in front of the camera, but they should do some videos about their books. Having someone interview you on their podcast or YouTube channel would be great. Creating your own YouTube channel also works. I started posting to my YouTube channel regularly last year and posted the first two this year. Search for The LAST Word on YouTube to find the tips I give on video. You also could search for LAST Research an...

  I often from people that they want to write a book, but most of them never will publish anything. They aren't committed to creating a book. They think that some day, they might get something together. To author a book, you have to be committed to the project with your heart and soul. You have to be willing to follow through on the steps: idea, outline, research, compiling, book cover design, editing and marketing. Often, people are overwhelmed and think writing a book is daunting. It doesn't have to be that hard. Break up the project in to smaller pieces to make it less overwhelming. This is exactly what teachers tell their students who feel overwhelmed. The same is true with writing. Idea – Whether you want to write about ministry or persecution , think about your idea. Brainstorm how you can fertilize the idea. Write down the key points you want to make and determine whether your idea has merit. Pray about it.  Write about it in a journal . Eventually, you will s...

Because of the pandemic , the media's panic-inducing headlines and the lack of in-person social connections, the number of mental health cases has already increased and is expected to jump even more. Students are feeling the pressures. They are not able to learn they way they like. For example, my daughter does better in a classroom setting than with online classes. My son is just the opposite. He thrives in online classes. Writers, who usually work from home, worked alone before the pandemic, but now, so many of them are afraid to leave their personal space. This can lead to panic attacks, stress, anxiety and depression. They will begin to doubt their abilities in writing and editing their books. Here are some ways to address mental health issues. Write as Therapy – I have discussed this previously. If you have emotions, you would want to get it on paper or on the computer. I always use writing a therapy when I am sad or lonely or joyous. I write poems, storie...

This pandemic has changed how we do things. We can't shop or get our hair cut the same way we used to do. We have to be constantly on guard. It makes all of us uneasy. We don't feel like we are in control. However, the situation reminds us that success comes when we break from our comfort zone. Motivational speakers will tell you to do just that. Breaking from our comfort zone also is important to writing. If you are too comfortable or you have too much of a routine, your writing will get stale or you might not reach for that opportunity that could open doors for you. Here are ways to improve your writing and marketing . Go Online – The pandemic has moved almost everything online. Meetings, work and shopping are now happening from the comforts of our home. If you are afraid to market your book via online channels, you are missing a major opportunity to reach more people who might want to buy your book. Digital marketing has increased over the last f...