Coach Marla Beck

The Egret, the Westin and Me: 2 Thoughts on Doing What Matters Most

This image is one of the few I took when I flew back home to DC and Maryland recently. c. 2015 Marla Beck It’s haunted me a bit, since I took it. Every time I gaze at the bird and the hotel in the background, I feel more alive and awake. Here’s why. 1. Seeing […]

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Want to Write More Productively? It’s Time to Embrace Your Quirks.

I can’t tell you how many free-thinking, intelligent, accomplished writers I meet who struggle with their productivity style: They think “real writers” always write earlier in the day. They believe the best fiction writers structure their novels in advance. They think they shouldn’t struggle, or get stuck, or write slow sometimes. Oh, my. May I […]

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On Mistakes: 2 Ways to Make the Most of Them

May I be candid? One of my favorite parts of the coaching process is helping a client turnaround a recent mistake. Perhaps he took a risk.  And failed. Perhaps she waited too damn long to respond to an opportunity, and her fear or indecisiveness pushed that great new chance right out the window. Perhaps he […]

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How to Find Your BEST Next Writing Project

Ready to begin your next writing project? Congratulations!  Let’s make sure you’re pursuing the best writing project for you, so you can avoid the malaise and burnout that can happen when you forget to honor all of who you are. Watch below to learn a new kind of decision-making for your writing career: Remember:  when […]

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Lost Your Zing for Writing? Here’s a Shortcut to Clarity.

Hello writers! Have you been feeling sluggish lately? Lost your zing and clarity for writing? If so, today’s “Quick Tip for Writers” is a mini kick-in-the-pants.   Click below watch it: After you watch, feel free to share you comments or questions with us over on my Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/career.coaching.for.writers.MarlaBeck Have a productive, happy writing day!

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One Very Good Reason to Go for That Bigger, Better Writing Assignment

Small tendrill in garden

You know this already: that well-crafted and thoroughly researched pitch, lovely seedling that it is, may not land you the first “bigger, better” writing assignment you’re going for. But even if your pitch is rejected, keep watchful for the many healthy offshoots that often spring up as a result of you taking decisive action and […]

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Are You Writing What Matters Most?

We writers are lucky folk. Isn’t it cool that people are willing to pay us to: research and report news stories, market goods or services, explain or share technical knowledge or other kinds of know-how? I’ll bet you’ve also noticed how handy your writing talents are your civic and personal life, as you use your […]

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How to Trust the Trail

IMG_0047

More than once this week, I’ve stood on a metaphorical pathway much like this: Marla Beck c. 2014 Each time I knew I wanted to cross a wide, wide meadow. Beyond the shelter of the oak, beyond the clear bright light, the trail would turn and snake beyond sight. I couldn’t see how to get […]

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Let’s Fire Up Your Writing!

ignite your writing-flame

It’s been a very exciting few weeks here.  In the past three weeks, writers from across the U.S. have been telling me how coaching is helping them move their writing projects forward.  I’m so excited for them! – One writer drafted her most recent book in record time. – Another writer is this close to […]

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6 Tips to Help You Write When Your Family’s at Home

Clock face closeup

After a lazy morning with my family last Sunday, I decided to do a little writing. “I’m going to take 25 minutes of computer time now,” I chirped.  (Sometimes I choose to keep the fact that I’m writing to myself. Can you relate?) My family did pretty well with this announcement.  I wrote. My seven-year-old […]

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The Bravest Thing You’ve Ever Done

Marla Beck_Brave Writing

One evening in 5th grade, I was brave. I sat with my family in a booth at a local steakhouse, mouth watering.  I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into a piece of oversized, buttery Texas toast. For now though, a plastic bowl of salad sat before me. I stared at the iceberg lettuce. This […]

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Ask the Writing Coach: Which Writing Project Should I Choose?

A writer asks: “Hi Marla, “I’m going to start writing again, and I want to work on something I’m really fired up about!  I’ve got two personal essays I’m dying to write.  There’s a book-length memoir project noodling around, too… “I’ve got a novel drafted, too. It’s 7/8th done (no joke), but I started it […]

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Writing Lessons from Photographers – “Never Shoot a Sunset”

In recent posts I gave you a few tips to help you put your writing in perspective and stay motivated for the long haul. In today’s post (the third and final of my “Writing Lessons from Photographers” series), I’ll show you a fun strategy you can use to improve your writing and editing chops.  Let’s play a little […]

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Writing Lesson from Photographers: The “10,000 + 1 Principle”

MBeck - MX Portrait

Now that you’ve mastered the “3% Rule,” let’s move on to the second of three posts in my “Writing Lessons from Photographers” blog series. Today’s lesson is a powerful antidote for anyone who struggles with an overactive inner critic.  Enjoy! — Last week a writer I know excised herself from cozy home and family to […]

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Writing Lesson from Photographers: The 3% Rule

Welcome to my new blog series, “Writing Lessons from Photographers.”  Today’s lesson is part one of a three-part series. * * * Introducing the 3% Rule It wasn’t until my senior year in college that I discovered the photo department.  What joy! My first photo professor, Steve Zapton, was known for his direct feedback during […]

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