How to Overcome the Top 10 Challenges to Writing Your Book
Writing your book is a big deal. Like, for real. And you may encounter obstacles that threaten to derail your progress or stifle your creativity altogether. Let’s talk about the top 10 challenges that arise and how to overcome them. 1. Time Constraints: You are busy with your business or corporate role plus family and creating space for yourself. Finding time to write and manage the book-writing process can be difficult. The key to overcoming any scheduling issue is to, well, look at your calendar. Maybe you put the kids to bed and spend the next hour scrolling social media or watching TV. What if you set aside one hour twice a week to spend in community with other authors facing the same issues? Imagine how high you would fly. 2. Lack of Writing Experience: While you might be an expert in your field, you may not have experience writing for publication. You struggle with structuring your ideas, maintaining a consistent voice, or even just getting started. Here’s the key: Participating in a program with expert guidance about writing techniques, structure, and voice with other writers who are almost certainly going through the same thing makes the writing process more approachable. 3. Overwhelm and Direction: The process of writing a book can be overwhelming, especially if you’re a first-time author. While you have a solid idea, it’s more common than not to have no idea where to start. Writing a book doesn’t start with writing a book; it begins with your first word. You know that saying about how to eat an elephant is just one bite at a time? Writing your book is best done in stages with clear milestones and goals. 4. Publishing Navigation: The world of publishing can be complex and daunting. Deciding between traditional publishing and self-publishing, understanding the pros and cons of both, and navigating the publishing process can feel like just another hurdle to clear. The great news about publishing now is that you aren’t tied to traditional publishers and can choose to self-publish. There are definite benefits for either method, and the one you choose will depend on what’s right for your topic, your audience, and, frankly, how much you’re willing to invest. 5. Marketing and Visibility: Once the book is published, the next challenge is marketing and selling to recoup your investment and to start making money. What most authors don’t know is that even with traditional publishing, you will carry the majority of the responsibility for marketing your book. A combination of content marketing, social media and email marketing, and in-person events as well as fully utilizing your networks can build an audience, a following, a platform, and, ultimately, sales. 6. Lack of Accountability and Support: Writing can be a solitary activity. Without a support system or accountability structure, it can be easy to lose motivation or direction. Joining a program where you writing in community with other authors helps maintain momentum and motivation. You support each other, provide feedback, tips, and tricks so everyone can finish their manuscripts. 7. Perfectionism and Self-Doubt: Maybe you struggle with perfectionism or imposter syndrome. Perhaps you doubt the value of your book or your ability to write it. You are uniquely suited to write about your experience, your expertise, and your journey to help others avoid the mistakes you made so they can find success by the end of your book. Your readers will choose your book hoping you can help them. By the time they turn the last page, they’ll already be taking action! 8. Financial Investment Concerns: Investing in writing and publishing your book can be a significant financial decision, but the reward can be so much bigger! Imagine working way less and making way more because your book instantly brands you as an expert. You’ll boost your credibility, brand awareness and profile, and increase business opportunities such as speaking on more stages for bigger fees, partnerships and collaborations, and passive income. Your book can do all that and more. 9. Understanding the Market: Knowing your ideal reader is the first step in writing a message that sells. What keeps them up at night? How can your book solve their problem? Go beyond the demographics of your reader and dig into their psychographics to really know what makes them tick. When you have a firm grasp of who they are as a person, you’ll have a better idea how to position your book in the market. Use AI tools to help you research keywords associated with your reader and how to market to them. 10. Balancing Personal and Professional Insights: Finding the right balance between sharing your expertise and your personal stories can be tricky, but this is how you establish credibility and authenticity. Unless you’re penning an academic textbook, readers want you to talk to them like a real person, as if you’re sitting down together having coffee. As you explain theories and concepts, you need to also relate your lived experiences and the lessons you learned from them. If you’re ready to start and finish your book, to get it out of your head and into the hands of readers, let’s talk! Schedule a call today.
