In Her Own Ink

     Writer's block is when our minds go blank and we can't produce anything to edit. Yet, being mentally drained is different from that.     During crunch-time, I want to finish up but get blocked because my creative energy ran out of fuel and demands a break. After I've put in the work and dived into tunnel vision, I aim to keep going to meet deadlines. I hit walls due to pushing myself too much in order to create.     Societal pressures encourage us to grind, grind, grind to get positive outcomes. It's the norm. We can't operate like robots. That's dangerous to our psyche and overall health. Our culture doesn't emphasize self-care enough.     Yet, the work demands focus. To keep producing quality work we must prioritize self-care. We can't perform at optimal levels if we're not feeling well. To deliver great work we must incorporate wellness practices. Even if it's crunch-time.     Sometimes I go for a walk. Observe thoughtle...

Whenever I start developing another non-fiction work, I dive into it by focusing on my reader. While creating the blueprint of your book, make sure you capture the needs of your reader. Switching places with them by reflecting on how to meet their needs.      I start with a list of questions. I create a series of questions they might have for me as the expert and author. Answering these questions to enhance the substance of the book. This list helps lay the foundation of the book. It is essential to incorporate this in the makeup of the outline.       Producing the list will help you focus on your expertise but also to stay in your lane of specialty. Understanding your strengths and ultimately the focus of the book. Discussing details, you can promise the reader in order to get the desired calculated outcomes.      There are several ways to keep readers engaged. Keeping them entertained with stories, challenging them with questions to po...