If you're anything like me, you cringe when you hear that the cocktail party or social gathering is designed to be a 'networking' event. Oh no! Not one of those, you inwardly groan. Maybe your next step is to worry whether your business cards (if you have them) are up-to-date, or if your attire is professional enough for the occasion. You rearrange your hair three times before it looks right. …
In the art world, and in most places of life, change can come as fast as a tsunami wave--and my reaction to change may be compared to the terror of standing on the beach, watching the incoming wall of water, and wondering if I really am prepared for what's ahead of me. The analogy is imperfect. A tsunami would likely have killed me. The changes in my…
Writing under a time crunch is one of the best ways to kick procrastination in the pants. All you need is a timing device. A clock on the wall will work, but it's even better if it's a countdown timer. Lots of cell phones have timers that will beep or buzz when your time's up. Tick tick tick tick--WAIT! I'm not ready! The urge to prepare…
You have reached the level of competency where you need another pair of eyes to look at your writing and honestly tell you what works and what doesn't. You need a critique group. Critique groups for writers are one of the best things you can use to improve your own writing. A good critique group should: 1. Be a safe place for all levels of writers. 2. Give constructive feedback. 3.…