productivity

Read more about the article Now Kickstarting: From Dream to Reality

Now Kickstarting: From Dream to Reality

Happy February! I've been enjoying the bright (yet cold) sunshine here in Portland, and am very excited about the sun not setting at 4:30pm anymore. I'm also excited because my latest nonfiction book from Microcosm Publishing is currently in the Kickstarter phase! We're about halfway through the Kickstarter, and halfway through the goal — and my editor just emailed to say the book just went off to the printer. :) Can't wait to see it! So. What's this new book, you ask? From Dream to Reality is basically a very detailed, expanded version of the spiel I'd give you if you…

Read more about the article [Infographic] Get Unstuck! How to deal with writer’s block.

[Infographic] Get Unstuck! How to deal with writer’s block.

A quick note: I wrote this infographic to go with my presentation at the Willamette Writers Conference this weekend. If you're attending, I'll be talking about Joyful Productivity for Writers at 9am on Saturday (in person) and 8am Sunday (virtually). I can't wait to see you there! A lot of professional writers say they don't believe in writer's block — but I totally do. I've been there, staring at the computer screen, knowing I should be writing but feeling totally, completely stuck. However, as a professional writer, I've also had to learn tricks for pushing past that writer's block in order…

Read more about the article A look back, a look ahead

A look back, a look ahead

I've been thinking a lot about work these past few months. It's in the zeitgeist, as we collectively as a society realize we can't keep hustling at 125% day in and day out while the world goes up in flames around us and we pretend everything's fine. It's on the minds of several of my ghostwriting clients, who are coaching their own clients through burnout and trying to find meaning in their lives. And it's been on my mind as I juggle writing thoughtful posts about burnout for said clients — while kickstarting From Big Idea to Book, racing up…

Read more about the article Gifts for Readers: 2021 Edition

Gifts for Readers: 2021 Edition

Oh, hello! Welcome to my gift guide for readers for 2021. Got a reader on your shopping list? Are their reading tastes weird like mine? You're in the right place. These aren't the "Best books of 2021." Nor is this a comprehensive list of books I think are worth gifting. Rather, this is a list of books I personally read in the last year or so that I wholeheartedly recommend. Books I've been dying to shout about. Books that, were we standing next to each other right now, I would put directly in your hands and insist you purchase. There…

Read more about the article 7 Tips for Getting Your Head Back on Straight During These Here Trying Times

7 Tips for Getting Your Head Back on Straight During These Here Trying Times

Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash Hey, are you calmly being productive in your work and personal life in these apocalyptic-feeling days? Hats off to you. I am not. The general aura of anxiety that imbues my every day life bloomed into a full on meltdown near the end of last week, where all I could do was scroll the news and share wide-eyed looks of shock with friends. (Now we are sharing those looks of shock over video conferencing software.) As Oregon heads towards what seems like an inevitable lockdown, though, I'm starting to realize that the world is not going to…

Read more about the article From Chaos to Creativity Powell’s Books Reading [Video]

From Chaos to Creativity Powell’s Books Reading [Video]

Last Monday, I did something that terrified me: I held a creative productivity workshop in front of about 50 people at Powell's Books. I've read from my fiction before, which is its own version of terrifying. But I'd never stood up as an expert in front of a crowd of mostly strangers and tried to impart my wisdom. And you know what? It was pretty fun. Plus, people seemed to find it inspiring and asked a lot of insightful questions. Honestly, the discussion with everyone afterwards was my favorite part. If you were there, thank you for coming! And a…

Read more about the article Creative productivity workshop! Come with your chaos, leave with a plan

Creative productivity workshop! Come with your chaos, leave with a plan

You know how sometimes every waking moment feels like chaos incarnate? Like it's a quiet Saturday morning and you're dying to work on your art, but first you really need to make yourself some breakfast. And before that you need to find the kitchen underneath all the dishes. Which reminds you that you never returned your neighbor's tupperware, and — oh right — you're out of paper towels and so you might as well pick up potting soil for your jade plant because you promised you'd make a cutting for that friend. And as you're emailing your friend you see a note…

Read more about the article [Podcast] So, What Are You Working On?

[Podcast] So, What Are You Working On?

I joined Epiphany Couch and Lauren Faulkner to chat about creativity and productivity for artists and writers: Episode 12 introduces us to Jessie Kwak! Freelance writer, author of supernatural and sci-fi fiction AND ladyboss business owner. What's it like trying to balance work and creative endeavors? How do we create work that really says what we want it to? Can we say no to things that are time sucks!? Jessie shares her experiences (and her tips!) about these topics and more.  Listen here.

Read more about the article From Chaos to Creativity Kickstarter is a Go!

From Chaos to Creativity Kickstarter is a Go!

I look around, and I'm surrounded by creative people. My mom makes these amazingly artistic quilts. My dad welds incredible works of art and invents ingenious farm contraptions. My sister does intricate cross-stitch hangings. My husband takes stunning photographs. My friends write and paint and dance and sing. My neighbor's 8-year-old kid asked for bricks and wood and cement this Christmas so he could build things in the backyard. They're all creating art. I'm assuming you're also creative, because I have yet to meet someone who doesn't have some sort of creative passion. And I've never heard anyone say they…