-
Need an Author’s Checklist?
As a certified creativity coach, I work a lot with authors and writers, many of whom are looking to publish their work with a traditional publisher. A question that comes up often is, “Do I need an agent?” I invited my colleague Elizabeth Kracht, author of the book, The Author’s Checklist: An Agent’s Guide to Developing and Editing Your Manuscript to join me for a dialogue on my blog today about her role as a literary agent and what advice she has for aspiring authors. ********************* What do you like most about being a literary agent? I like helping people to realize their dreams. I like to promote artists. I like having a pulse on what’s happening with humanity, in this country, with individuals, and hearing about projects…
-
Creating in the Messiness of Life
Life is always ebbing and flowing. We may find ourselves at various points – moving in and out, up and down, exploring and experimenting – and circling back around to where we started, but with a heightened sense of awareness and understanding. The same is true in the creation process. Creativity ebbs and flows – with surprises and new discoveries always being made, regardless of where we’ve started or the journey we’ve taken. There’s always something new that wants to be noticed – and it seems to come when we least expect it. On my daily five-mile walks, I’m always noticing how nature communicates with me. And this week, after the storms we’ve had here in the Northeast of the United States, I noticed the…
-
How Darkness Can Inspire Your Creativity
Are you going through a difficult time, unsure of your next steps – or contemplating a change in direction with no idea of how to move forward? Do you feel stuck in your creative process, wondering how to best express yourself as you transition into the next phase of life? We’ll soon be moving into another new moon phase – which always brings a time of new beginnings. Where one door closes, another one opens. During a new moon phase, the sky is completely black, other than the surrounding stars. It’s the point in every month when the moon takes a retreat and begins to grow again, redoubling her light and reflecting new creative energy on the world. It brings to our awareness the potential that darkness has in…
-
Are You Living a Van Gogh Story?
There’s a quote by inspirational speaker and author Wayne Dyer that brings to light the power of now – and the significance that courage plays into fully realizing one’s potential. “Don’t die with your music still inside you.” As a self-empowerment coach for highly-creative and spiritually-minded women who are here to express their life’s purpose through artistic endeavors, I’m fully aware of how much courage it takes to stand in front of an audience and share your unique gifts. Many adults struggle with courage and end up “holding back” – for an entire lifetime – gifts and talents that could so easily be appreciated by others. This “holding back” can be triggered by a multitude of things – lack of self-worth, lack of confidence, fear of criticism, fear of…
-
How Resourceful Are You?
We’re entering a full moon phase tonight in the practical and resourceful sign of Capricorn. It’s a great time to review what you already have in place, both personally and professionally – and begin to look for creative ways to rework, reframe, or reshape what might be feeling old and stagnant. Many times, all we need is a refresh – and not an overhaul. As author and motivational speaker, Tony Robbins says – “Success is not about your resources. It’s about how resourceful you are with what you have.” How creative are you with the resources you already have? Rather than continually looking for “something else” – how can you make the best of what you already possess? Pay close attention to what’s under your nose –…
