Monthly Archives: July 2021

Something Wonderful

Song of the Seashore The soft waves lisp, On the stone-spangled shore, Shining and shimmering, Murmuring ‘More … More music, please …’ And the stones sigh and ride And whisper their songs To the incoming tide. — Daphne Lister

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Emily Enlivens

Today, July 30, is the divine Emily Bronte’s birthday. What a gift she is to the world — her fire, her compassion, her poetry, and the sublime and stormy Wuthering Heights! Gems from Emily to enliven us all: “Whatever our souls are … Continue reading

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Sparking Ideas

As creatives, fresh ideas are our stock and trade. They are our fuel. They energize and enliven our stories and make writing more fun. Who doesn’t feel excited when a fabulous new idea floats into our head? Here are a … Continue reading

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Rewarding Readers

When I tell aspiring writers that they should think of themselves as part entertainers, they don’t like to hear it — the word smacks of carnivals and jugglers and clowns. But to succeed you must make your piece jump out … Continue reading

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Engaged Readers

There’s an old Chinese proverb that says: ‘One demonstration is worth more than a thousand words.’ A good rule, I learned, is never to say anything you can dramatize. Better yet: never dramatize anything yourself that you can get the … Continue reading

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Attitude Ahoy!

“It’s your attitude, not your aptitude that determines your altitude.” Zig Ziglar Amazing but true: A Harvard Business School study identified four critical factors related to success: information, intelligence, skill, and attitude. When these factors were ranked in order of … Continue reading

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Something Wonderful

The Dragonfly When the heat of the summer Made drowsy the land, A dragonfly came And sat on my hand, With its blue jointed body, And wings of spun glass It lit on my fingers As though they were grass. … Continue reading

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E-book Awards

If you’ve created one or more e-books in either fiction or nonfiction that you feel are primed to find a bigger audience, then you may want to consider submitting to the Writer’s Digest Self-Published e-book Awards. Deadline: August 31. The … Continue reading

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Practice Perfectly

There’s a simple strategy for improving at anything you want — a secret that most people don’t really know about. Consider this inescapable fact: Just because you are actively doing something, doesn’t mean that you are actually achieving anything.You know … Continue reading

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Keep Smiling!

“It cannot be considered success unless you are smiling.” Joe De Sena A devoted fan once asked Bruce Springsteen how he kept his concerts so fresh time after time. Bruce thought about the question for a moment and then replied … Continue reading

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