Writing Your Book Could Lead to Unlimited Earning Potential
Let’s be honest: Nothing cements your authority like a book. Your book signals your expertise to the world and serves as representation of your zone of genius, hard-earned knowledge, and unique perspective. For women entrepreneurs and female executives like yourself, writing your book is a strategic move that brands you as an expert and opens the door to unlimited earning potential. Elevate Your Brand, Elevate Your Earnings As an executive or business owner, your brand is your promise to your audience. Authoring a book deepens the trust people have in you to deliver. Because books have a unique way of breaking barriers, readers engage with your thoughts on a deeper level, building a connection that other media can’t match. This is the key to unlocking higher earning potential. With a book, you’re not just selling a product or service; you’re providing value through your expertise, and that’s what people will pay a premium for. Speak More, Earn More If you want to explore speaking or increase how often you speak, a book also serves as your ticket to larger speaking fees and bigger and better stages. Event organizers need speakers (especially women) who bring knowledge, credibility, and a following. As an author, you can command larger fees because your insights are now published, vetted, and valued. Your book becomes the business card you leave behind, a persistent reminder of your expertise. It’s not just about the immediate sales; it’s about the doors that open each time someone reads your work. Unlimited Opportunities The corporate ladder is no longer the only path to success because let’s face it; the corporate American wage gap is very real, especially for Black and Latinx women. Writing a book creates a ladder of its own, leading to opportunities such as consulting gigs to mentorship roles, from media appearances to exclusive networks—authorship can take you there. And let’s not forget the potential for passive income. Each copy you sell translates to revenue that doesn’t require your active participation. Your book works for you, spreading your message and enhancing your brand, while you focus more energy on other aspects of your business. Final Thoughts Writing a book about your zone of genius does more than just establish credibility; It changes the game. Your book is an investment in your brand that pays dividends in greater marketability; higher fees for your products, services, and appearnaces; and expanded opportunities. For the woman who’s ready to take her business and/or her career to the next level, authoring a book is essential. Write your book, and claim your unlimited earning potential. My 8-week writing program helps you start AND finish your book so you can start taking advantage of all the doors your book will open for you. Schedule a call today to be part of the next cohort!
The Power of Storytelling: Connect, Attract, and Collaborate
Because we live and operate in a global economy, it can be easy for you to feel as though you can’t possibly stand out in what feels like a saturated marketplace. Forget dry product descriptions and sterile marketing jargon. The key to growth and deeper connection on almost every level lies in storytelling. Why? Because stories are a strategic tool that can deepen connections with current customers, attract new clients, and even open doors to partnerships and collaborations. So, what makes storytelling such a powerful business tool? Deepen Connections with Current Customers Storytelling forges connections. When business owners like you share your stories — your journey, the challenges you’ve overcome, and the successes you’ve celebrated — they create a bond with your customers. Your stories make your business relatable and trustworthy. For example, a customer is more likely to feel a connection with your brand when you share your humble beginnings or the inspiration behind your products and/or services. This emotional connection fosters loyalty and can transform a one-time buyer into a lifelong advocate. Attract New Clients Standing out is crucial. Storytelling can be the difference. A compelling story not only captures attention, it also makes your brand memorable. Potential clients are often drawn to businesses that have a unique narrative or a purpose-driven mission. By leveraging storytelling in your marketing efforts — through social media, content marketing, and/or paid advertising — you can create a narrative that resonates with your target audience, thereby attracting new clients who align with your brand values. Create Partnerships and Collaborations Storytelling can also pave the way for partnerships and collaborations. When you share your stories, they reveal their values, goals, and the unique aspects of their brand. This transparency can attract like-minded businesses and entrepreneurs, leading to collaborative opportunities. For example, if you share your commitment to sustainability through your brand story, you could attract partnerships from eco-friendly suppliers or other like-minded brands. Imagine how joint ventures or collaborative marketing campaigns could help you grow your business. The Ripple Effect of a Good Story The impact of a good story goes beyond customer engagement. It influences all aspects of your business — from your internal culture and employee morale to brand identity and market position. A story well-told can inspire, motivate, and drive change. Final thoughts Storytelling is not just a tool for effective communication; it acts as a catalyst for building deeper connections, attracting new opportunities, and fostering collaborative relationships. Mastering the art of storytelling is not just beneficial; it’s essential for growth and success in the global competitive landscape in which we find ourselves.
