By Trina O’Quinn for the NABBW In my last post I explained how an ordinary course of events – like traveling and not immediately being able to find something – can create much anxiety, even a panic attack – actually, a “Dyslexic Spin,” is how I label it.  It is part of my lifelong learning disability, with which I’ve learned to cope over the years. Journal writing is one effective tool in this process of coping. In my earlier discussions of journaling technique, I have been promoting unstructured, or free form, journaling. When using this type of journaling, I... Read More

By Trina O’Quinn for the NABBW In my last blog, written just before my mother’s death on January 2, 2022, I wrote about the difference between using journals and diaries. At the end of the post, I said that my next blog would cover several different types of journals and how you can best use them. I am a bit late, as life got in the way, but here is the promised blog.  I will start with some guidelines for effective journal writing: Forget the “rules.” Penmanship, grammar, and spelling are not important. Write what/however you want. Write with pencil and paper as... Read More

Those who are making a living by way of the Internet are always on the lookout for ways to increase their visibility. The more visibility one has that builds market recognition, the more likely an expert’s credibility will increase. Gaining visibility is actually quite simple, but not always easy. The difficult part comes when you don’t know who your market is and you seem to be spinning your wheels trying to gain visibility in front of the right potential buyers. Before implementing any of the following marketing ideas, you absolutely must know who your market is. If you haven’t clearly... Read More

Believe in It and Start More Writing Now! When I think about how I began cultivating my writer\’s life, I realize had been doing so even before I knew what I was doing. But once it began a more conscious process, about a year later, I became overwhelmed. I didn\’t know writers\’ jargon or the prerequisites for developing into an accomplished writer. I didn\’t know the lay of the land and how to negotiate the impact on me of those involved in the field. I didn\’t know if I had the stamina or the talent necessary or how to inoculate myself against others\’ judgments... Read More

The problem with the micro-blogging platform Twitter is that it is deceivingly simple, and this is partly true because each tweet is only 140 characters or less. Thus, while it appears to take very little thought to tweet, in actuality it takes a planned strategy to be effective on Twitter. But before you get deep into your strategy, you need to join Twitter if you haven\’t already. And even this relatively simple step can be fraught with peril. (Some of you may already be on Twitter and not following one or more of the tips below.) Thus these are my top Twitter tips for correctly starting... Read More

Have you ever seen a beautiful blank journal in a bookstore and wondered what you could write in it? Did you receive a blank journal as a gift, and it is still waiting for you to fill it up? Anyone can begin a journal at anytime. Journaling is a simple pursuit, requiring only pen & paper; you don\’t have to go anywhere or get anything. Journal writing is an active form of meditation. There is a connection between writing and spirit. What you put into your journal is your personal touch, keeping you in touch with what\’s important in your unique life experience. A journal may be... Read More