And, I’m sad to report that my literary agent and I aren’t on the same page when it comes to my latest book proposal…which means I’m looking for new representation! I’ve sent out a few query letters to agents before Christmas, and will continue my search in the new year…wish me luck…

Okay, here’s a roundup of my latest articles on Quips and Tips, See Jane Soar, and Psychology at Suite101…

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Successful Writers

Making Your Blog Posts Popular – 5 Web Writing Tips – a guest post from fellow Suite 101 writer, Mark Solomon. He markets his online articles in 72 different ways!

How to Write Better – 5 Quick Tips for Clear, Effective Writing – because writing is a lifelong learning process.

Blogging Goals – 7 Types of Goals to Set for Your Blog – different possibilities to focus on for your blog, for the New Year.

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Achieving Your Goals

Money Psychology – How Your Personality Affects Your Saving and Spending Habits  –how you invest, save, and spend your money is connected to your personality and upbringing – fascinating!

Help for Remarriages – 6 Tips for Coping With Angry Ex-Wives – because a reader asked how to deal with your new husband’s bitter ex-wife. Take her out for coffee, I say.

How to Save More Money – 5 Easy Tips for Creating Wealth – because we’ll be paying off our home mortgage soon, and I’m good with money!

Save Your Marriage Without Going to Couples Counseling – many couples can’t afford or don’t want to try marriage counseling, and there are ways to build a healthier relationship without external help.

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Couples Coping With Infertility

For Adoptive Parents – 10 Tips for a Successful Adoption – because we’re thinking about fostering or adopting kids…and I’m learning a lot about the process!

The Basics of a Sperm Test for Male Infertility – if you’ve been trying for a year and haven’t gotten pregnant yet, you should get a semen analysis done.

10 Ways to Increase Male and Female Fertility – a guest post from the Fertility Centers of Illinois – basic tips, but good reminders.

Why Can’t I Get Pregnant? 20 Possible Causes of Infertility – who know there were so many reasons women can’t get pregnant? Luckily, many are overcome-able.

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Spiritual Seekers

How Visualization or Guided Imagery Affects the Natural Healing Process – I’m learning just how powerful our thoughts are, and love writing about the mind-body connection.

Living a Spiritual Life by Understanding Spiritual Energy – written by my blog partner Gini Grey, this article describes spiritual energy in some detail.

Turning Religion Into Spirituality – 6 Tips for Spiritual Growth – because some of us are religious, but not spiritual. This is a joint blog post: me and Gini Grey!

5 Ways to Increase Workplace Spirituality – why leave your spiritual life at the door? Practical tips for feeling peaceful and fulfilled at work.

New Articles on See Jane Soar

5 Ideas for Turning a Hobby Into a Successful Business – for peeps who love their hobbies and want to make money, too. It’s possible! 

Living With Diabetes for Women – Mary Tyler Moore – because I didn’t know that Mary Tyler Moore – “we’re going to make it after all!” – has lived with diabetes for 30 years.

New Articles on Psychology Suite 101

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children – anything that disrupts a child’s routine or threatens him or her can lead to anxiety or panic attacks. PTSD isn’t just for war vets. 

Choosing the Right Antidepressant for Depression – those depression meds aren’t all made the same, my friend, and which ones you take depends on your symptoms and lifestyle.

Managing the Side Effects of Antidepressants – research shows that the best treatment for depression is a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and antidepressants…this article describes how to cope with the side effects.

That’s it for now, my friends! If you have any questions, comments, or jokes for me, please share below…

Before the links to the latest, here’s one of my favorite quotations:

“If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.” ~ Longfellow.

This reminds me of giving people the benefit of the doubt: if someone cuts you off in traffic, assume they’re distracted by serious matters (it reduces your stress!). If a store clerk is unfriendly, assume she’s having a bad day – and don’t carry her burden around with you. Leave it at the store with her! 

Okay, enough of that. Here’s a roundup of my new articles on Quips and Tips, See Jane Soar, and more…

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Successful Writers

How to Fail and Bounce Back as a Writer, Blogger, or Freelancer – because I’ve taken some hits lately on both Successful Writers and Couples Coping With Infertility…mean reader comments!