How to Choose the Right Topic for Your Book
Raise your hand if you’ve had more than a few people say, “You should write a book!” The moment you decided to actually do it, you almost certainly felt a rush of exhilaration. If you’re like most authors, though, you need to sift through a variety of topic ideas, especially if you plan to use your book as marketing leverage to boost your business and/or cement your subject matter expertise. Align Your Passion with Purpose The best topics are often found at the intersection of what you love talking about and what your audience wants to know or learn. The key is to choose something that not only excites you but also holds value for your readers. Your book should also offer a fresh perspective, new insights, or innovative solutions based on your experiences, skill set(s), and knowledge base. Your book is not just about the topic you choose; it’s about covering it in a way that only you can. Research and Market Analysis Research the market and identify gaps your book could fill. Look at best-selling titles in your niche, understanding current trends, and recognizing subjects that are underserved. Tools like Amazon’s bestseller lists, Google Trends, and reader forums are at your fingertips to provide valuable insights into what readers are buying. Understanding Your Target Audience Who are you writing for? Understanding your target audience is vital. What problems does your idea reader face that your book could solve? Having detailed information about your audience helps you write a more targeted message for them, increasing the relevance and appeal of your book. Testing Your Ideas Once you have a few ideas, test them by sharing with your peers, potential readers, or through social media. Feedback at this stage can be invaluable to refine your topic. This not only helps validate your idea but also connects with your potential audience early in the process. Flexibility and Adaptation Unfortunately, the book writing process isn’t linear, so be open to adapting your topic based on research you do and feedback you receive. The best topic might not be your first idea, and that’s okay. Flexibility is key, and you should be prepared for your initial concept to evolve. Final thoughts Choosing the right topic for your first book is a journey in itself. By aligning your expertise and passions with the interests and needs of your audience, you will write a book that provides incredible value to your readers and for your business, too. If you’re ready to finally get your book out of your head and into the hands of readers, my eight-week writing program could be a great fit. Schedule a call today!
Starting Your First Book: A Guide for Aspiring Authors
Writing your first book is often exhilarating and daunting at the same time. If you are an aspiring author who also balances a busy professional life, taking the first step of your publishing journey is often the most fraught, but it doesn’t have to be. Understand the Challenges The first obstacle you face writing a book is psychological. You’ve carried your book idea in your head for years, but the thought of getting it on paper (or a screen) has been more than a little overwhelming. Thinking of the tasks before you — organizing thoughts, structuring chapters, and committing to a consistent writing routine and finding the time — can be paralyzing. The good news is that there’s a way forward. Break It Down The key to overcoming paralysis is to break down the writing process into manageable steps. Before you write a single word, you need to understand your ideal reader; their gender, ethnicity, income level, where they live, their values and beliefs, if they like to travel and where, how they spend their free time, if they have children, and so much more. Next, writer’s block is a myth. The first step in writing your book is not writing your book. Instead, you need to write a sentence, then a paragraph, then a page. Taking an incremental approach helps the process more doable and makes the goal of a finished manuscript seem more achievable. Find Your ‘Why’ Every great book starts with a purpose. As an author, you need to understand why you feel compelled to write this book. Perhaps you want to share your zone of genius to grow your personal brand and be seen as a credible source for paid solutions, Maybe you want to explain your professional expertise to sell more offers. Getting clear on your “why” provides motivation and guides your writing process. Start with the End in Mind What transformation do you promise your readers? Writing your book should spur your readers to take action, change the way they feel, or ask them to think differently. When they pick up your book, your readers hope you can help them. By the time they turn the last page, they’ve already taken action. Create a Roadmap Once your purpose is clear, the next step is to create a roadmap — your outline — for your book. Don’t freak out. If you’ve ever put together an agenda for a meeting, you’ve written an outline. List the main ideas for your book and organize them in a way that takes your reader on a journey that brings the transformation you promised. As a nonfiction writer who wants to grow your business, your outline should include key points, case studies, and real-life examples that support your arguments or narratives. Set a Routine Writing a book requires setting aside the time, finding the space, and having the right instruments. You don’t need to write every day, but you need to find a sustainable practice that works for you. If you set a goal of 1,000 words per week, for example, where and when you write is less important than reaching your goal. Embracing the Process You need to remember to trust the process, especially when you have days of frustration and can’t get the words out of your head and through your fingers. Go for a walk, do some jumping jacks, take some action on another task; whatever takes your mind off the passage you’re trying to write. Creating some distance between you and your work-in-progress can jumpstart the flow of words. Each word you write moves you closer to your goal. Every author you admire started exactly where you are now. Seek Guidance and Support Last, writing a book can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. A writing coach and a community of writers can provide the support and encouragement you need to keep going. My eight-week writing program is designed so you start AND finish your book. You’ll have a step-by-step framework, resources, and coaching to write your book as well as access to help publishing and marketing your the book. Most importantly, you’ll be part of a community so you don’t write alone. I’d love to talk with you about your book! Schedule a call today.
