Archives for April 2012

How to Be More Creative?

It’s easier to say what being creative is NOT than to say what it is. Real creativity is a way of operating. In the video below, John Cleese claims that creativity is unrelated to IQ.

Watch the entire video to see if you can determine what creativity is and what it would take for you to become more creative. This video was exactly what I needed to snap me back into sense about decision-making, open v.s. closed mode and best of all, the state in which we are most creative. Listen especially for the five conditions that promote creativity.

See if you agree. Then share what you discovered in the comments.

Filed Under: creativity Tagged With: childlike, creativity, creativity research, John Cleese

Would Writing Your Book Be the Fulfillment of a Dream?

By Flora 2 Comments

I recently attended a book signing like no other. Bestselling author and breakthrough specialist, Lisa Nichols, presented 14 of the 39 authors whose inspiring stories appear in “Unbreakable Spirit: Rising Above the Impossible,” an amazing anthology available on Amazon and other booksellers.

Held at University of California, San Diego, this red-carpet event and book launch attracted authors, editors, photographers, and poets, all eager to support and meet the brave authors who poured their hearts into the stories that fill the book in the style of other best selling anthologies such as Chicken Soup for the Soul.

The highlight of the evening was Lisa’s heartfelt and animated message of encouragement and empowerment urging all of us to rise above the impossible and experience our own unbreakable human spirit.

Select any story in the anthology and begin reading. You’ll be drawn into the lives of amazing women who experienced the unthinkable, embraced the impossible and emerged because of unbreakable spirits.

From the first story by Millicent St. Claire who discovered herself while serving a prison term for killing her abusive husband to the last story by Dr. Jan Kohl who overcame opposition and depression to gain the strength to be an advocate for the exploited, you will find yourself among the pages.

Lisa sums it up best in the conclusion of the book:

You have a dream and a purpose. You may not see the fulfillment of your dream, your purpose, according to your timeline, but if you persist and lean heavily on your unbreakable, unshakable human spirit, you will get there.

Is writing a book one of your dreams? I would love to be your partner in getting it fulfilled. If you are ready to begin, pop me an email right now with “READY” in the subject line at [email protected] . Be sure to include your phone number and I’ll call you within 24 hours.

I’m going over to check for your email right now.

Filed Under: overcoming adversity, writing a book Tagged With: overcoming adversity

What's Trending When Publishing and Literacy Shake Hands?

By Flora Leave a Comment

The publishing industry and literacy efforts seem to be trending in favor of authors and readers. A few emerging examples:

Pubslush Press in New York lets readers decide which books will be published and then donates a book to a child in need for every book sold. After reading an excerpt of manuscripts submitted by authors, readers pledge support for their favorite. Fans don’t have to honor pledge until the book gets 1000 supporters.

The Catalan Government Railways in Spain has placed QR codes with links to the first chapters of popular novels on its trains as part of the National Reading Plan, with the aim to encourage citizens of Spain to get into a good book.

A Brazilian company 24×7 Cultural recently launched an initiative enabling customers to choose the price they want to pay for the books sold through its subway station vending machines.

VertragingsApp now offers travelers stories organized by the time it takes to read them for those stuck on a delayed service.

If you’ve heard that print is dead, you’ve been misinformed. One of the newest gadgets, The Little Printer, prints out a miniature newspaper for your subscription.

Filed Under: literacy campaigns, publishing, self-publishing

Self-Publishing by the Numbers: You Be the Judge

By Flora Leave a Comment

Infographic by: Web Site Creation.com

Filed Under: book writing, self-publishing, traditional publishing

How Much Do You Want to Meet Ellen DeGeneres?

By Flora 5 Comments

How much do your want that goal of yours?

Maybe it’s to lose those unwanted pounds, or complete a degree, or travel to that one place in the world that is magical to you?

Whatever it is, how bad do you want it?

Do you want it so bad that you beg for it like a kid does? My granddaughter is master of the “Please, please, please, please . . .” technique, complete with jumping up and down, arms animated and variations of pitch and tone. Sometimes I gave in just to restore some peace and quiet.

Well, my friend, Erica Walls wants to meet Ellen de Generes something awful. I mean BHAG big! So much so that Erica has decided to post a letter to Ellen everyday in her blog, www.dailybrainfartstoellendegeneres.wordpress.com.

She has crossed the 100 day mark and although she hasn’t gotten a call or even a tweet yet, Ellen is following her on Twitter.

Erica began her blog on January 7th and explains on her About page why she began this

My name is Erica and this blog is tracking my daily emails to Ellen DeGeneres. I started writing an email a day to Ellen DeGeneres on January 7th 2012. Why am I writing her? Because I like her, she’s funny, I feel a connection to her and I CAN! This is the year of DOING for me! Yes, I have turned 40 and soon after that age people start to do either crazier things or just give up. I AM NOT A QUITTER!

My emails to her are random and I have a tendency to ramble BUT, my words are sincere, deep and I think quite clever and funny (in a quirky way). For this reason, I am referring to my emails as “brain farts.” They just bubble up inside and then they just have to come out. And, like a fart, there’s little control over what you expel. ALSO, you are only allowed 1500 characters in each email to Ellen on her website. So I do A LOT of editing – it gets ugly, choppy and vague at times…but hang in. The point is there, somewhere…I think. Pretend you’re looking for Waldo or playing I Spy.You are probably wondering how long I will keep this up AND so am I…we’ll just have to see. At least until I get invited on the show or die. I would like one or more of the following things to happen: go to the show, be on the show, be a regular on the show, work for Ellen DeGeneres. That’s the plan, anyway.

As the year has gone on Erica’s posts have gotten more and more creative. In addition to commenting on the daily episodes, Erica has now added photos and video. One of my favorites is the video below.

How much do you want something?

Are you willing to stage a year-long campaign?

You may not feel as fervent about Ellen as Erica does, but surely you have big goal you’ve always wanted.

If that big goal is writing your book, I invite you to join me on Wednesday, April 18th at a free webinar to learn how to turn your existing content into the rough draft of your book. Dash over to register at http://www.abookin90days.com/webinarinvite

Filed Under: blogging, Ellen DeGeneres