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Browse every published article connected to Joyce Shafer, Book Doctor, with exact attribution and full-archive search.
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Browse every published article connected to Joyce Shafer, Book Doctor, or search within this exact expert archive.
This is a question many of us ask once or maybe a thousand times. It’s also a question that can only be answered by each of us for ourselves. This article isn’t about Barbara Sher’s Scanners, but I want to mention them first before I go on to what I want to say. If you have ever felt conce ed ...
You’re likely aware there are ghostwriters (I love the movie, The Ghost Writer, with Ewan McGregor), but are you aware there are ghost rewriters who provide services as well? Let’s look at what they can do for authors.
Join in, if you know the tune—“Workin’ for the man every night and day...” You don’t have to work in a city these days, though, to want to start a home business, whether part- or full-time. There are as many reasons a person wants to work from home as there are people who wish or choose to do ...
Another word for survival mode is stress. When stressed, we tend to become something we don’t really want to be: self-absorbed. There is a way out.
Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, or a memoir you’re writing, a good story is deemed good when it is told well. There are things to keep in mind to assure this is your result. As a writer, do you understand the basics about storytelling? Shouldn’t you just write what you feel like writing? Maybe, maybe not. Story is what every fiction, non-fiction, and memoir is ultimately about. There’s much to say about story, but I’ll provide a few tidbits for now.rnï§ There are archetypal stories and stereotypical stories.r
People fall in love with novels because of the characters. This means it’s imperative for you to know how to develop them, and why.
Fear is natural and necessary. Why? It helps keep us safe. But, fear is supposed to protect us from danger, not keep us from living fulfilling lives. My Life Coach training was through iPEC (Institute for Professional Empowerment Coaching). Bruce Schneider, founder, presented keys to success ...
It can be amazing to listen to how people talk about their perception of reality. You can literally hear how close they get to a point that would allow shift, but stop short. I had dinner with a friend I hadn’t seen in a long while. As he told me about things that were different, it was easy to hear that he and his beliefs were pretty much the same, which means his experiences haven’t changed much.
You have a spiritual self and a material self that operates in the world. Which do you nurture first? How’s that working for you? You have a “foot in two worlds.” One foot is in the spiritual world, which is where you come from, where you return to, though, that world stays with you through your human experience. The other foot is in the material world that is heavily influenced by society. Which world is more sacred to you? Are we meant to choose one or the other?
You’ve probably read or heard that you should have your manuscript edited. Do you agree or disagree with that statement?
Have you found a philosophy or technique you believe will lead you where you want to go: specific feelings and desired outcomes? It takes a while to realize you can’t get there, unless you travel the path to that destination. So much of what we do is habit we don’t recognize it for what it is. This is especially true with thoughts, words, and actions. What kinds of stories do you repeat to yourself and others? Are they ones you want to experience, to encourage?
A novel, and even a memoir, will have characters and dialogue. You want to make sure dialogue is easy to read, sounds natural, and does what it’s meant to. Good character development in fiction includes making characters’ voices so distinctive that readers can tell who’s talking without attributes. I’m not saying that’s required or suggested (see an example at the end), just that it’s a good ideal to keep in mind. What I mean by “voice” is what a character says and how s/he says it. How do you accomplish this, you ask? Know your characters well.
Do your days feel ordinary? Do you feel there are too few blessings in your life? Maybe you’d like to shift this.
It’s a complaint you and many others may share: I don’t feel authentic! These 5 questions can help you change this. If you feel inauthentic, you already know how painful that can be. If you’re a people-pleaser, you know how painful that can be, too. If you feel the real you lives behind a façade, or worse, you aren’t even sure who the real you is any more, use these five questions to shake your authentic self loose from the ties that bind it. I got the five questions from Jairek Robbins, who got them from someone else… and they are powerful!
Walking through life with resentment is like walking through ankle-deep molasses. You move, but not well, not far, and not fast. Forgiveness, resentment, resistance… let’s look at them.
The New Year is around the corner and a time we consider new beginnings or fresh starts in one or more areas of our lives. A good way to get into this is to see if there’s any outer or inner clutter that holds us back. Oute n*Do you search for items you use every day like keys? How much time, ...
Goals and desired outcomes seem to come in two flavors: the ones easier to achieve and the ones we struggle with. There’s a word you can apply to both that can shift the quality of your experiences and take some of the “charge” out of struggle. Goals and desired outcomes—personal and professional—are imbued with an aspect we are, hopefully, aware of but sometimes aren’t. That aspect is our Why—why we want or feel motivated or inspired about what we say we desire to experience.
I did my daily practice of walking to the waterfront to sit on a bench and let go of thinking, as much as possible. My mind (like many others) is usually a-whirl with thought, so deliberately letting go for a period of time is beneficial. Then I decided to add something I never though of before: ...