Children’s books also require the elements of every great story
Books are critical for a child’s development. Not only do they help increase their vocabulary, preparing them for success in school, stories also introduce children to people, cultures, languages, and places outside their day-to-day lives. Authors of children’s stories have to remember kids need to be entertained, especially if there’s a message being conveyed. Additionally, you need to plan, plot, and outline your story to be sure it includes a clear beginning, middle, and end; an engaging conflict with resolution; fully realized characters; and a well-defined world with consistent rules.In a nutshell, children’s books need to take readers on a journey. Beginning: Setting the Stage The beginning of your picture book should immediately draw your audience — in this case, the child and/or the adult reading to the child — into the story. This is where you introduce the setting and the main character. In picture books, the illustrations do the heavy lifting, so you won’t describe, for example, what characters are wearing. Because picture books are for young readers, stepping into the world of your story needs to be vivid and immediately engaging. Middle: Building the Narrative The middle of the story is where your plot thickens by introducing the conflict or problem the main character must face. This challenge should be appropriate for your target age group – not too simple and not too complex. Maybe they need to resolve and internal conflict, like overcoming fear, or an external one, such as solving a mystery. This segment is critical for character development, allowing the protagonist to demonstrate qualities such as bravery, kindness, or resilience. Reaching the crescendo of your story is where the rules of the world where the story takes place are tested and reinforced. This is how you ensure consistency throughout your narrative. Characters: The Heart of the Story Children connect with characters who are relatable and dynamic. The main character of every story you write should embody traits that young readers can admire or identify with. Supporting characters also play a vital role. They’re either in action right alongside the main character or presenting hurdles to overcome. These characters should be just as realized and multi-dimensional and the main character and help the story along. World: A Consistent Universe The world of the story must adhere to its own set of rules. Whether it’s a magical kingdom or a simple backyard, the environment should be consistent and believable within the context of the story. End: A Satisfying Conclusion The end of your story should bring the resolution to the conflict. It’s key that the resolution is satisfying and makes sense within the established world and plot. Most importantly, though, no matter if your main character is a child or a duck with whom a child can relate, they must be the one who solves the problem. Leaving a Smile Finally, the most magical element of your children’s picture book is its ability to leave young readers with a smile. If children close your book smiling, you increase the likelihood they’ll come back to your story time and time again. Final thoughts Books are so important in a child’s development, often serving as their introduction to people, places, and things they may otherwise not encounter in their young lives. At the same time, your story needs to entertain your readers Creating a picture book for children requires a delicate balance of storytelling elements: a clear narrative structure, relatable characters, a consistent world, and a positive resolution. Ensuring the child or child-like main character solves the problem and leaving your reader with a smile could mean the difference between your book languishing on the shelf and becoming a favorite story they reach for over and over again.
Conquering Writer’s Block: Small Steps and Practical Tips
Writer’s block is traditionally defined as a period where you can’t produce new work or your creativity takes a nosedive. This definition, however, is limited. What if we view it instead as a natural part of the creative process during which ideas are brewing beneath the surface? It’s not a block; your inability to put words on paper can be a resting point, giving you time to recharge. Taking a different tack can turn frustration into understanding and patience. Specifically, when you take small, manageable steps, you can unlock your creativity and productivity. Understanding Our Energy Cycles Our mental and creative energies fluctuate throughout the day. Recognizing your personal high-energy times is crucial to properly align your productivity. Maybe you’re most creative in the quiet of the early morning or you find late-night is when your best work gets done. Conversely, you experience low-energy phases during the day as well. This is when you should engage in activities that refresh your imagination. Reading, taking a walk outside, grounding yourself to the earth in some way (I recommend stomping your bare feet in the grass, weather permitting), or practicing mindfulness gives you a much-needed break so your best work rises to the surface. We are not machines; our energy levels ebb and flow throughout the day. Recognizing and respecting our natural cycles is critical for our personal and professional success. The Power of Small Tasks Sometimes we remain stuck despite taking a walk, grounding ourselves in nature, or practicing mindfulness. Choosing our smallest task and crossing it off can often move us forward when nothing else will. Crossing off just one thing on your “to-do” list creates a sense of accomplishment and builds momentum. And there’s science to support this concept: When the words just won’t come, the idea of starting much less completing a book can squash your motivation. Breaking down the process into smaller goals lines up with the adage: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Whatever you tackle first, taking any step as the first of several small victories builds your confidence and creative momentum. Harness Your Productivity Few things are more frustrating than reading over your list of things to do and just not being able to get started, but there are some steps you can take to activate your creative flow. Final thoughts I’m not saying writer’s block isn’t real or can’t be discouraging because I’ve been there. I might be there today! But I also know that taking it in stride as a natural part of the creative process is key to moving past it. Starting with one small thing and completing it, then doing it again, and again, and again, still, establishes and builds the momentum you need to solve what feels like an impasse. It’s worth mentioning that every great journey begins with a single step, and every great book begins with a single word.
