The Motivational Editor

Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published

Debra

4 Life Principles I Learned as a Marine – Part 2

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blog title imageToday continues my 4-part series on principles I learned as a Marine that can be applied to our lives and to our work as writers. Click Teamwork to read part 1.

Marines have the well-earned the reputation of being the toughest fighting force of the US. Hard work, not laziness, laid the foundation.

Boot camp was grueling. Day after day we drilled, ran, and marched for hours under the unforgiving summer heat of Parris Island, South Carolina. Would my muscles ever stop aching?

I realized the full extent of the physical change I had undergone at boot camp only after I came home on leave (that’s military speak for vacation) after boot camp graduation. The daily physical demands of training had [Read more…] about 4 Life Principles I Learned as a Marine – Part 2

Charlee Harris on Publishing

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Author Charlee Harris
Author Charlee Harris

Today I’m pleased to interview Charlene Harris, though she prefers to be called Charlee. She’s both an artist and writer, and previously wrote for a local newspaper, reading and critiquing books by established and new authors.

Many moons ago, Charlee was the first female basketball official for her section of the Eastern conference in Alabama. But her dream has always been to be an author.

Her favorite quote is by Cyril Connolly who said, “Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.”

Charlee, at what point in writing your book did you begin to look for publishers? [Read more…] about Charlee Harris on Publishing

4 Life Principles I Learned as a US Marine

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blog image titleI’m celebrating a birthday today—the 240th birthday of the US Marine Corps. Yes, the Marine Corps really is one year older than the United States. Today is also an anniversary of sorts for me. On Nov. 10, 1977, I was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps.

I never realized how much I learned about life by being a Marine until one day when [Read more…] about 4 Life Principles I Learned as a US Marine

An Author Interview with Jennifer Slattery

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I’ve got an extra treat for you this month. Author Jennifer Slattery, whose books include Beyond I Do, When Dawn Breaks, and now her newest release Intertwined, has stopped by for an interview.

Author Jennifer SlatteryJennifer writes soul-stirring fiction for New Hope Publishers, a publishing house passionate about bringing God’s healing grace and truth to the hopeless. She also writes for Crosswalk.com, Internet Café Devotions, and the group blog, Faith-filled Friends. When not writing, Jennifer loves [Read more…] about An Author Interview with Jennifer Slattery

Which is more important, attitude or aptitude?

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Today’s world of technology can be daunting. I tend to procrastinate when I feel intimidated by the technology involved in getting something done. But something I recently read encouraged me and I want to share it with you here.

The Author Training Manual book cover Nina AmirI’m reading Nina Amir’s book The Author Training Manual. In it, Amir states that author attitude is essential to publishing success.

And I wholeheartedly agree.

I wanted to be a writer since I was a pre-teen. But I let a lot of things [Read more…] about Which is more important, attitude or aptitude?

An Interview with Multi-Published Elma Schemenauer

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If there is any one group of people who embrace “pay it forward,” it is the community of writers. I’ve learned a lot from the writing community over the years.

My Friday Feature Author Interview is one of the most enjoyable posts I share because it’s when other writers share their knowledge about writing and getting published.

Author Elma (Martens) SchemenauerToday’s interview is with Elma Schemenauer, author of [Read more…] about An Interview with Multi-Published Elma Schemenauer

Battling the Fear of Self-Doubt

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Have you ever said to yourself “who wants to read what I have to write?”

Maybe you hear those niggling words in your head everyday? Once a month? Maybe it’s just once in awhile, but even that is more often than you want to hear them.

I’ve been battling those particular words since I started writing back when I was 12 years old.

The verbiage may vary, [Read more…] about Battling the Fear of Self-Doubt

One Stop For Writers: An Online Library Unlike Any Other

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Every once in a while, something comes along that changes things for the better.

We all know just how much sweat, courage, and persistence it takes to write a book and then release it into the world. So having the right tools at our fingertips is wonderful.

Today I’m pointing you toward a new website I hope will help writers brainstorm stronger characters, craft deeper, more compelling plots, and teach us how to be more effective with our description so we draw readers in. [Read more…] about One Stop For Writers: An Online Library Unlike Any Other