Briefs

“When nothing goes right…go left.” —Anonymous Has anyone trolled you lately? Insulted your intelligence? Mocked your ideas? Perhaps you’re feeling insecure because they touched on (or nearly touched on) some shameful flaw you’ve got hidden in a closet somewhere? It sounds counterintuitive, but one of the best ways to deal with the insults and the …

Afraid The Evil Trolls of DOOM Will Discover Your DEEP, DARK Secret? Read More »

And How This Principle Will Help You Master Your Writing Craft “If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.” —Michelangelo Playwright, performer, and former NFL player Bo Eason shares a principle of football training in his autobiography: He has a son who aspires to be a …

Why This Famous Football Father REFUSED to Let His Son Watch Football Read More »

When was the last time you learned something? I mean, really studied and learned something hard? Years ago in anatomy class, I learned a powerfully effective technique for learning something deeply. I had a cardiovascular system test to study for, so in addition to attending lectures and reading the text, and doing everything that the …

The Anatomical Method for Learning How to be a Brilliant Writer Read More »

“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can…succeed at.” —Stephen Hawking A grubby-looking old man once came to a prestigious accounting office seeking help with his finances. He wanted someone to come to his farm and take a look at his assets. But none of the accountants took him seriously. He was …

Don’t Miss Your Big Break With This Common Mistake Read More »

“You have to do the best with what God gave you.” —Mrs. Gump If I asked you: “Why do you want to write?” Your answer is going to boil down to one or all of the following: Money Fame Immortality But you may be hesitant to say it out loud. It sounds so cold and greedy, looking …

What “Forrest Gump” Can Teach Writers Read More »

“Whatever you do, always give 100%. Unless you’re donating blood.” — Bill Murray In Japan, the one of the saddest jobs belong to people who clean up after kodokushis. What are kodokushis? In Japanese, kodokushi literally means “lonely death,” and it refers to older people who die alone and remain undiscovered for a long time… The tragic part …

Not “Passionate” About Anything? Try This. Read More »

“Men must live and create.”— Albert Camus Riddle me this: Who is JA Scheibe? Julius Meier-Graefe? Madame Anne Louise Germanine De Stael? Never heard of ‘em? Yeah, me neither. Til I googled their names to make a point. What point, you ask? This: The names of all the people-you-never-heard-of above have been preserved for one …

If You Want to Create…Don’t Fall For This Trap! Read More »