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Writing tips, helpful hints, and stories to help you finish your book!


Reflections of a Nonprofit Heart
In junior high, I once jumped off a table Wonder Woman-style (but without bullet-proof bracelets) to defend another child from being teased. I don’t remember why I was perched on a table in art class, but I do remember the drama of leaping between this bully and his victim. Without hesitating, I knew I had


Three Reasons to Write a Book for Yourself First
Most entrepreneurs, speakers, coaches, and leaders will say they want to write a book to benefit their readers—and rightly so. But I’m here to tell you that it’s A-Okay for you to write a book for yourself first. Why? Because when you invest your time, money, and whole heart into writing a quality book, your


Is Your Editor a Friend or Foe?
If you’ve never worked hand-in-hand with an editor before, you may not know much about how the editing process works. You might also be afraid of what an editor will think about your writing. Will she be your friend or your foe? Writers new to working with editors might picture them as people like your


The Spitter
Ohio takes football seriously. There is nothing more insulting than making a disparaging remark about the Buckeyes, especially if the remark comes from a Michigan fan. Dan, wearing a maize-and-blue shirt says, “Mrs. Eberst, he spit on me.” Looking at the accused spatter and thinking this is out of character for this student, I call


Five Surprising Writing Rules from The Chicago Manual of Style
The Chicago Manual of Style, informally known as Chicago or CMS, is the reference guide for editors of fiction and nonfiction books. It’s our go-to source for editing guidelines and for any suggestions we editors make to authors about their manuscript. Although CMS contains volumes of principles and guidelines about writing, here are five general


Financing Your Writing
I know sometimes it’s tough to deal with the challenges of feeling like you don’t have enough money to do the things you really want: take a vacation, buy a new car, or even start your own business. I have spent many years as a business coach training people around sales and money conversations. Over


Why You Should Take Source Citation Seriously
Perhaps you remember this task from school. You had to write a term paper or a thesis, and your professor explained that you had to cite your sources, pointing you to MLA or APA as your guide. If you were anything like me, you might have rolled your eyes, yawned, or cried to the heavens,


Three Ways to Find Time to Write
One of the legitimate concerns people face when it comes to writing a book (or even a blog) is finding time to write. Believe it or not, as a well-published author, I can sympathize. I’m always writing or editing for my clients—that’s my job! What often feels like a struggle, however, is finding time to

Author, Hiding Behind the Mask of Leadership