Day 1 of VBT Tour for WWC – Meet Diane L. Wolfe

The Beginning of an Idea

I was involved in a motivational training program many years ago. It involved an extensive reading program and I devoured hundreds of self-help, success, leadership, motivational, personality, and relationship books. The journey transformed me, and I went from shy and insecure to bold and confident. Before long, I was speaking at training meetings and even on stage in front of thousands of people.

Eventually I pursued my dream of being an author and began writing a young adult series. I infused the success principles I’d learned into my stories, focusing on a different aspect for each book. My goal was to inspire others.

I also began teaching seminars through the Small Business Centers of North Carolina’s community colleges. At first, I was teaching strictly instructional seminars, but an idea hit me for a motivational seminar. Using my years of training, I put together a goal-setting session entitled Overcoming Obstacles with Spunk. I covered what I found to be the five key principles of success: a positive attitude, good people skills, a healthy self esteem, overcoming fears, and setting goals.

After a few months of success with that seminar, I realized I needed to write a book that tied in with my talk. I’d also just introduced a leadership seminar that was also based on the same principles. I realized that if I combined the two, I had the makings of a solid self-help book.

I took my notes from both seminars and combined them into one massive outline. Aware of the scope of what I was about to undertake, I decided I needed help with the project. I contacted several other authors who’d enjoyed success in this area and asked if they were willing to contribute to the book. Seven authors said yes, and I placed several chapters in their capable hands.

Three months later, I had a complete book. I’d also tapped many successful people from all walks of life for quotes, and those were sprinkled throughout the chapters. After many rounds of edits, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK was ready.

Released March 2009, it’s been one of my best-selling titles, especially at seminars. But the ultimate validation of my work came when the motivational training program that taught me those success principles ordered cases of my books. I was able to repay my debt of gratitude and help others!

L. Diane Wolfe

Professional Speaker & Author

www.spunkonastick.net

http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com

www.thecircleoffriends.net

Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” Wolfe is a member of the NSA and a motivational speaker. “Overcoming Obstacles With SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting”, ties all of her goal-setting and leadership seminar’s information together into one complete, enthusiastic package. She also conducts seminars on book publishing and promoting, and assists writers through her author services. Her YA series, The Circle of Friends, features morally grounded, positive stories that appeal to both teens and concerned parents. Wolfe travels extensively for media interviews and speaking engagements, maintains a dozen websites & blogs, and contributes to several other sites and newsletters.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES WITH SPUNK!

THE KEYS TO LEADERSHIP & GOAL-SETTING

BY L. DIANE WOLFE

Non-fiction/Self-help, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

$13.95 Print ISBN 978-0-9816210-2-9

$1.99 EBook ISBN 978-0-9827139-2-1

Avoiding Writing Sabotagers

There are so many ways that writers can sabotage their own writing productivity. Every writer is prone to be influenced by at least a few of these self sabotagers.

Writing sabotagers are not usually external forces that stop writers from writing, such as time wasters which focus on answering email, having a lack of focus, family pressures that take you away from your writing, and so on.

Writing sabotagers are usually internal constraints that writers, either consciously or unconsciously, place on themselves. Today, I will examine 5 such sabotagers and how to take steps to eliminate them.

1. Avoid Negative thought patterns

Many writers have negative thoughts patterns that have followed them for most of their writing careers. These are usually negative thoughts about certain writing projects or topics and your belief that you’re unable to complete them.

Some writers are even unsure of whether what they are writing is good or up to snuff when it comes to the competitive publishing world.

Such negative thoughts can paralyse a writer’s overall productivity and over time it can cripple how a writer views his/her writing. It is important, therefore, to try and eliminate such thoughts from your repertoire as much as possible by thinking positive thoughts about all of your writing projects.

2. Avoid procrastination

Many writers procrastinate. They have a difficult time to write their articles and/or books until it is too late. This is especially the case when you have to write an article for a themed issue in a magazine or to fulfill contractual obligations which are based on a time line. Many writers start working on these writing projects way too late. And because of this, they are unable to complete their projects in a way that will give them any chance of producing a good quality book or article for publication.

In order for writers to give themselves the highest chance of getting published and not getting rejected, they must write their articles and books in a timely manner and not set themselves for defeat. This will help greatly in ensuring that writers don’t sabotage their chances of success.

3. Get past your inability to finish up projects

Many writers have a difficult time to finish what they start. They start with a lot of momentum and motivation. Over time, this motivation and excitement dwindle down to the point where they could hardly muster enough strength to actually complete their writing goals.

Thus, it is important for writers to find a way to keep motivated on writing projects. One way to do this is to have a reward system for completing sections of writing projects. For instance, if you are writing a novel or a larger project, you could divide the completion of the book into sections and have a reward after you complete each major section of the writing project. The reward doesn’t have to be big. It could be as simple as taking yourself out to a local café for a latte or simply buying yourself a new unique pen that you will be proud of when you sit down to write. These rewards will keep you propelled to complete your projects and stay interested in them.

