How You Can Get Closer to Your Dream Today (Not Tomorrow)
Like most, I do my art in the margins. I have a day job, one I like very much, and so my writing and product making and speaking and platform building have to happen on the side. Some have called this a “side hustle.” I’m supposed to tell you that if you work hard enough, […]
2 Questions to Help You Get Focused and Stay Motivated
Not long ago I visited an exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum titled Master Painters. The focus was a collection of pieces from The Netherlands during the seventeenth century, a period known as the Dutch Golden Age. One painting in particular grabbed my attention: a stunning maritime scene of ships at anchor. I took in […]
Do You Make This Mistake in Your Creative Work?
“The hardest part of the process is getting centered,” our instructor told us. My wife and I were fifteen minutes into a pottery class, watching our teacher push on a piece of clay as it spun. “But if your clay’s not centered,” she continued, “it will warp and your piece won’t turn out right.” Don’t […]
22 Clever Ways to Find Time to Write
When writing is your dream job but not your day job, fitting it in the margins of life can be tough. Following are 22 ways to find more writing time: 1. When driving, speak into a voice recorder app. Transcribe it later when you have time. Or you could try a speech-to-text app.
The Best Way to Find Time to Do Your Art
The survey’s gone out, the results are in, and here’s one finding you can take to the bank: The number 1 reason by far that creatives give for not doing their art is “lack of time.” What’s the solution to that? Do we really need 22 clever ways to find time? Maybe, but I think what […]
4 Simple Steps to Your Best Valentine’s Day Ever
If you’re like most people, you’re getting nervous. The Valentine’s Day displays have reminded you that Cupid is coming, and you’ve got nothing. It’s not that you don’t love your spouse or significant other. In fact, it’s how much you do love her/him coupled with the anxiety of anticipating this holiday that can be so […]
What I Learned about You, and How You Knocked Me Off My Feet
I have been poring over the survey results, and I can’t tell you how energized I am as I read these. I’m eager to share some of what I’ve learned. Who You Are Your vocations vary! Among those who responded were writers, visual artists, musicians, career coaches, podcasters, bloggers, graphic artists, poets, teachers, photographers, speakers, […]
Give Me 5 Minutes, and I Will Help You Make This Your Best Year Ever
The four questions below will help you make this your best year ever. Grab a journal or open a new document. Then jot down some answers to these questions. 1. What Made You Proud? As you look back, what do you feel really good about? What accomplishments make you proud? These could be related to […]
The Busy Person’s Guide to Writing a Nonfiction Book (Part 1)
When I was young and got overwhelmed with this or that, my mom had a terrific way of helping me. She’d sit me down and help me think through what I could and couldn’t do to influence the situation. She led me through a process of deciding how to respond to each anxiety-producing factor, and […]
Who Else Wants to Travel the World for Cheap?
My wife had always wanted to visit Switzerland. When her elementary school teacher asked her to do a research project, Switzerland was her subject. She was a fan of the book Heidi, which was set in the Swiss Alps. When she visited Lake Placid, New York, she loved to wander the aisles of a store […]