Connect with Your Audience Through Storytelling
Your clients — current and future — are naturally drawn to stories, especially when they see parts of themselves reflected in them. Stories help you move beyond business transactions to establish strong, meaningful relationships with your audience because you recognize and validate their values, dreams, and struggles. Strengthen current connections When you deploy the power of storytelling to describe what keeps your customers up at night—their pain points, fears, and uncertainties —you walk in their shoes, showing you understand and empathize with their challenges. You make them feel seen and heard. And, like any good storyteller, when you present a problem, you also need to deliver a solution. Your products and services are their beacon of hope, positioning your business as a crucial part of their customer journey. Grow your business Because cold audiences also love a good story, telling yours is a solid strategy to attract new audiences. A compelling story resonates and lingers. Most importantly, your stories about your experiences, your brand story, and your products and services are more likely to be shared, spreading the word much like a rock thrown into a pond creates ripples. Stories foster a sense of community and invite potential customers to become part of a shared narrative. They serve as bridges, linking the unknown to the familiar and can make discovering a new product or service a lot less daunting and a lot more fun. Reaching audiences where they are The real beauty of modern storytelling is that you can reach audiences where they are by posting and publishing your stories across a variety of channels such as blogs, podcasts, social media, and more. You have ample opportunity to connect with diverse audiences with stories are accessible, relatable, and engaging. Final thoughts Because we live in a world where nearly everything in our lives is digital, making real connections is especially valuable. Storytelling helps you relate on a more personal level about how your products and services can serve as the solution to what keeps your audience up at night. If you’re ready to write your own story to grow your business, schedule a call today.
The Power of Curiosity: Using the 5 W’s (and one H)
The most successful writers are the most curious. In this way, authors are very similar to journalists. They thirst for understanding and don’t stop asking questions, even when their way forward takes a sharp turn or information isn’t readily available. Both groups fill in the blanks related to the who, what, where, when, why, and how of a topic to breathe life into their stories. Your job is to take readers on a journey with a clear beginning, middle, and end using the five W’s (and one H). Who played a role? The self-made millionaire is a myth. No one makes it on their own; we learn from and with the people who help and hinder our progress. Who fills these roles in your story and what part did they play? Maybe you learned an important lesson about customer service from your first boss when you were a teenager, or you mentored a teenager and gained valuable business insight from the experience. What do you want readers to learn? The what of your story is really the transformation you promise and deliver to your readers. Using the lessons you learned, you teach readers how to skip the line, so-to-speak. They read about the mistakes you made and how you corrected for them so they can avoid making the same missteps. This way, readers come through the process that much faster. When readers purchase your book, they hope you can help them. By the time they turn the last page, they’re already taking action so they can feel and think and act differently to reach the goal that pushed them to find help in your story. When and where does your story take place? Believe it or not, the setting of your story is just as important as it is in fiction. Readers need to know when and where most of your story takes place. If you begin with your childhood, we need to know at least the decade to make appropriate pop culture connections for greater context. Likewise, if you move the action to your college years or you share memories about the early years of your business, having a sense of time and place lends weight to how a particular experience helped shape you. Historical markers such as the Great Recession of 2008 or the coronavirus pandemic starting in 2020 almost certainly had an impact on you, your business, your career, and/or the people who played a role in your journey. Anchoring your story in specific moments that live in your readers’ collective memories, albeit in very personal ways, centers your reader and allows them to pay closer attention to what you’re teaching them. Why should people listen to you? The entirety of your journey defines why readers should trust you to deliver what they need to succeed. Your education is important, of course, but it pales in comparison to how you lived and worked and played and what you learned and lost and gained through it all. You might have advanced degrees, but your experiences and how you navigated them is what make you relatable to your reader. They need to see reflections of their lives in yours to convince them you have a way forward and a framework they can follow to get there. How: Your Conflict and Resolution Your primary conflict — the biggest problem — and how it got resolved is the core of your story and what spurred your reader to buy your book. Now, your conflict is almost certainly multi-faceted because we are complex beings, and your resolution may have led to outcomes you didn’t imagine, both good and bad. Spill it all! You readers need all the details; the good and bad and everything in between. Mini-conflicts can grow out of your most pressing issue and you need to talk about how you dealt with them, even if they were resolved without your direct involvement. The most important facet of your story is that you identify with your reader’s pain point(s), and you clearly and concisely present the solution(s). Final thoughts Employing a sense of curiosity as if you’re a journalist investigating the corners of your story expands and enriches the journey for your reader. By using the five five W’s and one H — who, what, when, where, why, how — you’ll uncover details you may not have considered before, producing a deeper and more meaningful narrative for your reader. If you’re ready to embark on your author journey to make more money in your business, I’d love to talk with you. Schedule a call today.
