The Motivational Editor

Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published

Debra L. Butterfield

A New Way to Set Goals: OKRs

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Using OKRs as a framework to set and achieve goals.

Have you set SMART goals and continually failed to achieve them? I have. Are you as frustrated and tired as I am of achieving only a small percentage of those goals?

In my last post, “Focus and Direction,” I talked about a new strategy I applied to my business that brought me greater clarity to what I do every day. Today, I’d like to talk about a new way to set goals that supports greater focus: objectives and key results (OKRs).

I learned about this business practice recently from my professional development coaches (Life Is Now, Inc.) and have implemented it. OKRs are set for a year and then broken down into quarters. Since I implemented mine, I feel more empowered to succeed and motivated each day.

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Focus and Direction

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Gaining focus and direction

Do you have the kind of focus that gives you the direction you need to reach your goals?

Back in April, I heard a presentation by Alan Doan of the Missouri Star Quilt Company who developed 15 quilt shops (a 9-figure business) in a town with the population of approx. 1800. He presented with such enthusiasm and fun, and I knew immediately I wanted to apply his strategies to my own business.

As an author, you may not aspire to build a business that you’ll one day sell to someone else or pass on to your children. That’s not the goal I have for my business either. But I imagine that, like me, you want your books (and services) to bring in a livable income. If not, that’s okay too. You can skip reading this post. 🙂👍

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4 Simple Questions for Decision-Making

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4 simple questions to help you make a decision

Just make a decision!

How many times has someone said that to you?

Many people struggle to make a decision. Should I or shouldn’t I do this? Is this a good idea for my business (or life)? What will my friends think of me if I do this? What if I make a mistake?

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Embrace Change

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Change. Most of us don't like it. But like a caterpillar to a butterfly, it's essential to our growth.

Change. Sometimes we willing embrace it—like getting a new computer. Sometimes it’s forced on us—like getting downsized. Either way, it’s rarely easy. Why is that?

Because we prefer to stay in our comfort zone, no matter how uncomfortable we are with what’s in our comfort zone. But like a caterpillar to a butterfly, change is essential to our growth.

I put off buying a new computer for more than a year, even though I knew full well I needed one. I put up with the glitches and the slow speeds because that was easier than the work involved in getting a new one up and running with all my special programs and my files transferred from my hard drive. (Transition made in late December 2024 and no, it wasn’t easy, though my IT-savvy son made it possible!)

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10 Email Ideas for Writers

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Let’s face it, coming up with email ideas to engage our subscribers is often a hurdle for writers, especially fiction writers. So today, I’ve got some ideas to share for both fiction and nonfiction writers.

5 Email Ideas for Fiction Writers

Share your writing process is one email idea.
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8 Steps to Overcome the Dread of Writing Emails

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8 steps to overcome the dread of writing emails

Writing mails can generate a sense of dread for many writers. Maybe they see it as marketing. It is, but it is essential to building a following and is much more than “selling.”

The typical questions include, What do I write about? How long should it be? How often should I send one? What if they unsubscribe? The list goes on, but if you don’t get past asking questions, you’ll never get any emails written.

Make the decision to write emails and the how and ideas will show up.

So let’s look at things you can do to reduce your apprehension and dread about the task.

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How NOT to Write a Book

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In writing book 3 of my Her Inheritance trilogy, I learned how NOT to write a book…at least for me. Hat’s off to pantsers because I think my recent experience comes pretty close to writing by the seat of my pants.

How NOT to Write a Book

  • DO NOT change your plot after you’ve already written 20,000 to 30,000 words.
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Why are you procrastinating?

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Procrastination costs you more than you think it does.

Procrastination.

We all do it at some point in our lives for one reason or another. For me, it’s usually because I’m faced with doing something I don’t like. I think that’s the reason for many people.

When I stop to think about why I don’t like doing something, there’s often an underlying fear of making a mistake that will impact others.

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