Oh, what truth lies in this one sentence. Reading and writing are inextricably intertwined. A non-reader will never be a writer. It's just not possible. Reading voraciously, widely, and attentively (My apologies to Steven King for the use of adverbs.) expands a potential writer's vocabulary and his or her understanding of useful literary devices, sparks ideas for creating compelling sentences, and oh, so much more! If you refuse to read, you will not write, at least not well.

Every creative person takes a huge risk each time he or she pulls work out of the safe dark recesses of the studio and displays it in the light for all to see. We put our deepest thoughts -- and the secrets of our hearts out there for the whole world to judge. Perhaps our work will be understood, praised, and accepted, or, perhaps, it will be misunderstood, ridiculed, and rejected. We never know for sure until we try. Keep in mind, Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Se

When I was a teenager contemplating my future, I considered becoming a concert pianist. I couldn't think of anything else that would bring me such joy. It had never occurred to me that I could write for a living. I brought my idea up to my wonderful and lovingly honest piano teacher. Her response? "It takes three things to be a concert pianist: passion for the music - you have that; tremendous discipline - you have that; and amazing natural talent - you don't have that." You

I love talking to various people about writing as a career. The misconceptions I hear often make me smile. When I say I'm a writer, many assume I must have at least a few published books on the bookstore shelves. (I don't.) Or, they think it is not a "real" job but a hobby that anyone who wants to can successfully pick up in their spare time. (It's not.) If they only knew! Though it's not unusual for writers to have to take other jobs in order to pay the bills and keep food o

Each of us has a spark that, when cultivated, can inspire and benefit others. No matter whether you are in your "right mind" like me (though some might argue that point) and possess an artistic brain with almost no ability to grasp science and math or if you are predominantly left-brain or are a more balanced thinker, you have a creativity that can be nurtured to disrupt the status-quo in your field. Now, more than ever before, companies are seeking employees willing to think

Why do some see so much while most see so little? It's a matter of training ourselves to be aware. William Blake happens to be one of my favorite poets, and one of my favorite quotes of his reads, "To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour." As sentient creatures, we have the ability to appreciate the awe-inspiring creativity found in a single grain of sand or snowflake or wild flower or b

Inigo Montoya's words to Vizzini drive home Munro's point. The story we think we are telling is often not the whole story, and the whole story and its meaning are what every writer must aspire to discover. Anecdotes spice up conversation, help to drive home a point, and, often, comprise good jokes. However, they do not make for good reading, because they are almost always just the visible piece of the iceberg. Writers must dive in, daring to tread the icy waters to find the w

Remember the old adage, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"? How wrong this particular piece of old "wisdom" is! Words can hurt. Words DO hurt. Sometimes, words hurt more than any physical attack, for they can wound us to our core and suck the life from our spirit. According to my research, this is a bastardization of the original and, in context, it changes the meaning dramatically, which illustrates Hawthorne's point perfectly. Words are jus

Just as Dorothy and her compatriots experienced fear every step of the way on the yellow brick road as they strode arm in arm toward the Emerald City, so every writer worth his salt is terrified every time he sits down to write. As Hemingway put it, "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." Writing is hard, painful, and frightening work. We make our hearts and souls vulnerable every time we commit a sentence to paper. We know, in the end

Ain't that the truth? Sometimes, I've written what I think is a brilliant article. Then, I read it and my heart sinks. Not brilliant but dull as all get-out. *sigh* Time for a rewrite. And, even if the first draft was pretty good, it can always be better and, usually, a LOT better. I have learned that editing and rewriting are just as important as the original story for the story to shine in all it's potential splendor. I've also learned that, even though I also work as an ed