Waste happens at all stages of the supply chain from the cutting room, over production and then consumer behavior. 15% of all textiles produced end up on the cutting room floor! (this was eye-opening) 100 billion clothing products are manufactured annually (40% of which are marked down). On average in the US – people throw away 70lbs of clothing/person/year. (who finds this a bit shocking? I do) Continue reading

It means people sometimes just throw up on the page. Ack! What an expression! We say that in writing because a lot of new writers, untried writers, just getting started writers, do that. They write garbage. Not because they mean to. Not even because they think it's good - well, mostly. Some of them think it's good and then they come to me and I disabuse them of that idea. Continue reading

It took Tolstoy six years to write War and Peace. But you're not writing War and Peace. You're writing a business book to serve clients and new prospects. Your book will take as long as you make it take. The timing of writing your book is up to you. Continue reading

What if I could help you read faster by doing one little thing? One small, tiny, minuscule thing? What if you could forget all the other advice you've researched about how to become a faster reader - all in an attempt to be a better leader and business professional - and do one thing that would help improve your reading skills dramatically? Continue reading

Yes, when you have a book you are now "the author of" and become more sought after than before you wrote your book, but that doesn't have to mean neglecting your business. It means accepting speaking opportunities when and where you can, and selling books in the back of the room. Meanwhile, you are now the expert in that business you wrote about in your book, and the audience wants to know all about it, all about you, and how they can work with you. After they read your book. Continue reading

I'm here to turn you into an author of a book. A solid, inspirational, educational, entertaining book that shares the story of you with the world. When that happens, you become a whole new person. Actually, you become several new persons. Let's talk about that. Your role as a writer encompasses more than just holding up the book you wrote when you attend networking events. And, it's far more than announcing to everyone you know on Facebook that you wrote a book. Continue reading

A book cover is more than the pretty picture people see on the front of your book. If you've traditionally published, you may have a paper cover, over the actual printed book. This is where the pictures go; yours on the back, and a design on the front. If you're already wildly famous, if you're Taylor Swift, for instance, your picture would be on the front cover, not the back. In that case, it's the fame that sells the book, not the book content. Continue reading

I wasn't thinking of dollars and cents, while I wrote. I was thinking of dollars and sense. The dollars I would invest by self-publishing and the sense of pride and accomplishment I would have once the book was completed. And, the sense to know the book was not going to make me rich and famous. Continue reading

You've heard all the platitudes, think and grow rich, you are what you eat, think and believe, etc, etc. They're great quotes to hang on a wall, but I want you to reach deep, deep, deep down, into your soul and see yourself as you truly are - worthy of success. Just as worthy as any other woman, many of whom you've helped succeed. Continue reading

The world will judge your book by its cover. You have no control over that. People see a book and immediately form an opinion of it. If your cover is not professional, if it does not give the reader the right message about the book, right away, if the colors are off-putting, if they are confused by the title, subtitle, or design, they will look away. And then they will go away. Continue reading

Yes, yes, I can see you rolling your eyes. You think I'm being persnickety. Or, for those who abhor long words, picky. I'm being a picky old lady who refuses to acknowledge her shortcomings. But let me tell you, you young whippersnapper, when I was your age... Continue reading

Yes, it's true, we don’t pop out of Mom’s womb (what an image that is!) ready to write that phenomenal story, all about us! Learning to write that story, whether it’s just in our diary, or in an eBook, an audio book, in a full-length published print book, or all of the above is a task best done in collaboration – with professionals whose only duty is to serve you - you, the author of...the story. Continue reading

I like to think, perhaps, there were girls who were also not pregnant, but were out of control, according to some rule in their households. Girls who wanted to read and write and be heard, when they spoke. Girls who wanted to challenge the status quo and make something of themselves - girls whose only goal in life was to NOT be Mrs. Somebody or other, because they knew if that happened, they were lost, forever. Continue reading

As some astute readers may discern, stories are made up of words. In present day U.S. (and all over the world, I dare say – at least, wherever there is ink and paper), some stories include pictures, cartoons, colors and images that purport to be worth 1000 words. I did not cover those, in my presentation. I am focused entirely on words - because even when we see an image we like or don't like, we think about it in words. "Oh this is horrible!" we might think, or say out lout. "Oh this is beautiful!" we might share or think silently. But, we do think it and the thought is in words. Continue reading

When you write to save your life, the flow of the story may seem sequential, because you’re composing it from day one of memory, to present time, but when you edit, you will uncover memories that conflict with what is on paper; memories that go deeper, so much so, you wonder if you can share them in this book you are creating. Memories you have hidden, even from yourself. Continue reading

I 'met' Sarah Jordan via a Facebook Live done by another SWC guest, Image Consultant,Carol Hanson. Sarah presented herself as exactly the kind of woman I am passionate about supporting and sharing. She's smart, talented, and brings years of tech experience to the important work she is doing now. Important work that supports women and girls everywhere. the world over, with something so necessary but so overlooked by those of us in our comfy homes and big bathrooms, you will be astonished. Continue reading

First order of business - there are no stupid questions. Yes, you've heard that in every class you've ever attended and maybe in some life settings. Asking questions is the key to education. Learning found in a book is all well and good, but it only supplements what your own experiences and the experiences of others can teach you. And, hence, why I say more women should write books. Continue reading

I am fascinated by Yola's journey in the last three years - how and why she is where she is today - in London rather than Portugal. As with so many smart, talented women, Yola's adventure involves • People • Beliefs • Empowerment and the desire to give back. Continue reading

What exactly do Stephanie and Jane do? If you ask them what they do, they'll tell you they help women over 50 create sustainable long term healthy eating habits by eliminating diets, overwhelm, and kitchen chaos. The focus, they tell me, is reinvention and the journey of how you got to where you are today – including how you got over stumbling blocks or hurricane winds trying to hold you back. Continue reading

We've established in other blog posts that writing a book to become rich and famous is foolish. The reason you write a book is married to the reason you have a story to tell. You write a book to share. You write a book to entertain. You write a book to educate. You write a book to inspire. Continue reading

Hers is a story of breast cancer and a strong desire to move forward turning lemons into lemonade (or you could say, turning the average Chinese fortune cookie into a work of art the size of a football). There is a good bit of the story that is told in the video that I will not include here. It's best to watch Sue tell it and see her face light up when she talks about children, and art, and museums. Continue reading

People read to be either entertained, educated, or inspired. It is possible to be all three, in one book. Talented people are able to write books that entertain, inspire, and educate, without much trouble at all. It’s all in the storytelling. Continue reading

Carol says, "Helping [women] to acknowledge there is no ‘one size fits all’ or ideal body shape," is often a first step. Her personal journey of overcoming an eating disorder will feel familiar to some, and sharing how it gives her more insight into understanding why women who say ‘I hate my body’ need a bit of outside help learning to undo all the years of self-doubt. Continue reading

A few years ago, as I was traveling, I spent time in one airport or another reading The Celestine Prophesy by James Redfield. It's a book on philosophy and the human experience. A major thread throughout the book is the power of coincidence... and the fact that too many people ignore this power, including women, who should be embracing it with open arms. Continue reading