How to Earn More Money by Diversifying Your Online Writing – a guest post from a fellow Suite101 writer, about web writing and earning money.

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Achieving Your Goals

7 Christmas Gift Ideas for Elderly Parents or Grandparents – buying holiday presents for a loved one who already has everything isn’t as hard as you think!

Getting Unstuck and Finding Happiness – How to Change Your Life – because a reader asked how she can break free from an unhappy marriage.

Ways to Stop Obsessing About Your Ex-Girlfriend or Ex-Boyfriend – because a reader asked how he can stop thinking about his ex-girlfriend…he can’t get her out of his mind!

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Couples Coping With Infertility

Can Multivitamins Help You Get Pregnant? How Vitamins Affect Fertility – I didn’t realize how important vitamins are in regulating your period, getting pregnant, and having healthy babies! Did you know you’re more likely to have twins if you’re taking vitamins?

How to Reduce Stress During Infertility Treatments – IVF Success Tips – because your state of mind and stress level affects whether you’re getting pregnant…

New Articles on See Jane Soar

How to Get Money to Start Your Business – Suze Orman – because a reader who wants to start her own business asked where’s she’s gonna get the money…

How to Handle Negative or Bossy Co-Workers – Sophia Loren – these tips for handling difficult people are easier said than done – but they work!

New Articles on Psychology Suite101

Psychologists Who Include Dogs in Counseling – taking pet therapy to a whole new level!

Depression Help for Stay-at-Home Moms – because staying at home full-time is harder than people think.

Next week’s new articles will include more holiday gift ideas – ‘tis the season!

First, a word about how to read for writers:

“Read! Read! Read! And then read some more. When you find something that thrills you, take it apart paragraph by paragraph, line by line, word by word, to see what made it so wonderful. Then use those tricks the next time you write.”  ~ W.P. Kinsella

I vow to do this the next time I read something I love — and I challenge you to do the same! Okay, here’s a roundup of my new articles on my Quips and Tips blogs, See Jane Soar, and more…

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Successful Writers

Blog Partnerships – Things to Consider Before Co-Blogging – because I’m starting a new “Quips and Tips” blog with a partner, which is new territory for me (and her!).

Why Write for Suite 101? 10 Benefits of Online Writing – a guest blog post from a fellow writer, about why she’s addicted to writing for Suite 101..

5 Things To Do Before Publishing a Blog Post – a guest post from Susan Johnston of The Urban Muse, which is surprisingly popular.

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Achieving Your Goals

What To Do When Your Mother in Law Doesn’t Like or Accept You – because a reader asked what she should do about her boyfriend’s parents, who aren’t thrilled with the relationship.

Are You Taking Care of Elderly or Ill Parents? Tips for Relieving Caregiver Stress – a guest post from author and former caregiver B. Lynn Goodwin, author of You Want Me To Do WHAT? – Journaling for Caregivers.

Before You Sell Your House at a Loss – Conducting a Short Sale – a guest post from Bills.com, about selling your home at a loss. Ouch.

How to Hire a Caregiver – Getting Help for Elderly or Ill Family Members – because I’m writing a series of caregiving articles for EverBetter.ca, and have too much excellent information!

The Best Workout DVDs – 10 Minute Solutions Exercise Videos – because I love, love, love working out to the 10 Minute Solutions DVDs. They work.

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Couples Coping With Infertility

When Your Wife is Depressed Because She Can’t Get Pregnant – for husbands, because so many women are struggling with infertility and the resulting depression.

How to Increase Sperm Count Naturally – Overcome Male Infertility – a guest post from acupuncturist and infertility expert Kristen Burris.

New Articles on See Jane Soar

How to Stop Feeling Guilty Over a Relationship Breakup – because a reader doesn’t want to get back with her boyfriend, and feels guilty about it. 

How to Stop Feeling Depressed About a Relationship Breakup – Rita Rudner – because another reader asked how she can move on with her life!

New Articles on Psychology Suite 101

How Much Do Psychologists Make? – a description of salaries and wages for jobs in psychology…the average income is about $60,000 per year. Not bad!

