Monthly Archives: July 2021

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

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

“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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

“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 →