When something won’t stop gnawing at you
What am I doing with New York Times best-selling author Anne Lamott? I’ll tell you but first, a little back story. Years ago, I wrote a magazine column for Whole Living, which then got bought by Martha Stewart and became Body & Soul. In addition to the column, I was given a radio show on […]
Continue readingThe simple truth you overlook to be the creator you were born to be
I recently shared a passage from George Saunders’ delightful writing book A Swim in the Pond in the Rain with my Non-fiction Mastermind and I want to share it with you too. Saunders explains how as writers (or any kind of creators!) we may have romantic dreams of what kind of writer (creator) we want […]
Continue readingCreative Triage After A Hurt or Disappointment
Last week I explored that horrible moment when someone tries to crush your creative dreams and this week, let’s talk creative triage– or how to keep from getting stuck in a stinky story that you suck and it isn’t safe to keep going. Because if you don’t address your fears that “they” are right or […]
Continue readingWhen Someone Tries to Crush your Dream
I became a creativity mentor and writing coach because of a conversation with another writer in my 20’s. I was making inroads in my career as a professional screenwriter but struggling mightily with my confidence when another writer said to me, “Maybe you aren’t really a writer because it’s so hard for you. Writing is […]
Continue readingHow to Create when You Feel like a Fraud
Have you been feeling unsure of yourself recently? I know my confidence has certainly taken a hit lately. For me, it’s connected to the pandemic — the social isolation has triggered old stories of not belonging and my weird goofiness being too much. How about for you? And yet… create I must. It’s how I […]
Continue readingHow to Create During a Pandemic
If your creative self is feeling flattened by the pandemic, as is mine, consider this email a treasure chest of creative care and feeding from my creative heart to yours. Light one of the scented candles you got as a gift for the holidays, put on some music, and nourish devotion with your breath and […]
Continue readingWhat’s Your Root Story?
I recently taught a webinar called How to Fail at Business Without Really Trying and I wanted to share a key takeaway from my talk that transcends business and is important for getting out of your way so you can make more of what you want in life. Which is… What’s your root story? The […]
Continue readingThe 5 biggest mistakes I’ve made in my business
I’ve worked for myself for nearly 30-years. I had a straight-job for only a little over a year after college, working at a famous talent agency, and then I started writing screenplays, then publishing books, speaking and teaching, and in 1999, creating online communities and courses. I’ve had a ton of success and I’ve had […]
Continue readingHow to Take Action on the BIG issue without Getting Overwhelmed
In my last blog, I talked about ditching climate shame, and how important is it that we become activists for big system changes because while it is important to change our own consumption habits, it can’t alone alleviate the crisis. Greta Thunberg went to Davos in 2019 not to ask the billionaires to stop eating […]
Continue readingDitch the Climate Shame
In my latest book, Why Bother?, I wrote about how I had been dodging my desire to do more about the climate emergency. As someone who has followed the climate crisis since high school (yep, that long), I had gotten in the habit of throwing up my hands and giving up. But not anymore. I […]
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