Frittering. That’s the word my daughter uses to describe what she does when she’s actively trying to avoid doing homework, but so caught up in feeling guilty about not doing it that she doesn’t instead choose something she actually enjoys. In other words, frittering is how we pass time before and after the stuff that’s ... continue reading
The Freedom of Secret Blogs and Journals
I was at a pool party the other night and, as I was floating with another woman on the infinity edge of the pool and watching the sun set over the hill country, we started chatting about writing. I asked what she’d been working on, and she said keeping up with her blog. But when I asked the name of the blog, her face ... continue reading
Getting out of Stuck and into Flow
Have you ever tried writing when it’s felt less like flow and more like… pushing play-doh through an extractor? That’s how I felt a few days ago. I sat down to write my newsletter and words came out in messy clumps on my paper. Nothing fit together, and nothing felt easy. Luckily, I’ve been writing long enough to know ... continue reading
Thoughtless Writing Comments are Old School
School are wonderful places… and for writers, too often the scene of crimes against creativity. I don’t know how many people I’ve seen in my coaching practice who have been unable to write or to enjoy it when they do because of something that happened to them in school. (And yes, schools also are places that can inspire ... continue reading
Finding your Voice
This week I was interviewed by author Abhijit Bhaduri on what exactly a Book Whisperer is, and how I work with writers. One of the questions he asked me was how to find your voice as a writer, and part of my answer is below. For the full interview, go to http://bit.ly/meet-book-whisperer-interview. Abhijit: How does a ... continue reading
February/March Writing Workshops
If you're feeling a little late winter/early spring writing fever, here are a few writing workshops I"ll be teaching to get you going. Enjoy! Carolyn Finding Your Voice February 22, 2011 (12-1 pm) Soma Vida Work-Life Balance Center 1210 Rosewood Avenue, Austin, Texas 512-628-1580 Bring a brown bag lunch, your sense of ... continue reading
Seven Words to Live By
by Carolyn Scarborough “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” - Mary Oliver I can’t think of a quote that better sums up the way I love to write and live than these simple seven words by poet Mary Oliver. Clients are always asking me how to find stories for their newsletters, their blogs, their books. These three ... continue reading
Whipping Up a Batch of Time
I don’t think I’ve ever had a client who said they had plenty of time to write. Instead, I hear all those phrases we’re familiar with – and use ourselves. I’m running out of time, I don’t know where the time flew, time is money. Wouldn’t it be great if time was like… sugar cookies? You need more and you just make them! ... continue reading
Launch 2011 with the Women’s Writing Telecourse!
I know people scoff at New Year’s resolutions. I kind of do, too. But there’s something about launching a new year that always stirs a different kind of energy in me, a “let’s see what I can create” excitement. Big visions and projects seem to call out for birthing with the clean slate of change in the calendar. This ... continue reading
Creating from Desire rather than Push
I had been badgering my daughter all morning to do her homework. Don’t forget, I reminded as she got in the shower. You leave in two hours, I admonished as she picked up her cell phone to answer a text. Finally, an hour before it was time to leave to meet her friends, she sat down to do some homework. She looked at the ... continue reading