http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:45:00 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Do you feel as if you're forever running to catch up and keep up? Is finding any time at all to write a challenge for you? If so, you'll need to simplify your life—choose what really matters—and slow your pace. But HOW? Reflective Thinking With all the noise of modern life and the frantic running ... http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2010/03/10/writing-finding-time-part-1/ A week doesn't go by without a question from someone about whether to continue to write--or give it up and do something else. I expect the ongoing state of the economy, plus all the changes we're seeing in the publishing industry now, are at the root of the questions. Toto, We're ... http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2010/03/08/should-you-quit-or-forge-ahead/ "Writing is not everything," says Lisa Shearin in the April, 2010 Writer Magazine. "And if you want longevity in this business, play isn't just important--it's critical. We get so intensely focused on having achieved the dream and working so hard to keep the dream going, that we're blind to the ... http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2010/03/05/beware-burnout-ahead/ Are you dragging around excess baggage? Is it getting in the way of running the daily writing race set before you? Is there "stuff" taking up space in your life that you need to dump overboard so you can pick up some speed? Jumping Off! I've been struggling with this issue lately, and it reminded ... http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2010/03/03/whats-hindering-you/ If you're a Jane Austen fan like me, don't miss a fabulous opportunity that will only last until March 14. You might not be able to travel to her home in England, but for the next two weeks you can experience Austen's manuscripts, letters, a movie and other treasures from the ... http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2010/03/01/a-womans-wit/ Some days I feel about as creative as a cement block. Most of us know, however, that we can't wait to feel creative before we write. Writers who wait for inspiration before they decide to write are generally known as hobbyists. Working writers-those actively writing and growing in their craft-must write ... http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2010/02/26/a-walking-idea-factory/ As mentioned a few weeks ago, I've been reading Andy Stanley's The Principle of the Path which states that it's direction-not intention-that determines our destination. When trying to get from where we are as writers to where we'd like to be, we will need to follow a path to that publishing ... http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2010/02/24/are-you-lost/ During the past year I've done more novel critiques than usual. Some have been so-so, some were very good, and a few have already sold. What made the difference between the "very good" stories and the manuscripts that sold? In my opinion, it was the overall strength of the novels. Often the "very ... http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2010/02/22/strong-writers-do-this/ Some writers are doing more than just surviving in the current economy. They are thriving! How are they managing this? "The most important thing I did to thrive in this recession is that I managed my emotions, attention, and attitude at all times. I focused on what I can do, not ... http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2010/02/19/swimming-upstream/ Rejection is part of the writing life. Writers have always struggled not to take rejection personally. Unless you're super human, it deals a blow to one's self-esteem. "To be a writer is to be rejected. I'm not kidding," says Rachel Ballon, Ph.D., author of The Writer's Portable Therapist. "Those writers who ... http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2010/02/17/rejection-recovery/