Story Concierge

Happy Wednesday Writers!! 

Last week I talked about being and staying healthy as writers who sit all day and as promised this week is all about changing your mindset to one of success & happiness. 

Mindset is so important for success and happiness that you hear about it all the time. It's everywhere and that's because experts in mindset coaching know its powerful abilities to change anything. 

Ever get up in the morning and stub your toe? The whole day goes downhill from there. You started off in a bad mood and thus the rest of the day sucks. 

Alternatively, ever get up to an amazing piece of news, or something just goes well first thing? Your entire day is a success and you are happy. 

This is because your MIND believes one of two things, the day is great or the day is sucky. 

It's true! 

There are many ways to start your days with the right mindset regardless of how you have woken up. 

Here are a few that I love! 

1. Writing...

Happy Wednesday !! 

I hope your week is going spectacular! Due to Coronavirus, there are many new restrictions sweeping the globe and that means that once again we are spending more time at home. 

It's a great time to finish that novel or get that screenplay finally written but it can come at a price. 

Do you know what that is? 

Well, to put it frankly--it's becoming unhealthy and hurting our bodies by being less active. 

Even if you don't realize it, this past year has caused you to become less active. Walking around malls, and going to concerts, parties, dinners, are all things we do without even thinking about it, but those things keep us moving. Walking around a museum on a Saturday afternoon is still moving. 

Now, this whole year, for the most part, we are at home. 

Many of us also lost the gym, or our hiking or running friends as well. 

I personally am a gym rat! I LOVE being in a gym. I love group fitness classes and I love working out...

Good morning dear writers! 

You have finished the new novel that you wrote in November for National Novel Writing Month--AKA: NaNoWriMo and now what? 

Many new writers go immediately to submitting query letters to agents and or tossing it up on Amazon via self-publishing. Here is why I STRONGLY suggest that you don't do that. 

The biggest reason NOT to go ahead and do either of these is that your first draft of your book is not ready to be seen. Writing a novel in a month is fun and a great way to get some great writing habits established but it's not how you write a perfect draft. It just isn't. 

Most first drafts are horrible, even the ones that take a year. So, if you didn't do NaNoWriMo this year but you have completed the first draft, this is also for you. As well, you screenwriters and TV writers out there with the first pass on your manuscript, the advice is the same. 

You NEED to revise! 

It's IMPORTANT. 

The other reason that you don't...

Hello, amazing writers!! 

This week I'm skipping the blog because it's a shorter week here in the states and that means that I'm going to be busier than normal. 

I will be back NEXT week with more tips for being a successful badass writer!! 

Meanwhile, I have a BLACK FRIDAY special for my one-on-one coaching package that you won't want to miss out on. CLICK HERE to find out more and sign up.

You can use the package ALL year but you have to purchase it this weekend to get the special pricing. 

Now, I don't believe that all writers are broke and I hate the term "starving artist" that is a belief system that I don't subscribe to but I also know the realities of living a creative life and sometimes we simply don't have as much money as we want for all the things we need, but there is always a way to find success. I created this special because I know that I can help you like I've helped many other writers. 

I will cover ways to beat those limiting beliefs more...

Happy midweek WRITER WEDNESDAY! 

This week I want to talk about the habits of successful writers because they do make a difference. And they are ALL things that you can start doing right now to change your writing career and take it to the next level. 

1. Successful writers-WRITE. I know that sounds sarcastic and it's not meant to be, but if you want to be a writer you need to write. You need to write every day. Now, there are many who will say that you only need to write when the spirit moves you but not if you want to do this for a living and actually make money. 

If you want to be a successful writer---WRITE, every single day. 

2. They hone their craft. They take workshops, read books on the craft of writing, get into writing retreats with other writers, they constantly work on their craft. You don't need to spend thousands traveling far away to another country or resort to do this--although, when you can, it is fun, but it's not needed. You can read blogs...

Hello Dear Writers! 

It's Wednesday and this week I'm focusing on mindset--in fact--I'm working on something pretty amazing for this spring to help you get into the mindset that IF YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING! 

But let's back up. 

When I was 16 I saw Back to the Future. It was in the middle of the night as I worked in the movie theater and we watched the films before Friday to make sure the reels were spliced together properly--this was long before digital and theaters still had projectionists. 

I went only because I was in love with this boy, Chris, with who I worked at the movie theater with. He was my everything and he wanted to go watch it so I went. I had no idea the impact it would have on my life. 

In fact, it CHANGED MY LIFE forever. 

Why? 

Because as a creative we ALL have the thoughts that both Marty and his father shared---WHAT IF THE TELL ME I'M NO GOOD? 

This is normal and sadly is why so many people...

Hello, Writers! 

It's writer Wednesday and I want to know how you are doing? I really do, so please message me on social media or email me and let me know how I can support you. 

I feel like this is going to be a bumpy, bumpy, week. 

I kept saying all week---thus far---it's like being on the airplane, once they close that door there is nothing you can do, so there is no use worrying about it----but there is and it's IMPOSSIBLE not to. 

I honestly didn't write this blog ahead of time because I wasn't sure how I would feel today or how you would feel, or what would be the state of the world, but I do know this...being CREATIVE has saved my life many times over. 

A personal story, I lived alone when I was 13-almost 16. ALONE--my mother left me and so it was me and my Pomeranian--by ourselves for almost 3 years. I was afraid to go into the system and I thought something was wrong with me or why would she do this? Right? 

She paid the rent so luckily I...

Writers!! 

Some days it's just too hard to do anything, especially in 2020. 

Last week I hit a wall, and thus I skipped everything-including my blog which is a day late this week too. This is a big no-no in the business world but I'm only one person. 

I felt guilty about it all last week, all weekend, and yesterday when I literally crashed out for 8 hours in the middle of the day. 

You see, in life "shit happens" and I am one of those, like the great Cristina Yang in Grey's Anatomy who always says "I'm fine" even when I'm not. I won't bore you with the details but just apologize for being absent for these few days. I'm sorry, do you forgive me? 

NOW, let's talk about the importance for creatives to take a day off! 

It's important for creatives to take a day off. See, our brains work harder than normal people who don't create stories, art, etc., because no matter what we are doing there is that something in the back of our minds that is building. This...

Hey, writers!! Are you doing #NaNoWriMo this year? 

Yay, so am I. Every year I write blogs about doing it, articles, and I share tips because I want YOU to be successful. Well, this year is no different!!!! 

Add me as a buddy at https://nanowrimo.org/ I am stephnewyork

Here are some quick and easy tips!!

1. Be open to whatever story you are writing--meaning--just be free and free write
2. Don't edit--just write
3. Make a schedule. Usually, during NaNo I set aside a couple of hours every month to write BEFORE I do anything else. Well, maybe you can't do that but try to schedule this in--you will be more likely to do it if it's on your calendar.
4. Make a daily word count goal.
5. Aim to finish before the end of the month so you have time to spare.
6. Do NOT compare yourself to others
7. Don't expect this to be perfect right out of the gate.
8. Don't outline in October---I find those who do this often fail because they are trying to stick to an idea, whereas...