If you have any thoughts, questions, concerns, or jokes, please share below…

First, some wise words on writing talent:

“I see the notion of talent as quite irrelevant. I see instead perseverance, application, industry, assiduity, will, will, will, desire, desire, desire.” – Gordon Lish.

I don’t know what “assiduity” means, but I get the rest of it. To be a successful writer, you need to work your tushie off!

Okay, here’s a roundup of my new articles on my Quips and Tips blogs…

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Successful Writers

Ideas for Writers Who Travel, But Who Don’t Write About Traveling – because I love to travel, but never write travel articles for magazines! But, I do write about other things when I travel…

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Tips For New Web Writers – a guest blog post from a fellow Suite writer, about online writing.

Editing Help – Tips for Revising Articles, Essays, and Short Stories – based on a book about trying to sell your book idea to agents or publishers (I describe this book below).

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Achieving Your Goals

Are Introverts Normal? Information About the Introvert’s Personality – because a reader interviewed me about introverted personality traits, and referred to introverts as “abnormal”!

How to Buy a New House – 8 Tips for First Time Home Buyers – a press release from Bills.com, one of my favorite sources of money info.

Letting Go of Someone You Love When You Don’t Have Closure – because Letting Go of Someone You Love is the most popular topic on Quips & Tips for Achieving Your Goals.

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Couples Coping With Infertility

Benefits of Getting Your Period – How Menstruation is Good for You! – I’ve been trying to sell a “power of your period” article for far too long; this blog post is the basis of that article.

Living Without Children in a World of Families – because a reader asked how she can learn how to live as a childless woman in our “mammocentric” society. I offered a few thoughts on not having kids in a world of families.

New Articles on See Jane Soar

The Key to Success for Female Entrepreneurs – Coco Chanel – because I want to help women succeed, and soar, and shine!

When You’re Starting Your Own Business – What Successful Businesswomen Know – I’m slowly beginning to think of my writing career as a business, and thus need to learn and write all I can about being a successful businesswoman.

Money Tips for Women in Their 50s and 60s  – a wonderful overview of how to become financially stable in the middle half of your life, from the financial experts at Women & Co.

New Articles on Psychology Suite101

How to Control Angry Feelings – because a teenage reader talked about his uncontrollable anger, and asked how to stop being so angry.

Solutions for Depressed or Anxious Teens – because I’m shocked at how many teenagers struggle with depression! I don’t know if it’s hormones or what, but they sure are lots of them.

What I’m Reading This Week – Book Recommendation

I’m LOVING Thanks, But This Isn’t for Us: A (Sort of) Compassionate Guide to Why Your Writing is Being Rejected by Jessica Page Morrell. I suspect this will become my favorite resource for writers; it’s full of great writing, plotting, revising, editing, and “how to get published” tips.

Click the book to learn more, and have a great week!

You’re welcome to share your thoughts, questions, concerns, or jokes below…

Before the articles, here’s one of my favorite quotations from Marianne Williamson:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.’ We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

- From A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles.”

Lovely, no? And now a roundup of my most recent articles on my four blogs…

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Successful Writers

• The Best Ways to Invest in Your Writing Career – because, fellow scribes, you have to spend money to make money!
• A Top 10 Writing Blog – Quips and Tips for Successful Writers – a full list and description of Michael Stelzner’s Top 10 Writing Blogs, because I’m chuffed that Quips & Tips is one!

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Achieving Your Goals

• Jet Lag Remedies – Natural Ways to Stop Feeling Jet Lagged – because I flew to Austria a few days ago, and am up at 2:30 a.m. every night! Here’s how sleeping pills help…
• Tips for Hiring a Personal Fitness Trainer – for people who need external motivation to lose weight and get fit.

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Couples Coping With Infertility

• Can’t Get Pregnant? 3 Complicated Fertility Tests of an Infertility Workup – this is list and brief description of three more complicated types of fertility tests, which will help women figure out why they can’t get pregnant.