15 Minutes a Day to Better Mental and Physical Health
Prioritizing our mental and physical health has become more crucial than ever, and one way to improve both only takes 15 minutes a day: daily expressive writing. The key is using pen and paper, not your computer or the notes app on your phone. Pen and paper. These brief sessions, using a pen and paper, can have profound effects on our overall health. When you write every day with a pen and paper, you can improve your memory and recall, boost your academic and professional performance, and even experience better social interactions. Studies aggregated by Cambridge University — those focused specifically on daily expressive writing using pen and paper — shed additional light on the benefits of incorporating daily writing into our lives. The Mental Health Benefits 1. Stress Reduction: When you put pen to paper, you externalize your thoughts and emotions, making them easier to process. More than one study cited by Cambridge University reports lower levels of stress and anxiety in participants. Results indicate the simple act of writing releases pent-up tension, leading to a calmer, less chaotic state of mind. 2. Improved Emotional Well-being: Daily writing prompts that encourage self reflection can lead to deeper understanding of where your thoughts and feelings originate. Your journal becomes a valuable tool for managing your emotions and could lead to improved emotional regulation and a greater sense of self-awareness. 3. Enhanced Creativity: Regular writing sessions can also boost your creativity. The physical motions of writing engage your brain’s creative centers and encourage the development of new ideas and perspectives. It can be a gateway to exploring new hobbies, interests, and even career paths. The Physical Health Benefits 1. Reduced Blood Pressure: High stress levels are linked to increased blood pressure, which can lead to various health issues. Cambridge University’s research has shown that daily writing can contribute to a significant reduction in blood pressure over time. 2. Improved Sleep: Restorative sleep is critical for our mental and physical health. Insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns can stem from racing thoughts and unresolved stress. By addressing these concerns through daily writing, you might enjoy better sleep quality and increase the amount of time you are asleep. 3. Fewer doctor appointments: Because daily writing can have such a positive impact on your physical health, you may not need to visit your doctor as often. Less frequent appointments save you time and money, and who doesn’t want that? Writing in Community Makes a Difference Moment of total honesty: I really dislike journaling. I won’t do it on my own, but writing every day with our morning writing group has made all the difference. My day simply doesn’t begin properly until I’ve spent time in community with my writing room besties. We’ve already established that personal journaling offers significant benefits, and engaging in a writing community amplifies these advantages. Group writing sessions provide a sense of camaraderie and shared experience we miss when we go it alone. We’ve also developed a real sense of belonging because of what we share together during our sessions. Incorporate Writing into Your Schedule Make writing an essential part of your daily schedule by following one or more of the following tips: 1. Set Aside Dedicated Time: Give yourself 15 to 20 minutes at the same time every day to write. This can be in the morning to start your day with clarity or in the evening to unwind and reflect. 2. Create a Writing Ritual: Establish a ritual around your writing practice. Maybe you have a special notebook and pen, you light a candle, or you sip tea from a specific mug. When you create certain habits around writing, you signal your brain that it’s time to relax and focus. 3. Join a Writing Group: I host 30-minute writing sessions at 8 a.m. CST Monday – Thursday, and I cannot stress enough the positive difference it has made in my life. If you are interested in joining us, register using this Zoom link, and save the confirmation email you receive. We use the same link every day. Final thoughts If our thoughts are clogged with negativity and our emotions are jumbling all over the place, we can’t possibly operate at peak performance either mentally or physically. Our cells eavesdrop on our thoughts and emotions, and medical studies have shown time and again this is true, which is why depression shows up as that persistent knot in your shoulder and anxiety is a troubled digestive track. Writing, specifically with a pen and paper, has too many mental and physical health benefits to ignore. So, what are you waiting for? I’d love to see you in our writing group! Register here.