When it comes to writing a book, there are essentially two types of authors.
The first is the plotter—the person who starts with a bullet list or a story treatment or story beats, and follows that plan from beginning to end. These authors can be meticulous and exacting, or they can use a more "loosely outlined" approach.
The second type, and the category I most often fall into, is the pantser. Yeah ... irony.
Read MoreA few years ago, I heard about a piece of software called Scrivener, which was getting some buzz as a great tool for helping people write books. It wasn't very expensive—about $40. So I bought it, installed it, and tinkered with the tutorials.
I had to admit, it was pretty cool. Having the ability to put all these different file types into the same "environment," to be able to organize what I was writing by moving around virtual index cards, and then compiling what I created into whatever format I wanted—it was cool. Better than cool, I could definitely see how it would change everything for my writing career. I could see, instantly and without doubt, that Scrivener could make me the kind of writer I was born to be. It was a powerful tool that could reshape my career.
So I ignored it for about five years.
Read MoreI've been blessed with a pretty cool gift. It's kind of amazing, when I think back on it, how not only my whole career but my whole life has been shaped by this thing I do—this super power I have.
I'm telepathic.
Read More"What do you do?"
It was maybe the 20th time I'd been asked that question since walking into the Global Writes Partner Summit. My good friend and fellow author, JoAnn Takasaki, had pulled together all of her vendors and partners and contractors so we could all meet and greet in one place. I had about fifty things booked for that same time on the same day, and almost didn't go. Now I'm ecstatic that I did.
Read MoreHere's irony for you—I spent a huge chunk of my life writing for a living until I could figure out what I wanted to do for a living.
I kept trying out new careers and new industries, taking new jobs and building new businesses, and all the while doing anything but considering writing as my career.
What makes it worse is that all the while, I was saying things like, "I wish I could win the lottery or get a job or build a business that gives me the time to just write full time." I kept putting off actually writing, waiting for "some day" to come, so that I could finally start writing.
What a profound disrespect for the skill that has served me so well, all of my life.
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