When you have a goal or dream in mind, do you ask yourself where the best place to start is? The answer is in the question: Where you’re going. You’ve seen floor plan maps in public places like large malls, stores, or office buildings that let you see where shops, offices, or sections are located. Here’s what’s interesting about this: you might think the first thing you do is find the You Are Here X then look up where you want to go. But the first thing you do is THINK about WHERE you want to go.
What makes plot development work in a novel? There’s quite a lot to know about this, but here are some high-points. A strong novel writer causes readers to feel they experience a slice of someone else’s (one or more characters) “real” life. Even Science Fiction and Fantasy must accomplish this in their own ways. Readers want to relate to characters in novels, whether that’s just for one novel or in a series that involves the same main characters throughout. It’s up to you as a writer to create this for readers. You do this through plot and character development.
Mid-January, I posted an article, “Success Really Does Come in Cans,” where I mentioned conversations with two individuals. One was a Can’t-Do person; the other was a Can-Do type. I haven’t heard from the former, but I heard from the latter. She called to say she was utterly confused and ...
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” You don’t want to imitate a favorite author, but you can learn a lot from him or her. Whether you create notes for plot and character development first or dive into writing your novel, you want to get as much written as possible in your first ...
If you’re not experiencing infinite abundance, there’s a good reason it’s not your “reality” yet. The reason relates to a riddle. The challenge is like the riddle: which came first, the chicken or the egg? In this case it’s which comes first, measurable proof that you’re infinitely abundant or faith that it’s your natural state? The answer for both riddles is the same: the thought or idea of it comes first. We entangle ourselves with a “chicken and egg” cycle about infinite abundance.
Do you ever compare where you are now in your life to where others are, or to where you thought you should be by this time? If you do and don’t feel happy, the question and comments here may help. I have a friend who recently set up a Facebook page and began to reconnect with long-lost friends, learning who was doing what now. She shared that temporary depression settled upon her, as she compared her life now to the lives of some she connected with. I say “temporary” because she eventually realigned her true feelings about this.
Activities we usually name as time wasters are too much TV viewing, daydreaming, or anything that isn’t a productive use of minutes and hours. Here are a few more to consider. Gossip. What’s the point, really? Conveying needed information to the appropriate person or people is useful, but negative gossip is a misuse of time and energy; and as Gandhi said, a form of violence. Each of us does the best we believe we can to make our way through our lives and challenges even if others don’t see it that way.
In the 75 poems that reflect on life transitions and moments of keen awareness, found in Out of the Kiln: Vessels of Hope, accomplished poet Wendi Romero writes so that words no longer remain on the page but merge with the “tissues and bones” of the reader. Romero captures texture and substance of a spiritually conscious or aware life — of a feeling life, and uses her skillful craft to richly embroider the imagery and meaning of each poem in this exquisite offering.
I live in a quiet building in a quiet neighborhood. Awakened at 4:15a.m. by a racket, I couldn’t help but notice it was unusual. A couple was engaged in a squall and had no qualms about sharing it with neighbors when they took it into the hallway. Based on what I overheard, if that relationship ...
There is a phrase, “That person rubs me the wrong way,” that basically means the person (though it also could be a situation) doesn’t make you feel good. You, at times, do this with your thoughts (most of us do); so what works to shift this? Esther Hicks of Abraham fame has a video on YouTube, “Now Is Where All Your Power Is, Part 2,” where she likens feeding negative thoughts—any thoughts that take you out of feeling good—with rubbing your hand on sandpaper.
There’s one particular thing that often stands in the way of any desired change; and, its partner has near-equal influence. Do you know what these are? Consideration about the ignition switch for real change started with an email from an associate saying he was in a state of flux and it didn’t feel good. I emailed to check on him a week later and he responded that he’d made a decision to focus on one specific project he really wanted to engage, rather than all the opportunities being presented to him.
Do you ever feel afraid to be as you are? See if actor Patrick Stewart’s story and these comments help you think or feel differently about this. Tavis Smiley interviewed Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation). The topic of Stewart’s famed hairless dome came up, and Stewart revealed he was as bald by age nineteen as he is today; and that for years, he wore a comb-over. His defining moment came after lunch at the home of a Hungarian black belt Judo player, who was also a director, and his wife. The couple left the room—Stewart thought to make coffee.
Are you a life coach (or not) who toys with the idea of writing articles, e-books, and/or books? Don’t let a block stop you from making a difference; someone is waiting to hear from you. Imagine receiving emails that say something like “I had a breakthrough when I read your article.” (from a reader) “Your articles are so good I have difficulty choosing which one to use.” (from the editor of a monthly newsletter) “I recently re-read your book and had a major shift about a life-long issue.
Perhaps you have certain feelings or longings that are vague, or sharp. These are callings from your soul, drawing attention to areas of you that need to be filled. At one time or another, you may feel one or more of the following:rn-Depressed or at least that you could feel happier -Desirous of more meaning in and for your life -As though there is a void inside you and you don’t know how to fill itrn-Disillusioned about life and relationshipsrn-(Your own longing here)
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe said, “As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” I speak with many people who don’t trust one thing or another in life. Ultimately, what they don’t trust is themselves and their ability to make right choices. The result is dissatisfaction and a feeling ...
