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"Our own lives are the real big leagues."
Presley Swagerty

This is what I'm reading right now. And yes, it's a network marketing book, however it's got some great bits of wisdom in it. For example, the above quote.  So many times, we live our lives waiting for things to happen or waiting to do things until the "right" time that never comes. We don't realize just how important each day is and that we need to make it count. I mean, we have a limited number of them...we shouldn't waste a single one.

Here's another bit of wisdom.  "You can make excuses, or you can make money. But you can't do them both."  This applies to more than just making money.  You can make excuses or you can write that book.  You can make excuses or learn a second language. You can make excuses or live your life to the fullest.  You can make excuses or you can get that blog post written and posted. :-)

I'm only a couple chapters in, but I'm recommending this one. If you have any interest at all in personal growth books, you'll love this one.

Ever read a book that when you finished, you just sorta closed the cover and sat there, holding the book in your hand, wondering what you're going to do now? That feeling of, now what? The feeling that  you've been on a great adventure and now it's over.  Me too. Not very often, but it does happen.  And I'm still in the midst of that feeling.  And as I sit and ponder, I just had a thought that I'm going to have to ponder more, but thought I'd share with you.  And, I'd love your thoughts on my thought. :-)

They, the experts, say something to the effect that the way our brains are wired, makes it so that we can't tell the difference between real/truth and false. That is why some folks cry at movies...the brain thinks what we've experienced is real.

That's one reason that positive affirmations and positive self-talk are so important. It's like the saying that whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right.  Our brain believes what we tell it.  It believes the negative, bad stuff we say about our ideas, body, abilities...and also the positive.  The positive just takes more repetition since we've been negative for so long sometimes.

Here's my idea.  If, when we get so emotionally involved in a movie that our brain believes the emotions to be real, from a real event, that is happening or happened to us, then...when we read a book...I mean really get engrossed in, to the point that everything around us is shut out,  then as we read and experience those emotions, our brain believes them to be real too.

I don't think books like that come along often. And I think it takes different books for different people. What stirs me, might and probably wouldn't stir you.  And what touches your emotional core, might not touch mine.

And when a book touches that emotional core, it's done right.  It makes the late nights totally worth it. 

Today, I finished one such book.  As my oldest daughter would say, it left me in a "puddle of feels." I like that expression...it's seriously appropriate. As much as I want to start the next in the series, I'm not emotionally ready. I need time to recover. I'm hoping by Friday so I can have the weekend for immersion and obsession.

Here's the guilty book.  Remember, this is the second in the series so get the first....A Court of Thorns & Roses.

I LOVE writing books. Like seriously love them. I have so many books on all different aspects of writing that it isn't even funny.  Here's a couple of my favorites...

The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler.  This is the hero's journey and every writer needs to read this at least once...and study it. In fact, I need to read it again...just because it is so good.

The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne.  This is a recent favorite and a seriously good read. He also has a great podcast. I love how he breaks down several different novels so that we can see how they are put together and why they work.

Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. This is a book on screenwriting but many of the principles apply to novels. And besides, when your book is optioned for a movie, who can do a better job writing the screenplay than the author. :-)

Anything  by James Scott Bell.  I  highly recommend his Plot & Structure. I really like Just Write, too.  

How to Write the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass.  I love this and the workbook that goes with it.  I cyber-stalked Mr. Maass for a while, but don't tell him. I'd so love him as my agent.

Got any favorite writing books? Share in the comments and be entered to win a book, chocolate and Zox band.  Click here for more info.

Welcome to 2018! Someone one said a new year is a blank book of 365 pages so write a good one. I like that. A whole new year is stretched out before me and it's up to me how the story goes. My decisions, my doings or not doings, make my year.  Sure, the people in my life will affect my decisions but still, in the long run, it's still my decisions.

One of the first things I've decided is to reread The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews. I totally, totally recommend you read this. It's a life-changer if you apply the principles within. 

For example...The buck stops here. Yes, we've all heard this before but have we applied it? Do we take responsibility for our actions? Do we take control of our thoughts, words, actions? When something goes wrong, do we shift the blame to others or accept it when it is our fault?

Many times I tend to let things just happen. I mean, if I don't act, then I haven't made a choice so it's not my fault if things go wrong. Right?  Nope, by choosing to not act, I'm acting. I made the decision to do nothing and now I have to live with the consequences of that action. Not fun sometimes.

So, today I encourage you...get a copy of The Traveler's Gift.  Read it...read it again, and then apply the principles within.  You'll be glad you did.