books – Page 12 – Success Strategies

Need Inspiration To Write? Writers Share 23 Ways…

Where does a writer derive the inspiration to write?

That was the question a new writer asked on a public forum. Here I share as experienced veteran writers excitedly chimed in.

Writers Inspiration

The desire to be heard
From within
Life experiences
Prayer
Observations and creativity
From being disciplined
Desire to entertain. Seen housands of movies and read countless books.
Culture
Inserting imagination into current events.
Nature. Walking around the beach, rivers, forests. Observing the moon and the stars
Sitting and watching people walk around
Learning something cool and new
My imagination – lot of times from photos of places and people
The need to share what I know
Jesus Christ
Life experiences – history read
Love, hate inferences. Sit in a pub or hotel and watch. Watch as a woman looks at a man with love or fear. See how children clutch at their parents hands
When a writer is least expecting it. Always be prepared and keep a notebook and pen on hand
Life and in happiness and hardship
Book, people, family, friends. Anything seen, heard, tasted, felt, imagined, think, love. Things that cause joy and things that cause pain
From others out there that you might commiserate with. Write a note in a bottle. Send it out and hold your breath that it will come back to you in time
Get people to tell your their life story
Previous mistakes, perennial failures

Does any of these writers thoughts resonate with you? Is there anything you would like to add? Do share! We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Finding Purpose On The Hill…

Reflections On the Hill. Years ago I did my research and published Book On Success Strategies of Leaders to help those rising stars find their way. Since then I became involved in the Institute of Caribbean Studies work in Washington DC. I have been on Capitol Hill, the White House, Senate and serve as Judge for the Ignite Caribbean 30 Under 30 Award. All this because I believed in a cause.

Today, I implore you to go after your goals, dreams and aspirations. Do whatever you want. With hard work and dedication it will come through.

Cheers!

Interested In Starting Your Writing Journey? 18 Tips For Beginners…

Read a lot. Write a lot.

And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. ~Sylvia Plath

Tips gleaned from experienced authors to those interested in venturing out on their own writing journey.

Write. Keep writing.
Read a lot so you understand how others do what they do
Learn the craft …that is part of writing
Proofread. Rewrite so it makes sense
Learn the craft. Books, classes, YouTube
Be yourself. Tell the story
Brainstorm writing ideas
It takes a lot of sacrifice
Find online sites that accept free submissions. Publish 800-1200 word articles on a subject that interests you. Write and submit articles to many sites. Once accepted try longer pieces
Don’t let “no thanks” deter you.
Read, read, master the language you want to write in. Read, read and read a bit more
Start writing. Just keep writing. Stand at a bus stop, look at a fence and …write. Sit in a pub, get yourself a drink and write about the next person who walks through the door – not his descript but his life story, his family, his job. Just write
Read the classics and discover why they are rated so highly
If you don’t know what to write or have writers block, use writing prompts to get those creative juices flowing.
Don’t shy away from criticism. Being critiqued doesn’t always feel amazing, but it always makes you a better writer. Every time someone tells you what they think of your manuscript, you get closer to an objective understand of your work, which is invaluable
Don’t worry about perfection when you are writing your first draft. Good writing is re-writing
Believe in yourself.
Never give up.

Solid thoughts of inspiration for those new to the writing craft. Anything missing that you would like to add? Do share. We would love to hear!

Cheers!

Whatever Your Dream, Don’t Give Up…

Dreams are illustrations… from the book your soul is writing about you.

Entrepreneurs know the travails of starting and growing a business. The challenges associated with carrying a business from incubation to reality. It’s no easy task.

Career transitions, college students, and goal seekers all know how difficult it is to carry the burden of studies to get to the finish line. It’s no easy task.

Parents know how difficult it is to bear the burden of the change in lifestyle as a newborn is expected. It’s no easy task.

Let’s not forget authors whose stories became known from a dream, to a thought, to a page, to a book. Published! It’s no easy task.

So it is with whatever we put our minds to. Whatever we decide to do from idea, thought, dream, goal… it is not going to be easy until it becomes a reality. Success involves dreaming; it involves planning; it involves hard work; it involves dedication, determination, commitment, and most of all resilience. Many are the athletes whose stories have been told of the journey that they had to embark on and overcome. Not only days, months but for many years, athletes stood the test of time to achieve their goal. They were able to achieve because they stuck to their dream.

Today whatever your dream is … don’t give up. Strive, put in the hard work; put in the dedication, put in what needs to be done, and your success is inevitable.. however you define it.

