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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
It was a cold D.C. morning, March 1993. “Look a’ her! “Takin’ a pitcher o’ that ol’ broom…” I’d framed the shot carefully, and as I clicked the shutter, two street guys slowly trudged by. “Uhn-huh,” said his friend, shaking his head. I looked up. Although I’d been delighted by the moment, happily documenting […]
Given your writing abilities and potential, how can you enjoy your writing more today? My suggestions are simple. Find silence. Use your words for good. Find Silence “Go to where the silence is and say something.” – Amy Goodman, journalist I love the sense of the sacred invoked by this quote. I also love its […]
As any writer who’s coached with me can tell you, setting crystal clear intentions for your writing is a critical step to creating a satisfying writing life. Let’s get you more clear about your true writing priorities. Read below for a simple exercise. But First, a Story… The most glamorous job I could think of […]
Being a grownup writer can be fun, right? You can earn money in the marketplace with your writing, if you choose… You can help make the world a better place by volunteering or writing for organizations you care about… You’ve got the skills you need to develop interesting ideas, combine new elements, pursue new lines […]
Meet my client, Janie. Janie wrote well, and had the writing confidence and the bylines to prove it. But despite a successful writing career, Janie didn’t love her work when we first started working together. Janie couldn’t seem to make progress with her own writing projects. She started wasting work time and losing her […]
If you want to write with relaxed, focused productivity, you’ve got to start paying attention to what makes you happy! For most writers of the writers I coach, environment is key. Click below for a few thoughts about the role your writing environment plays in fresh, energized writing.
Do you clean your desk at the end of your workweek or writing day? I do, and until a few months ago, I realized that the process of “wrapping up this day to prepare for the next” really drained my energy. “Dang it. I didn’t get to that, either?” I’d think to myself as I […]
