Pursuing one's proclivity early in life is an important career move, particularly in the word industry. Here's the story of a kid who bucked the advice of family and high school teachers, all who encouraged putting pen to paper, to strive for the big bucks a business degree offered. The consequence: no degree at all and 12 years in restaurant management, and a burning desire to see "Writer" on each of those year's W-4s. …
In 1995 I attended a retreat to explore the spiritual laws of prosperity, where I learned that everyone has a divine life purpose. Returning home, I knew that part of my own life purpose was to assist others in identifying and living true to theirs. I decided to follow that breadcrumb of purpose and passion to see where it would take me. …
Bottom is not the place to be on the learning curve, but that's where I found myself. I'm betting you've experienced it, too - unless you're famous and have a giant publisher. This is how I've made progress in marketing my wife, Loyd Kinnett's book, Beyond the Affair: The Healing of a Marriage. Loyd and I are strongly motivated by our intention to have as many people as possible know there is an alternative to separation and divorce in the face of betrayal. In this case it was me, but it is just as likely the wife - fifty percent of all marriages are affected by infidelity. We also hope the book will build Loyd's personal coaching practice and our relationship skills workshops for couples - both of which we love doing. …
About twenty-five years ago while a neophyte writer, I wrote a poem titled The Unknown. It epitomized my writing career up to that point. …
Sleepless days, sleepless nights. As my eyes try to focus on the screen, my head keeps telling me "Just one more little thing," The only Z's for me are in the word "e-zine." …
I have kept most of my writings. Even stories I wrote over ten years ago. "Your Missal" (as in prayer book, not rocket ship) was special to me. It was a tribute to my late father and was accepted for an anthology entitled "Gifts of the Fathers." But, at the last minute the editor made some cuts and "Your Missal" was discarded. …
When my daughter, Stephanie, was 2 1/2, she started thinking about her future. One day, she told me she wanted to be an astronaut when she grew up. The next day, it was a chef. Later, a ballerina. And I always said the same thing: "You can be anything you want to be." …
First of all, I don't spend a lot of time going to psychics; in fact I've only been to one once. Secondly, I'm not sure the psychic's prediction was a deciding factor in my fate, but it's always interested me nonetheless. …
"Everyone wants to write fiction," author and speaker Ace Collins said to me during a phone conversation. "How is it that you get to so quickly in your writing career?" …
"When a man can observe himself suffering and is able, later, to describe what he's gone through, it means he was born for literature." A writer named Edouard Bourdet said that in 1927. Many years later, those words still speak to this writer's soul. …
Most writers can point with pride to the person who helped advance their career, inspired their confidence, and allowed them to make that leap of faith into writing. Some may acknowledge an interested English teacher, a supportive and loving family member, or a wise and inspiring editor. …
I've always felt guilty that I never seemed able to hold a "regular" job. My husband has worked as a technical writer in the same company for six years. He likes it. During those six years, I've worked as an Editorial Assistant, Office Manager, Marketing Associate, and ESL Teacher, not to mention lots of forgettable temp jobs. Even in the most interesting jobs, including one where I worked onsite at a conference in Paris, France, I got bored, or else I recognized limited opportunity for advancement. (When you work in a three-person company and the other two people are the President and Principal Consultant, you know your options are limited.) …
I am constantly intrigued by the many paths writers have plod in previous lifetimes. For example, I became a freelance writer thanks to a brain tumor. Let me explain. …
One day a fortnight I sit down and write fourteen 250-word stories. I send these stories out daily via e-mail. Each subscriber pays $10 a month and, with just under 300 subscribers, I have a monthly income of almost $3000. …
Frankly, I have never taken authors' recipes for writing success seriously. "Those who don't know, teach," as the old saw goes. In any case, it is quite easy to make money writing. Infinitely more difficult is caring about what you write, without enduring the enervation and stupid inefficiency of the query/rejection-letter cycle. …
Four years ago, I didn't know a thing about real estate. I didn't even own a house. If you would have asked me then if I knew what an ARM was, I would have told you, "Yes, in fact, I have two of them." …
