I sat on my front step in morning meditation, a practice I'd observed for nearly 10 years. "I am joy." I ran the affirmation through my brain as a mantra. My shoulders shirked it off. Nope. Not joy. I had no idea what joy felt like. I certainly couldn't conjure it. Happiness I knew, but … Continue reading A Vessel for Joy
Sometimes, a story takes you by the hand and leads you onto the dance floor. It reveals itself to you as you move together. And sometimes a book requires a more structured approach. When you have a plan, you know where you're going, and suddenly writing your book feels a lot less intimidating. My editor, … Continue reading How to Write a Book
Yes, that's a long title. But a rant entered my mind this morning. I was in a flow of energy around clients who want to write books. And clients who want to publish books through Author & Beyond publishing coaching in 2019. But they're not getting around to it. Because they are scared or don't … Continue reading The Most Empowering Advice I can Give You
While you are here, in this earthly existence working out your karma... are you meant to spend your time diving into life on Earth: smell the flowers, taste the foods and enjoy the people around you? Or is it best to invest your time in practice, working toward enlightenment? Maybe you become enlightened through … Continue reading Today’s Contemplation
I'm knee-deep in the process of manuscript revision. At first, it seemed impossible to remove 30,000 words from my 120,000-word story. 30,000 words. That's a small book. But I did it. And there's a tipping point. Just like cleaning your closet. The mountain looms large and you trudge hard. But at some point, you reach … Continue reading What you don’t need
And it's not about you. It's not even necessarily about your work. It can be about timing. About platform (I hate that word but it's a part of author life). About relationships (or lack thereof). About literary maturity. About Mercury conjunct Uranus... But it's not about you. Though it feels like it is. I pretty … Continue reading Rejection is what it is
It's funny how life and writing intersect. I'm in the process of trimming the 110,000 word yoga memoir manuscript down to 80,000 words. It's hard at first... cutting down your writing. It seems like such a monster. Where to start? So you do a few words here and there. Then you leave it. Then a … Continue reading Clean up your mess
Today is day ten of our Nourish twenty-one day detox. Last week found me expounding to my weekly meditation circle about supplication of emotions through substance: in this case, food. Today, perched upon my stationary bike reading The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr, a moment of clarity arrives. Seemingly disconnected dots (memoir and detox) … Continue reading The Memory of Food
As writers, we dream of our creative projects being received far and wide and to great acclaim. Before we publish, before we add the title of Author though, we have a sense of what would feel fulfilling with our work. We dream of the first book purchased and read by another. Perhaps a great review. … Continue reading The Soul of your Work
There are certain steps to publishing your creative work. But there is also peripheral information to consider. And I'm discovering these additional steps as I follow this path of writing, self-directed publishing and coaching. While talking to a fellow the other day about his writing project and the steps involved in publishing his work, he … Continue reading What you need to consider before self-publishing your book.
Stephanie Hrehirchuk - Author 