Cheers!

When The Pen Slows: Writers Share What To Do When You Don’t Feel Like Writing…

When the pen slows… writers share what to do when you don’t feel like writing.

Write more often
Do fun stuff and write for 30 minutes per day
Try a different genre
Draw a comic
Write about something you love without edit
Write something short. It’s like riding a bike
Prepare several projects and switch between them when you feel the need
Think of a reward that would motivate you to write more
Read. It will revive your writing appetite
Re-read books you found inspirational years ago to bring back lost inspiration
Don’t worry. Get some rest and exercise. You will be motivated again
Indulge other hobbies
Take a holiday
Freewrite
Read through your work like a reader not a writer
Voice record
Go with the Flow
Don’t beat yourself up

Personally, I suggest you write about what it feels like to not want to write. It will help others. Whatever you do, don’t give up.

Cheers!

Literary Event…

Always thrilled to participate in South Florida’s Writers Of Color igniting, harnessing, directing literary imagination and creativity. Come see, hear, listen and be inspired March 2-3, in Miami.

If You Don’t Go After What You Want You’ll Never Have It…

If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you will always be in the same place. ~Nora Roberts

A boost of Motivational Quotes always work for those days when you need a quick pick-me-up. Find yours In Book 101+ Empowering Quotes For New Entrepreneurs.

Cheers!

10 Must-See Author Documentaries …

Very interesting insight into author biographies

Take Time To Do Nothing…

Take time to do nothing.

Sometimes you need to just relax and do nothing. Then you will be more productive.

Cheers!

My Top 5 Business Books For The Brave New Entrepreneur…

A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. ~John A. Shedd

The Quest for Entrepreneurship has risen to new heights. 101+ Quotes For New Entrepreneurs contends that with over 25 Million Americans starting or running new businesses, entrepreneurship has become incredibly attractive, yet extremely difficult to sustain. Adding to the excitement, the Gig Economy’s Freelancers comprise over 35 percent of the U.S. Workforce. Even with the traits of fearlessness, risk-taking, passion, resilience, and creativity, difficulties arise, and Entrepreneurs need to keep going.

Keep The Dream Alive

Here I share my 5 top books that can help New Entrepreneurs keep the dream alive.

Good To Great By Jim Collins shares the result of a study about businesses that were not born with great DNA. Can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? My own research on Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders In The United States was influenced by Jim Collins study when I sought to answer Why Some Individuals Succeed While others don’t.

Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson argues that your message has the ability to change someone’s life. The impact that the right message can have on someone at the right time in their life is immeasurable. It could help to save marriages, repair families, change someone’s health, grow a company or more… But only if you know how to get it into the hands of the people whose lives you have been called to change. Expert Secrets will put your message into the hands of people who need it.

The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses is a book by Eric Ries describing his proposed lean startup strategy for startup companies.

Think and Grow Rich was written in 1937 by Napoleon Hill, promoted as a personal development and self-improvement book. Hill writes that he was inspired by a suggestion from business magnate and later-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business is a book by Charles Duhigg, a New York Times reporter, published in February 2012 by Random House. It explores the science behind habit creation and reformation. The book has reached the best seller list for The New York Times,

Amazon.com, and USA Today.

So those are my top 5 Books for those new to entrepreneurship. Did any of these books resonate for you as a new entrepreneur, or if you are a brave soul thinking to take the leap? If you have already taken the leap and have a favorite book, do share! We would love to hear!

Cheers!

And So I Write…

And the idea of just wandering off to a cafe with a notebook and writing and seeing where that takes me for a while is just bliss. J. K. Rowling

Am I alone? Am I the only one obsessed with writing? I can’t seem to get enough of it. I eat, sleep, dream, and I write.

Can the doctor help? Noooo…don’t need it. I write because I’m compelled to release, to ease, to let loose what’s inside… what drives my heart to peace.

I care about you. I respect you. But please talk to me when I’m done. For me to be more impacting to you, I must write. The thoughts, stories, insights yearn to be set free.

And so I write…..

South Florida Writers Of Color Literary Magazine…

“Captivated and inspired by the enduring power, creative joy and beauty of words, they are the South Florida writers of novels, short stories, poems, plays, memoirs, essays, autobiographies, science fiction, biographies, anthologies, children books and more.”

— Ralph Hogges

The Ralph Hogges and Benjamin Cowins, South Florida Writers of Color Literary Magazine. An Online Literary Magazine. Read the 1st Edition here South florida writers of color magazine

Hope you are inspired to write.

Cheers!