It happens once a month or so. A writer I meet pours her heart out to me.  She retells the story how, as a child, she first realized she would one day be “a writer.” She describes her academic successes in school — her papers, her fellowships, her publications.  She tells me how easy it […]

If you’re in my circle I have no doubt that you’re smart, interested in the world and driven to tell a good non-fiction or fiction story. Despite all this creativity and intelligence, lately I’ve noticed that some of you are quite lacking in perspective. You see, many of you are committing an error that keeps you […]

May I make a confession?  As I shared with you last week, in just two days I’ll be taking off on a 3.5-week road trip with my family, winding our way through the American West. Of course, I’m excited.  But the truth is:  I’m also feeling scared. I find this experience perplexing.  After all, adventure isn’t […]

Think back, for a moment, to your first memories of writing. Perhaps, like me, you sat earnest and alone writing at a table in your playroom, even when it was hot out and the other kids from the neighborhood were screaming outside the window as they played in the streets during summer vacation.     […]

Janie came to me like most writers do:  driven to finish her book, but exhausted. She was exhausted because every time she’d tried to finish the book, she pushed herself too hard, and burned out and quit. She was exhausted because every time she saw her unfinished book project’s folder on her hard drive, she […]