As writers, we spend a tremendous amount of time chasing milestones: finishing manuscripts, finding an agent, submitting to magazines, signing a contract, publishing books, reaching readers. All of these are necessary and rewarding goals. Eventually, though,...
I’m a parent. Like many parents, I've listened to hundreds of stories beside my beginning readers, many of those stories dozens of times, as they read them to me. I’m also a writer, which means I’m not only experiencing the world of an adventurous squirrel with my...
Every project, every manuscript, reaches a point when improving it is much easier than finishing it. That may sound a little backward, but it isn’t. As long as your manuscript stays isolated on your computer, your business or marketing plan remains only a plan, or the...
The words “perfection,” “perfectionism,” and “perfectionist” sound like stellar attributes. They suggest discipline, responsibility, reliability, and professionalism. They may be, but sometimes what looks like perfectionism is really our attempt to protect ourselves...
Walk into the mountains of an Appalachian forest, explore the rustic sections of the Emerald Coast in Florida, or climb the hilly woodlands of North Georgia, and one of the first things you notice is how quickly the outside world disappears. Roads slip away, along...
Before you create or build your perfect life, you have to honestly answer a surprisingly personal and difficult question: what does “perfect” actually and intrinsically mean to you? Too often, we inherit our idea of “perfect” from our parents, community, peers,...
One of the biggest mistakes an adult can make when writing a chapter book for kids is to assume that children care about lesser things than adults do. They don’t. Kids simply care about different things. To a child, losing a best friend can feel as devastating as a...
Long-term writing careers depend on curiosity, humility, and continued growth. This article explores why writers should keep reading, revising, learning, seeking feedback, and adapting to industry changes so their work stays fresh and their creative momentum lasts.
A strong speech begins with a clearly defined purpose. This article explains how knowing the “why” behind a presentation helps writers stay focused, structure their message, connect with audiences, reduce anxiety, and turn public speaking into a meaningful extension of their author platform.
Measurable goals can turn a writing career from scattered effort into steady progress. This article encourages writers to set clear creative, business, and sustainability objectives so they can make better decisions, track growth, avoid burnout, and build a more intentional professional life.