Why is it that so many of us are frustrated in our attempts to achieve our big goals? Steve McClatchy believes that we make decisions about how to achieve these goals based on the faulty assumption that all goals and tasks are to be managed the same way. He explains that there are two forms of human motivation: those driven …

There is something really powerful about creating a positive intention. I’ve been working with my coaching clients on harnessing this power by encouraging them to wear the button I created, “Ask me about my book!” I jokingly say that the buttons are magic—but only when you wear them! There’s magic in first putting it on and wearing it to the …

Why is it so hard to start a big project? Maybe it’s because it is so big that it seems daunting, or that it’s difficult to identify the best first step. Starting your book can offer the same challenges: how do you get started in a productive and confident manner? Here are six ideas about what NOT to do when …

“Why would anybody want to ready my story?” was the innocent question asked by a client in a recent strategy session. And it’s a question that I’ve heard repeatedly from aspiring authors. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to answer that question, and what I’ve discovered is that my answer is based on a series of my beliefs about …

While it’s not that many words, finding and honing the right words for your message can be a daunting task. Read about Alicia’s experience in putting together her contribution for an anthology. This experience was an awakening for me.  After tons, and I do mean tons of research, it felt like I was writing a thesis and I couldn’t write …

In my years working with consultants (I now have more than 25 years under my belt), I’ve found that there are definite signs as to whether you are consultant material or not. I truly believe that some folks are cut out for consulting and others just aren’t. Take this unscientific quiz and determine if you think and act like a …

Why are memoirs so compelling? They’re authentic—and they’re stories! Also, the best memoir writers use fiction-writing techniques to “show” readers their experiences, filling scenes with sensory detail—the faded reds of an heirloom quilt, for instance, or the bloom of gray lichen on a gravestone—thus, creating immediacy and reader sympathy. As non-narrative nonfiction writers—business writers, thought leaders, journalists, scientists, scholars—seeking to …

You’ve been there. You’ve met that demon. And its name is “Productive Procrastination.” As I work with coaching clients, I realize that there comes a point in every engagement when my coaching clients try to explain why they didn’t do what they said they would do. And often, these reasons seem highly plausible if not downright rational. My question, though, …

Finding the right editor for your manuscript helps you feeling confident you’ve got a good match and comfortable that your editor understands what you want to accomplish. How do you start this match-making process? By first seeking a reputable editor who understands the type of book you have written. If your book is business or self-help, for example, choose an …

There will be times in your writing where you’ll be a little stuck. Maybe your outline is perfectly fine, but there’s a little catch in it somewhere where you just can’t express the idea correctly. You’re sitting there, mouth half-open, and you’re staring at the screen, waiting for your fingers to move, and they’re not moving. This is Writer’s Block, …