Blog Template #2

My friend Eleina called me one morning at 8am to share Julia Alvarez’s Ten Writing Commandments. This led us to a four-hour convo/therapy session that cured my writer’s/editor’s block. I hope these commandments or a good friend can help you with yours.

TEN OF MY WRITING COMMANDMENTS

I. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities. In the expert’s mind there are few.
–ZEN MASTERS

II. The obligation of the artist is not to solve the problem but to state the problem correctly.
–ANTON CHEKHOV

III. Do not be afraid!
–ANGELS APPEARING TO SHEPERDS TENDING THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT

IV. If you bring forth what is inside you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is inside you, what is inside you will destroy you.
–ST. THOMAS, GNOSTIC GOSPELS

V. Poetry presents the thing in order to convey the feeling. It should be precise about the thing and reticent about the feeling.
–WEI T’AI

VI. One must write a poem the way one rules an empire, the way one cooks a small fish.
–AUTHOR UNKNOWN

VII. El papel lo aguanta todo. (Paper holds everything.)
–MAMI

VIII. You must change your life.
–RAINER MARIA RILKE

IX. The function of freedom is to free someone else.
–TONI MORRISON

X. If you want to be a writer, than write. Write every day!
–SAMUEL JOHNSON

Excerpted from Something to Declare Copyright (c) 1998 Julia Alvarez. Reprinted by permission of Algonquin.

Blog Template #1

Let me be great...

I bought the domain letmebegreat.com over two years ago. I knew then I wanted to use it to create a powerful website to help inspire others. But I didn't know exactly what that would look like. So I let it sit-- along with the dozens of other domains I've collected over the years. 

It wasn't until this past April that a light bulb went off. I wanted to be a book coach and help other aspiring writers to become published. If I had an accountability partner, I thought, then I would be further ahead in my own writing. Even as a published author, I was still afraid to jump out there and ask people to become a part of my vision. But it was clear that the only thing that would hold me back was me. 

I had to give myself permission to be great. 

"Let Me Be Great", I told myself. "Yes, let you.”

It has taken me months to realize that this is exactly what I should be doing. That as long as I stay disciplined and focused everything else will fall into place. 

And now there's no looking back. I've invested in my own greatness. Now, let me be great and help you with yours!