I always take a bottle of lavender oil to make the hotel room (or just my pillow) smell like home, which makes relaxing and falling asleep much easier. And herbal tea bags so I don't have to overdose on caffeine. I also look at the schedule ahead of...

Following you on Facebook--it's the kind of encouragement many of us need, to know that if you have faith in your writing and it is truly good or unique, it will eventually find a publisher. And that the first editor or the first 40 editors, the...

What a great metaphor! May I suggest, that you designing and sewing talents lie elsewhere than in the world of high fashion and uncomfortable shoes? Have you thought about sewing sewing something a little more modern and edgy? Something on the line...

When we moved out of the country, we sold the house we had lived in for over 40 years, with its 40 year old organic garden. We had grown vegetables, herbs, vines trees, and flowers (including 1000 daffodils). The garden kept us busy many months of...

I just love it when I something I really had to force myself to do turns out so well. It encourages me to put myself forward the next time. Enjoy your new friends.

Kathryn, I agree entirely. It is often said that the things people regret the most at the end of their lives is what they haven't done. If we keep writing, at least we won't have to regret dying with our words unsaid.

Julie, Yes, I have talked myself out of writing about ideas, and then found three years later one of my ideas, in someone else's words, on top of the Best Seller List. And not even as well written as I could have done it! So now, when that thought...

I should have mentioned in my post that my daily writing does not include the Sabbath, which as an Orthodox Jew I observe strictly. No work includes not using the computer, or cooking, cleaning, driving, watching TV, etc etc. So although I write...

Yes, I can write every day. I have developed a strong habit of writing first thing in the morning.  My particular challenge is writing 500 words. Some days the writing goes well, the ideas flow like Niagara Falls, and when I look up from the...

In my writing group I learned that I am no judge of my own work. For a half hour, we write in response to a cue we are given, going where our pen takes us, and then read what we have written to the group. Several times the cure seems dead to me, but...