Tag: writing

23 Trending Apps For Writers…

To write is to Breathe

To write is to breathe…

Dr Shelly C

23 Trending Apps for writers and authors. Here are my top favorites:

  • Canva for flyers and book event promotion
  • Books for easy access reading
  • Kindle for deep reading at airports, on a plane, train and anywhere to make waiting a pleasure
  • Spotify for my audiobook GreenLight for inspirational reading. A must commute resource
  • Goodreads is a resource to up book connection with the writing community,
  • Hootsuite is a stress saver. Pre-plan posts and walk aaay
  • Social is a place to meet, greet and connect with Book lovers, readers and share updates about my writing prowess

From the App pic, Which can you not live without? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Why Writers Write…10 Reasons

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

img_5189-1I write because there’s something in me that needs to come out.  I am at peace when I write. Writers write for many different reasons. Some personal, experiential, or environmental. Christine Caldalzo created a pictogram of 10 reasons writers write. Here I share 10:

10 Reasons Writers Write

  1. They love to write
  2. To express their thoughts
  3. To communicate
  4. To share experiences
  5. To tell about events
  6. To share their feelings
  7. To persuade
  8. To teach
  9. To Ask Questions
  10. They want something

Does any of the above resonate with your reason(s) to write? Any missing that you would like to add? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Register Now to attend Writers Retreat

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The 25 Challenges Of Writing…

A word after a word after a word is power.

~ Margaret Atwood

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

Writing is a joy. Being a first time publisher is exhilarating! But what’s difficult is some parts of the writing journey. In a Public forum authors were asked what was the hardest part of writing. Many eagerly chimed in with top issues such as marketing and editing. Here I share the top 25:

The Hardest Part Of Writing

  1. Marketing
  2. Building and attracting an audience
  3. A blank page
  4. Convincing people to read your book
  5. Being confident that you write for yourself first, then the secondary audience – the public
  6. Promoting
  7. Nothing really
  8. Editing because of perfectionist mentally
  9. Letting go…let the editing go to the editor
  10. Staying on track
  11. Not giving up
  12. Patience. Writing the book is the easy part
  13. Getting readers to write a review
  14. Staying on track
  15. Selling
  16. Being original
  17. Self Promotion
  18. Believing in yourself
  19. Starting
  20. Mindset challenges that keeps you stuck
  21. Prepping self for bad reviews
  22. Hoping people…

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Travel’s Up And So Is Tipping…

Tips on tips! What to give. When to give. Should you give?

And the gratuity? Did you help me load my luggage? No, but …

-Jack Vance

CNN Headline News (HLN) shared the evolution of tips in our society. Cash registers now have built in tips at the grocery store, retail store and even at the plant nursery! Yikes! All this separated from the traditional tipping places like hospitality-hotels, restaurants, salon, nail services and more. Caused me to think. We are all being bombarded by this new extra invasion of the ‘plastic cards.’ Should we Fair Tip or Guilt Tip? HLN’s Money Coach recommends, no service–no tip.

Not sure when to give and how much? Here I share HLN’s recommendation of the amounts to give as fair tips for both the travel and restaurant dining options.

No Service. No Tip

HLN’s Money Coach

Appropriate Tip: Travel

  • Skycap & Bellhop: at least $2
  • Housekeeper: $5 per day
  • Taxi Driver: 15-20% of fare but minimally $1 (more if they carry your bags)

Appropriate Tip: Restaurant

  • Wait Service: 15-20%
  • Take Out: It’s up to you!
  • Bartender: $1-2 per beer, more for cocktails
  • Tipping Jars: It’s up to you!

So there you have it. Tips on tips! What to give. When to give. Should you give? It’s all like your career and the workplace. Pay for Performance. The more you work, the more productive you are, the more bonus and salary increase you get (all things being equal, right)?

What are your thoughts on this trend? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Celebrate Achiever, Celebrate in 13 Ways

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

img_6482

The most beautiful things are not associated with money; they are memories and moments. If you don’t celebrate those, they can pass you by. – Alek Wek

I love challenges. I set goals, and do everything to accomplish them. Then when I do, I move on to the next goal. As the head of Head of Human Resources for many years, I relentlessly celebrated the achievement of others on the job, but I never stopped to celebrate my own personal achievements. In recent years I came to value the importance of celebrating life’s triumphs. I guess it comes with maturity. There is something gratifying to it. Besides, it leaves a lasting legacy on those close to me.

Oh how to celebrate? The question was asked and many Bravely Expressed  and jumped in. But I found Sarah Starrs list of ways to celebrate insightful. Here I share my top favs!

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Out There Without Fear: Culture And Dance Anthropology …

Out there without fear

Joelle Powe

Culture. Dance. Dancehall Music

Culture. Dance. Dancehall music. The Study? How does that connect? Curious, I reached out to young 23-year-old filmmaker, Joelle Powe. She shared the intriguing story of her own curiosity that led to her Anthropological Journey through Culture and Dance. A journey of success which exposed her globally to becoming a documentarian. Even before then, she was recognized in Washington DC for her work done in the Caribbean and globally.