There’s all kinds of advice on how to write includingnn • You must write every day. • Write in the same designated spot at the same time every day. • Write for at least one hour every day. • Get up early several mornings or every morning to write. • You must have complete silence. • You must eat ...
I love new writers. I really do (I was one, once upon a time). They are my favorite clients because they need the most assistance and guidance, and usually have tremendous enthusiasm about moving forward. They also don’t know what they don’t know. Some new writers have a fair understanding about what’s involved in writing (and publishing or self-publishing) their first book, but most don’t have a clue; they just know they want to write and/or have something to say or share.
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” You don’t want to imitate a favorite author, but you can learn a lot from him or her. Whether you create notes for plot and character development first or dive into writing your novel, you want to get as much written as possible in your first ...
You pick a goal and hit it. You’re supposed to feel good or great, even amazing—but, you don’t. Hmm . . . You followed the formula: picked a goal, made a plan, worked your plan. You succeeded, but you don’t feel the way you thought you would. What happened? You aimed at the wrong target. Here are three ways that can happen. 1. You set a goal based on a “should,” whether you “should” on yourself or someone else did. You did everything required, rang the bell and got the coconut—but you really desire an apple.
If you take hold of a pendulum and pull it a certain distance from center point then release it, the rebound swing in the opposite direction matches the distance you held it from center point. When we’ve felt restricted (allowed it) and “free” ourselves from that scenario, we may experience ...
Do you ever wonder if you’re on the right road of your life? If this is or has been your experience, how did you manage yourself? A friend and I took a road trip using her GPS to get us from New York City to Louisiana. We wanted to beat the anticipated July Fourth traffic, so left Thursday evening and drove until we stopped for the night.
This particular reason keeps the same problem or problems around far longer than you ever imagined they would be. It’s also what contributes to your feeling stressed, exhausted, frustrated, and why little to no lasting progress is made, no matter what you do. Think of one issue you’ve been personally struggling with for a while, say, five years or longer. It might be money, weight, health, business or career, or something else (more about what the real issues may be in a moment).
An e-book can satisfy your desire to write, act as a business building tool, and provide true value to others in many ways. There are guidelines should you use to guarantee its quality. Here are several key points you want to use to improve or guarantee value for readers. Consider them before you write or type the first word of your e-book or any other product you intend to sell to or share with readers. While you read these, notice how they apply to how you can market what you offer more effectively, as well. You’ve decided on your topic.
I use a three-day process when I feel or see a shift in my life and don’t want to jump without knowing where to jump. I state that between that moment and the end of the third day, I‘ll absolutely know what to do; and then I Put It Down, metaphorically, and do and think about other things. This ...
If you’ve heard this advice for new writers before, it bears repeating: Read novels by other authors, especially, but not solely, in your genre. This is beneficial, but there’s something else you could or should do while you read, to help you improve your writing vocabulary.
What we choose not only influences us in the moment, but beyond it. How well or often do you practice the power of choice?
A writer, especially a new writer, is understandably excited and eager to get his/her manuscript to an agent for consideration or self-published. But, it’s imperative you submit writing that shows an agent there’s reason to be interested in you as a promising writer, or make certain it’s ready to self-publish. As a writer, you are attached to your manuscript—your baby. I get that. As someone who provides services for writers, I get attached too . . . because I care deeply about assisting clients to have better experiences as writers, with their first and subsequent manuscripts.
How and what do you feel when a writer shares an insight or technique that creates a desired shift for you at the inner and/or outer level? Exactly! You’re reading this now, which means you have a desire to provide a similar experience for others through your unique offering: articles, e-books, and even books you may write. We life coaches feel deep motivation to assist others to self-empower.
Ah, the thrill of being a new writer. You hold the image of or feel excitement about your completed or soon-to-be-completed project. What kind of clues might a new writer need; and will you avoid this kind of embarrassment? I received an email from the relative of a new writer. She was ...
When something goes missing, do you lose your cool or move to Plan B? Saturday morning, I woke to find myself unable to access my email account. Any of you who actively use your email for professional and personal reasons might identify with what I might have felt at that moment. And when a ...
To abbreviate or not to abbreviate—that is the question. In this day and age of texting, people are becoming adept at using abbreviations. However, this is not appropriate, for the most part, when writing fiction or nonfiction, unless your characters have dialogues that involve texting. You have to spell out the words. There is a lot more to know about abbreviations in creative and formal writing, of course, but here are several common occurrences writers are sometimes unfamiliar with or confused by.
You may have learned the same skills as your peers when you trained, but what is unique about you? What do you do or offer (or would like to) that’s different? Mike Litman said, “Your prosperity is hidden in the problem you were born to solve.” It’s not only about what is unique about you, but what you’d like to be unique about you.