New Articles on See Jane Soar

• Money Tips for Women in Their 20s, 30s, and 40s – a wonderful overview of how to become financially stable in the first half of your life, from the financial experts at Women & Co.
• Turning Failure to Success for Female Entrepreneurs – Maya Angelou – because I love the quotation, “Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” – Samuel Beckett.

New Articles on Psychology Suite101

• The Top 10 Qualities of Good Psychologists – wanting to be a psychologist is different than actually being a good one; this list of the best qualities will help people decide if counseling is the career for them.

 

What I’m Reading This Week – Book Recommendation

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott is my reading material while I explore Austria – it’s a perfect balance between serious writing advice and light happy reading.

I’m also making my way through Sophie’s Choice, but it’s a bit of a slog. It’s a slow, meandering novel that includes lots of descriptions and background info…not my favorite type of reading. But, I wanted to bring a classic along.

Click Bird by Bird book for more info about one of my favorite books about writing, and have a great week!

You’re welcome to share your thoughts, questions, concerns, or jokes below…

First, here’s an interesting quip from How I Became a Successful Novelist (a work of fiction) by Steve Hely.

“The financial success of an author is inversely proportional to the literary worth of the book.” – Pete Tarslaw. 

Me, I’d rather be a financially successful writer than a literary author! Call me a hack if you’d like (and people do), but I’m paying my bills and going on adventurous vacations

Okay, here’s a roundup of my new articles…

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Successful Writers

• 5 Over-Used Words and Phrases for Writers to Avoid – this is a guest post from Susan Johnston, of The Urban Muse. We write guest posts for each other every month; mine for her is the 5 Commonly Misused Words and Phrases in Writing.
• Writing Quips and Tips From Annie Dillard – I love gathering writing quips from famous published authors, and pairing them with my own writing tips. This week, Annie Dillard is featured!
• Networking Tips for Successful Writers – How to Get More Writing Jobs – my last two major writing jobs came from networking at a party…this articles summarizes a few ways to network for even the most introverted writers. 

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Achieving Your Goals

• Love Relationship Advice – How to Save Your Marriage After Infidelity – my love and relationship articles are the most popular ones on Quips & Tips for Achieving Your Goals; this is more or less my best advice to readers (based on reader questions).
• Getting a Payday Loan? How to Avoid Borrowing a Paycheck Advance – I love getting press releases from Bills.com; they’re informative, practical, and tips-based! Plus, the powers that be let me post their info on my site.
• Kids’ Halloween Ideas – Candy Shopping, Halloween Parties, and Spending Money – this is a guest post from Karyn Hodgens, creator of KidsSave. She helps kids learn to take charge of their money, and has been contributing to Quips & Tips regularly. 

New Articles on Quips & Tips for Couples Coping With Infertility

• Having Trouble Conceiving? Basic Fertility Tests of an Infertility Workup – a round-up of the easiest fertility tests for couples coping with infertility.
• Clomiphene Challenge Test – an Infertility Test for Women – my new fertility doctor recommended this important fertility test, which my two other fertility doctors never mentioned! 

New Articles on See Jane Soar

• Online Relationships – How to Survive an Internet Affair – because so many readers are coping with emotional affairs and infidelity; this article is based on a male reader’s question (he cheated on his wife and wants to make it up to her) and a female reader’s response (her husband cheated on her).
• Healing Female Friendships – Michelle Obama – female friendships are so important for our emotional and physical health, and I always feel guilty for not maintaining my female friendships better… 

New Article on Psychology Suite101

• New Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease – interesting new research from the American Academy of Neurology found that poor money management skills can be indicative of future Alzheimer’s Disease. 

What I’m Reading This Week – Book Recommendation

It’s been fun reading How I Became a Successful Novelist by Steve Hely – probably because I want to be a successful writer! Also, because it’s full of quirky characters and historical info about published writers. For instance…

“American novelist Amy Abbot McNicholas found writing so difficult that each morning she had her servant lock up all the chamber pots in the house, and keep them locked up until she was presented by her mistress with ten pages of prose. McNicholas died at 48 of a bladder infection.”

Click the book cover to go to Amazon for more info, and have a great week!

You’re welcome to share your thoughts, questions, concerns, or jokes below…