Credit: UNSPLASH Reading time: About 4 minutes Without a writing routine, it’s probably pretty close to impossible for you to get a substantial amount of writing done… I taught a two-week course on research last month. It turned my writing routine upside down and required me to spend oodles of time responding to chats. Not that I minded! I LOVE teaching courses like this, and I relish the chance to connect with my readers and clients on a more personal level. But courses like this turn my routine into chopped cabbage. When the course wrapped up at the end of last month, I gave a sigh — not of ..read more

Credit: AUTHOR WEBSITE Reading time: About 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of metaphors from Emily Austin…. Originally, I wanted to say that the best thing about a new book by Emily Austin was its title, Everyone in this room will someday be dead. And, yes, it’s a terrific name for a novel. But the book itself is even better. Both funny and sad, it tells the story of a twenty-something, atheist, animal-loving lesbian, who is riddled with anxiety. She responds to a flyer for free therapy at a local Catho ..read more

Credit: UNSPLASH Reading time: About 2 minutes If you write, particularly if you write from home, you also need to find a way to STOP writing. This post describes how to bookend your day… By Ann Gomez When you work from home most of the time, as I do, the lines between your work and home life often blur. You may feel as though you’re always “on,” and work has a way of spilling over into evenings and weekends. This depletes your attention and your energy reserves. And attention and energy are exactly what you need to do your best work and be present in your personal life. After all, as Daphne ..read more

Credit: UNSPLASH Reading time: About 3 minutes Have you ever thought about the world being divided along maker vs manager lines? It’s a useful metaphor — one that gives you tips about your own time management… If I ask you whether you’re a maker or a manager, do you know what I mean? But you know the difference between cats and dogs, right? (I’ll talk more about this idea in just a moment.) The whole concept of maker vs manager dates back to an essay written by computer programmer Paul Graham in 2009. In it, he described how “makers” — writers, artists, carpenters and chefs, among others ..read more

Credit: UNSPLASH Reading time: About 2 minutes If you chronically describe yourself as “too busy,” consider how you might change your story to make yourself feel better — and get more done…. By Ann Gomez Do you have a standard reply when someone asks you, “What’s going on?” or “What’s new?” Mine used to be, “Busy.” So busy. Always busy! This was an easy identity to assume with a growing business, a large family (including four kids, each with their own host of activities), and other assorted life commitments. But I’ve since stopped telling the busy story. After all, between family, work, frie ..read more

Credit: UNSPLASH Reading time: About 4 minutes If you’re delaying writing because you’re waiting for perfect writing conditions, you’re making an enormous mistake…. Are you waiting for perfect writing conditions? A quiet space. No scary projects looming over your shoulders. No need to look after family or friends. No other big demands on your time. Because, you know, this writing is so important to you, you want to give it your full and lavish attention… Do I need to tell you that these feelings are just convenient excuses? I no longer delay my writing by thinking this way (in fact, I wrote m ..read more

Credit: UNSPLASH Reading time: About 3 minutes How you think about stress is an excellent predictor of your success in being able to manage it…. By Ann Gomez Have you ever been on a turbulent flight? Most of us have experienced some type of scare, whether the threat was real or perceived, when flying. If you’re like me, when faced with any sort of rough patch, you look to the flight attendants to determine if there is any real danger. If I don’t detect any visible reaction from the flight attendants, I know I can happily return to my work, or go back to reading, or listening to my current fav ..read more

Credit: UNSPLASH Reading time: About 1 minute Today, I’m saying thanks to my readers and asking for a bit of special help (not money!) in return…. This post marks my 935th blog and my 18th year as a blogger. Where the heck did all that time go? If you’re a long-time reader, THANK YOU for your perseverance and loyalty. I really appreciate it. If you’re a new reader, apologies for this “inside baseball” column. I don’t generally toot my own horn or talk about how the sausages are made. Instead, I just try to provide worthwhile advice about how to write better, faster. Of course, some things hav ..read more

Credit: UNSPLASH Reading time: About 2 minutes Have you ever wondered if music helps writers focus? Researchers have been able to give us a few inklings…. By Ann Gomez After a recent workshop, I received an email from an associate who asked a great question: Do you have any thoughts on listening to music while working? I will put on different music during different tasks or parts of the day and have convinced myself it helps me stay focused. But…isn’t this multi-tasking? I admit I had to respond with a bit of the standard “consultant” answer, which is: it depends! Listening to music while you ..read more

Credit: UNSPLASH Reading time: About 3 minutes It’s sometimes surprising how much we can learn about writing from our animal friends… My husband was in our back yard last week doing some gardening when he spotted a cat-sized, big-eyed mammal. It spotted him, too, and it quickly dived under our deck. “Whoa,” my husband said. “That isn’t a native species.” That’s, in fact, the way my husband talks. His undergrad degree in zoology from many decades ago leaks out of him with the least provocation. He ran inside to grab one of his reference books and decided that what he’d seen was a ferret. “That ..read more