How do you get past THAT point? The point when whatever you are working on seems stale and unoriginal that it doesn't even seem to be worth finishing? How do you get past that point and stop yourself from just dumping it into the recycle bin? Did you ever get to that point while writing The Inheritance?

I have a few different things I do. First of all, I work on more than one project. That way I'm always writing. When I get stuck on one, I move on to another and go back and forth between them.

Another trick I use is to read the part I'm working on just before bed. That way the story is fresh in my mind while I'm at rest. Often, I wake up with what happens next.

A third trick I use is to move beyond the point where I'm stuck. I start to write what I do know happens down the road. It may be the climax of the book, or even the end. This process often opens my mind for what should happen back where I'm stuck.


Has your writing opened any doors that you had never considered before?

I have been writing seriously for 11 years now, and for the last five I've made my living as a writer. Much of this has been SEO article writing and editing and learning to manage a team of others online. It's all been a learning process. With the recent change in Google algorithms the landscape of online writing has changed, and now I'm ghostwriting, and writing inspirational stories for people who have a story to tell but don't have the writing skills to do it.

It has also opened the door to speaking engagements on writing and as an inspirational speaker. In fact, I'm currently putting together a seminar on Goals – Stepping Stones to Dreams designed to help others learn how to find the balance it takes to do all you have to do and still have time to write…or whatever your dream may be. The reason I bring this up is because I'm an introvert. I'm fine once I start to share, but it is not my natural inclination. I'd never have thought of myself as a speaker.


Does your family support your writing career?
Yes, they do.


How many books have you written? What are they? What genre do they fall in?

Counting The Inheritance, I've had four books published. The first was Pumping Your Muse, a how-to for writers that takes a creative approach for getting your muse activated. The other two were fantasy novels. One was titled Windwalker and the other Beyond the Fifth Gate. These fantasy books are not Christian, but do have a theme that involves a journey of faith. Since ePress-online closed their doors in August, my other books are not currently available.


Are you working on another book right now? If so, what is it going to be about? When can we expect it to be published?

I've been busy with The Inheritance, and have to figure out what I want to do with my other books. I'm over half way done with a sequel to Beyond the Fifth Gate, so I'm sure I'll be approaching other publishers. As for The Inheritance, I've toyed with the idea of a sequel. Time will tell!


Is there any advice you would like to give aspiring writers?

If you want to write, then you have to write. Don't just talk about it. I know people who have really great ideas for books and ten years later they are only an idea. You have to be proactive. If you don't know where to start, take a writing class or hook up with a mentor. Online options allow for flexibility.

Submit your work. Another common thing I see are writers who edit and edit and edit...and never submit. People have various reasons for this, but the bottom line is you should make your writing the best it can be and then submit it. And don't be afraid of rejection. Plan on it. It's part of the process. Rejections don't always mean poor writing. The market you submitted to may have received and already accepted a similar story or article. Your piece may not meet their editorial needs, or the editor's personal preference can play a role.

If you want to write for a living, don't quit your day job until you have a steady income coming in. Freelancing has it's ups and downs, and royalties are paid an entire quarter following sales. Writing isn't a way to get rich quick (of course there are exceptions). It's a craft and art form. Some people make it big, some people make a living, and some of us write because it's part of who we are. I suggest that if you write because it's part of who you are, then if you make it big or able to earn a living, it's like a bonus..