I had the good fortune to have Angela Duckworth teach several segments of the Positive Psychology certificate program I took a couple of years ago. She used the research that led to her book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, as examples throughout. So I continue to follow her... Read more →

It doesn't matter whether you're writing a fantasy novel, a memoir, history for a popular audience, a nonfiction business book, or any other genre you can think of, your job will be easier – and your book will be better – if you take the time to find your throughline.... Read more →

When Yvonne showed me the Stories from the Trenches she'd collected over the years from our author friends to include in our upcoming book, The How to Write a Book Book: Your Step-by-Step Plans for Bringing BIG IDEAS to Life One Page at a Time, I decided my contribution would offer a few specific lessons derived from the HGTV stars we enjoy watching together. Here are excerpts from that chapter: Read more →

This is an update of a post I wrote way back in 2005, in our early book publishing blog, A‑ha! - Authors Helping Authors. Now that Yvonne and I are working on a new book together, called The How to Write a Book Book, I revisited the topic and found... Read more →

I gathered a lot of quotations while researching the topics covered in Read ‘Em & Reap! Many are spread throughout the book, so I thought I’d collect my favorites and share them here. A few I’ve put into images that I hope you’ll feel free to share. A couple are... Read more →

The subtitle of my book is 6 Science-Backed Ways Reading Puts You on the Road to Achieving More and Living Longer. The title of this post confirms what the judge I worked for right after law school taught me: No piece of writing is ever done; you just run out... Read more →

Perhaps in Buddha’s time it made sense to identify your calling “and then, with all your heart, give yourself to it.” And as the quote implies, expect to spend the rest of your life at that pursuit. Buddha’s Blunder? I’m not that old, so I can’t be sure if it... Read more →

After “retiring” from our BlogPaws business, I spent a lot of my time on getting clear about the work I want to do going forward and how to make life meaningful. Turns out helping you on that same kind of quest for clarity and purpose is a big part of... Read more →

Apprenticeship – repro of painting by Emile Adan c1914 US LOC – Public Domain – http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2002709641/ “Be an Apprentice, Not a Student,” advises our friend and business coach Mary Anne Shew. Does that mindset resonate with you? It sure did for me! If you agree that learning should remain at... Read more →

In the work team photo above, which member(s): Founded the company? Served in the military and led a helicopter rescue team in a combat zone? Wrote the programming language used in the team’s current project? Contribute the most innovative ideas on how their new product will solve customers’ problems? Talk... Read more →