Listen to the interesting and delightful conversation. No doubt it will motivate and inspire you.

Thoughts? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Womens History Month Book Event…

Women’s History Month Celebration at the island Space Museum. Guest Speaker Dr. Solanges Vivens CAribbean American Heritage Award (CARAH) Winner for Outstanding Entrepreneurship will be featured.

As fellow Author and CARAH Partner, It’s my delight to moderate the event. Dr Viven’s book Girls Can Move Mountain, will be featured.

In the area? Plan to attend.

When Everything Stops…

Life ends when you stop dreaming, hope ends when you stop believing and love ends when you stop caring

Unknown

When everything stops, or should I say…when everything should stop. More than a decade ago I lost my grandmother-the matriarch of our family. Cancer had returned in her three score and ten years. It didn’t stop her from being who she was…the be-all-and-end-all of our lives. But then one day the bank manager where I worked called me into her office, sat me down and told me the hospital had called. My grandmother was gone.

Perturbed, I looked around. Customers were still in the bank walking around doing their daily business. I could not understand. For me everything had stopped.

I reflect on what’s happening around the world. Threats and bombs going off explosively. Yet elsewhere, people go about their business as usual, posting on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. It begs the question…is there a bridge? Do we care? Yep, many really do care. Benevolence saturates the heart and for sure, with gas prices skyrocketing, the world will start feeling the effects.

So let’s not give up hope because fear stops life and love ends when we stop caring.

Thoughts? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

6 Powerful Women In Reggae Speak…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

From Tanzania, Jamaica, and across the United States, 6 powerful women in reggae shared their thoughts on women singing, songwriting and the associated struggles of survival in a predominantly male role.

It was a such joy to cohost the event with artistes Marcia Griffiths, Carlene Davis, Jah9, Naomi Cowan, and Etana as we celebrated the occasion of VP Records Miss Pat’s new book. Thanks Dr. Claire Nelson, white-house champion of change and Founder of the Institute of CAribbean Studies, Washington DC

Missed it? Listen here

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On Becoming An Author. 7 Steps To Success…

We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.

Anais Nin

Becoming a published Author involves nothing but interest and writing. Connect with an agent if you wish to go the traditional route. Interested in being self-published? Here are 7 basic steps to to get you going.

  1. Write. Write. Write. If you don’t write you have nothing to publish
  2. Invest in an Editor. Publish quality work. Nothing turns off readers more than errors in published work. Even if you are a great writer, you are too close to your work. Get it edited.
  3. Book Cover Design. Invest in a Professional Cover design. You can do it yourself but hey, come on. Again this is an issue of quality which increases your selling power (or need I say, the lack thereof)?
  4. Get an ISBN. Needed as a unique identifier for your book. Free ones available but… you get what you ‘pay’ for.
  5. Price it. Decide on your price. Consider books in your genre etc.
  6. Get Your Book Reviewed. People buy based on other’s impression right? So get your book reviewed by bloggers, friends, foe? yikes!
  7. Launch it. Market it. Here’s where the fun begins! It’s not a secret. Market it. Get the word out!

Need help? Let’s connect.

Happy Writing!

24 Inspiring Success Quotes For New Entrepreneurs…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

As life evolves, keep up. ~Patricia Chin

I had the pleasure of sitting in on an intimate conversation with Reggae Music’s Matriarch Patricia Chin in an interview with G. Cole, as she celebrated 40 years of founding VP Records. She has promoted and released music for renowned artists the likes of Shaggy, Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Beres Hammond, Taurus Riley, Romain Virgo, Etana, Elephant Man, Morgan Heritage, Lady Saw, Freddie McGregor, Dennis Brown and many more. Taking Reggae music from unknown to where it is today, she shared tips on how entrepreneurs and goal-seekers can achieve Success in today’s fast changing world. Here I share 24 of my personal faves:

24 Inspiring Tips For New Entrepreneurs

  1. As life evolves, keep up. There’s opportunity for everyone.
  2. Think outside the box – do what others aren’t doing
  3. Always think of new ideas
  4. Get into the full circle of business 
  5. Listen to…

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The Writing Process…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

Writing is usually done in a private space… as in a cave all by ourselves. We tell no one unless we choose to share with those close. Oft it can even be top secret or shouted from the mountain top as happens when some celebrities write. It’s entirely up to you.

It’s Your Prerogative

Writers commit a month, a year, 2, 3 or more to their Writing process. It’s your prerogative. It all depends on you. No need to attend a retreat, until or unless you’re ready and you can always remain silent in the background listening to others speak. At a writers Retreat, some talk. Some don’t.

Spend time doing what you want to do before, during and after the retreat.

Why Bother?

People approach me to share my knowledge and (writing) experience with them. That’s the whole point of doing a Retreat. Facilitators or Hosts often incur…

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