I’m struggling today. Whereas most people come back from a retreat or conference inspired, I come back with my head full of self-doubt and discouragement. I’m not as business savvy as other authors, I’m not as connected, I’m not as successful, I’m not as productive, I’m not as organized, I’ll never be as good as,…
Author: admin
Barb’s Book Reviews – April Reads
April Showers brought April reading as I went on a bit of a tear last month. I found myself reading quite an eclectic collection of historical and contemporary fiction and one fascinating non-fiction tale that will strike a chord for anyone raised in the 70s or 80s. The Exiles by Christine Baker Kline: Kline was…
It’s Retro Cocktail Friday! This month: Vodka Martini
Of Atomic Habits and Tendencies: Battling Resistance Part 2
Update from last week: So far, so good. With the exception of one morning when I was delayed by a conversation with a colleague, I made it to my office by 9 am. I did not unload the dishwasher. In fact, I even left dishes in the sink until lunchtime. You have no idea how…
Promises to Myself: A Blog about Writing Resistance
Every night when I go to bed, I promise myself that tomorrow will be the day I show up to write at 9am. I think we all know how the next morning goes. Why else would I be making the same promise night after night since 2009? No matter how many times I promise myself…
Writing and the Zen of Hitting: Getting Past Self-Doubt
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” – Babe Ruth From age 11-14, I played summer softball. For four years, I consistently led my team in strikeouts and walks. Hits on the other hand? Not so much. Okay, I sucked. It wasn’t that I couldn’t hit the ball. I…
Barb’s Book Reviews
Hey Gang – happy spring! You may have noticed a few changes. I’m redoing the website to reflect my new writing direction. I’m hoping to go for a fun, happy vibe. I’ve also switched up recommended reads. The monthly roundup is now called Barb’s Book Reviews. I thought that was more descriptive and to the…
Retro Cocktail of the Month: The Manhattan
Behind the Scenes: The Picture that Started it All
I can’t remember if I shared these photographs with you or not. It was the summer of 1984. My friends and I had the day off from our summer jobs and, as drama majors and creative types are wont to do, decided to conduct photoshoot around our hometown. We pulled out some of our hippest…
Big Dog Summer Returns: Going All In
I quit my bookseller’s job yesterday. Let me say up front that I loved working at my local Barnes & Noble. I learned a lot and not just about books and store operations. It introduced me to books I would never have read. What’s more, working with young people helped me better understand things like…