The LAST Word

We are entering the last month of the year. That means that we are about to change to a new year and new life. People make resolutions, but they don't always embrace change in their lives. Now is the time to think about change and how to embrace it. Change is good for your psyche, business and writing. While everyone talks about the devastation caused by natural disasters, few talk about the good that comes from hurricanes, wildfires, blizzards, etc. The changes in the environment is often good. Mother Nature has a way of fixing problems in the environment herself. For example, wildfires burn out the brush and thin the trees, so all the growing trees are more sustainable. Avalanches reshape mountains and bring much needed snowfall to valleys. Hurricanes wash out the dead algae, seaweed, fish, etc. They change the landscape and rivers. They get rid of dead branches on trees, so the trees remain healthy. Even though these natural disasters are devastating, they serve a purp...

Not too long ago, getting a book published was an accomplishment that many people didn't do. It was to be congratulated and celebrated. Today, because of the explosion of self-published books, getting a book published is not celebrated as an accomplishment. However, I say that people still should congratulate new authors and celebrate their success. Even a self-published book is an accomplishment. It takes hard work to complete a book or novel. You should count it as a blessing happening right now in your life. Ways to Celebrate Your Book Throw a Party – Although it still is done sometimes, especially for best-selling authors, book launch parties are not as popular as they once were. In the past, traditional publishers would throw a party the day a book was released to the public. This did two things. First, it allowed friends and family to get a copy of the book without going to a store. Second, it began a marketing buzz. Even if you self-publish or use pr...

You can find a lot of books about empowerment. Writer's block often is connected with low self-esteem. You might not feel qualified to write a book. You might feel that you have nothing to say. Therefore, you stare at the white page on the screen or in your hand. These feelings are normal. Remember, you are the expert in what you do. Write a first draft even if it is horrible, it is an accomplishment. It can be edited . Take this advice to feel empowered and avoid writer's block. Whether your goal is to inspire others or publish your fiction novel , you will need to be uplifted somewhere along the line. That's when you want to find those authors you prefer to help you remember that you are great at what you do. One person not liking your work is one compared with the hundreds who do . I will not let the setback get to me. You shouldn't either. Remember to keep plugging away at your writing. Otherwise, you will not want to finish it. Avoid Writers'...

I have filled this blog with tips on how to write your book, but for this blog, I am going to discuss the why you want to write a book, specifically, that you want to be courageous. Writing a book is often therapeutic for people. I have heard many times that people have used writing as a way to heal from something traumatic or emotional. In my case, my first novel, The 1776 Scroll , was completed because I needed therapy. Throughout my life, I have always used writing as a therapeutic way to deal with complex emotions. When I had a broken heart, I wrote. When my friends' mothers died of cancer, I wrote. When I dealt with death of people close to me, I wrote. When I was happy, I wrote. And, when I was lonely in Arizona, I wrote my first novel. Let me explain. At the time, my husband and I were living in Maryland, which was one and ½ hours from my parents and sister, and two hours from my other sister or brother. We also were 30 minutes from my father-in-law and broth...

Journalists are trained to speak the truth of an issue. They do this by getting information from both sides of an issue or many sides. They lay it out in the story so others can read it and make up their own minds which source to believe and trust. While personal biases aren't supposed to be in the story, often, journalists let their beliefs enter into the copy. However, most do try not to let biases enter into the copy. In some of my stories, I will admit that I had a preconceived notion going into the story, but I changed direction of the piece after talking with the experts. However, I will admit that sometimes the media are biased. That is sad because speaking truth is one of our most precious gifts as journalists. We are given rights in the Constitution because people need to know certain information. That is why I became a journalist to help people know and understand the world around them. I am especially proud of the fact that I spent most of my career writing abou...