This is the first year I have actively chosen to take a vacation during the Christmas season since becoming a writer over 10 years ago. My family and friends know that when I come visit for more than just the day, I’m bringing work with me. But this year, because it is the last Christmas [...]

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Last week I said that I ask myself a lot of questions when I’m making new goals. Am I feeling confident or nervous or discouraged - right now? Do I need a carrot or a threat or a reward - right now? The point to adding “right now” is that you may find your goals [...]

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Goal setting is easy for me – I think of something I want and I decide to go after it. Like the 1793 times I’ve made a goal to lose weight. Or the 47 times I’ve made a goal to stop using swear words. Or the 16 times I’ve made a goal to write every [...]

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I’ve read in some books on writing that you should write on topics that interest you but that you don’t have all the answers for. The searching and agonizing will bring passion to your work. In that case, writing on how to keep your priorities straight is my topic! LOL!
Case in point: This month is [...]

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I, for one, can be highly motivated to accomplish a task given the right reward. When I was in high school and college, I would go to any length to improve my grade point average. I even missed out on a BILLY JOEL concert, 3rd row seats, in order to study for an Economics exam. [...]

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Participating in any kind of challenge has pros and cons. Are you competitive enough to be inspired by others’ progress, or will their success discourage you? Do you create goals for yourself that you have a shot at, or are your goals too lofty so they lead only to failure?
November was to be a month [...]

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Discouragement isn’t a topic I tackle lightly. Nor do I think the causes and cures are only for creative people, or people going through tough times, or for those who live in one society versus another. Discouragement happens when we take things very seriously and they don’t turn out as we expected or hoped. Once [...]

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See this smiley face? Doesn’t it look like it’s trying too hard to look happy, almost like it’s gritting its teeth to keep the happy face going?
Yeah. That’s me during week two of NaNo. I’m feeling positive. Really. Excited even. Honest. Despite the fact that I’m supposed to have written 20,000 words by the end [...]

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I don’t want to give you advice on setting goals for NaNo this year as much as I want to remind you that you have options.
•    You can buy into the word count goal because it works for you.
•    You can have a main goal and sub-goals, giving yourself a reward for each level reached. [...]

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The biggest problem I face when participating in a writing challenge is overcoming the belief that I can do it.
Yes, you heard me right. I’ve jumped into writing challenges half a dozen times in the last couple years thinking, “This won’t be too bad. I can do this.” And that’s about the extent of my [...]

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