Motivational speakers often talk about owning your thoughts so you do not feel trapped. What you say in your mind determines how you act and feel. Often, it determines how successful you can be. For example, if your car breaks down, you can look at the incident in a couple ways. You can moan and complain that you have the worst luck and are inconvenienced or you can see the bright spot in a mishap. When my car broke down, I thought that I was bound to get more exercise because I had to walk more places. I wouldn't let a situation I can't control interfere with my attitude. You can do the same. Authors have to control their thoughts every day. If you write fiction, you have to be in charge of the characters' thoughts and movements. If you write nonfiction, your thoughts become the book. If want to be successful, you have to keep out the negativity. People don't want to read about your complaining unless it's humorous. Erma Bombeck was successful doing thi