4. Prioritize your writing projects

Many writers have a difficult time prioritizing their time so that their most important writing projects are completed first. When writers start writing, they will work on whatever strikes their fancy but not on what they planned to write on ahead of time. And this can be a recipe for disaster.

Instead of working on all of your extraneous writing projects, take the time to work on the ones that are the most important first. Then as your writing day starts to dwindle down, you could focus on some of the less important writing projects and obligations, such as updating your blogs, and writing extraneous material.

5. Get rid of all defeatist attitudes

Some of these attitudes can set defeatist tones and attitudes to some of your writing projects before you even start them. They are attitudes such as I can’t do this. I will never get this done. This will never work! Many times, such attitudes can infect your ability to complete your writing projects. You keep thinking that you will never complete this project. It is new to you and you have never done anything like it. Well, guess what?

You can indeed complete any writing project that you set your mind to complete. You can and should be positive at all times about your various writing projects. You should always say that I can and I will do this, but not the opposite. This will have a huge impact on your overall writing productivity.

By following these 5 tips you can eliminate some of your writing sabotagers.

Irene S. Roth
Freelance Writer for Teens and Tweens

A – Z Challenge

Z = Zero Tolerance Towards Negative Thinking

Many writers are negative all the time towards different aspects of their writing career. This is a recipe for disaster!

Writers must work on eliminating negative thinking as much as possible. Some of this comes with the territory of being a writer, and the ubiquity of rejection letters in a writer’s life.

Here are a few tips to eliminate negative thinking.

1. Eliminate negative self-talk.
2. Develop a positive attitude towards your writing.
3. Don’t also others to put you down.
4. Don’t fret if you receive rejection letters.

By following these tips, you’ll be a happier and more motivated writer.

Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A – Z Challenge

Y = Yes You Can Build a Successful Writing Career

I love Nancy I. Sanders’ book. It is one of the most motivating books about writing that I have come across in years. And I read a lot of books!

I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with any aspect of their writing career. You can be the best writer by following Nancy Sanders’ inspiring steps and tips contained in the book.

Thanks Nancy for a gem of a book!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A – Z Challenge

X = Excel

Many writers constantly experience mediocrity complex. Some writers just putter at their writing, not believing that they will amount to anything. How sad and un-motivating.

Writers must feel that they can excel in their genre of writing, even if they’re not there yet. Here are a few tips to excel as a writer.

1. Take courses and workshops to upgrade your skills.

2. Be the best writer that you can be.

3. Be positive about your abilities.

4. Writer about where you have expertise.

5. Write about what you’re passionate about.

6. Believe that you’re a great writer.

By developing a positive approach attitude your writing, you’ll not only excel but you’ll be motivated to become a great writer one page at a time.

Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A – Z Challenge

W = Create a Winning Feeling

Many writers are negative. They don’t think that they will excel and be successful. This negative approach can make a writer feel unmotivated at all times.

To develop a winning feeling, writers must:

1. Believe in yourselves.

2. Know that you are trying your best this very minute.

3. Not compare yourselves to others.

4. Take workshops to better themselves at all times.

5. Write about topics you love and want to know more about.

By developing a positive approach towards your writing, you will be much more successful and you’ll be inspired to write.

Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A – Z Challenge

V = Have a Vision

Not too many writers know what it means to have a vision. And because of this, many writers don’t build their writing career with a vision.

A vision is a mission or purpose statement. In other words, to determine your vision as a writer, you must decide several things.

1. Do you want to write fiction or nonfiction?

2. Do you want to write for kids, adolescents or adults?

3. Do you have expertise in a distinct area, such as psychology, education or philosophy?

4. Do you have a concern or problem you would like to address to make the world a better place?

Take some time to answer these questions in your success journal. By doing so, you’ll be getting closer to determining your vision as a writer. This will also motivate you to keep writing and pursuing your vision as a writer.

Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A – Z Challenge

U = Manage Urgent Tasks

So many different things vie for a writer’s attention every day. Given the internet, there are so many things that distract us from our main goals as writers. All of a sudden, the superfluous things start taking precedence over the important things. In other words, the superfluous things become urgent. This is when a writer loses his/her perspective and productivity can ebb to its lowest level.

In order to be a productive and motivated writer, you must manage your urgent tasks. Here are a few other tips on how to do this.

1. Determine first things first.

2. Know your three main writing goals and never sit down to write without working on one or these goals first.

3. Be committed to do the most important things first.

4. Don’t do any urgent items until you complete your most important tasks.

By following these tips, you will be managing your urgent tasks once and for all. This will help us become much more productive.

Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A – Z Challenge

T = Task Oriented

It is important for writers to be task-oriented. To be task-oriented, a writer must know what (s)he will need to complete every day before (s)he sits down to write. That way, a writer won’t waste time deciding what to do.

Here are a few other benefits of being task-oriented.

1. The writer will be much more productive.

2. The writer will be more organized.

3. The writer will feel more motivated to complete tasks.

4. The writer will feel as if (s)he can get things done more readily.

Given these benefits, all writers should strive to be task-oriented. It doesn’t get much better than that for a writer to feel motivated and super productive.

Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A to Z Blog Challnge

S = Be Steadfast

It can be difficult for writers to be successful and motivated. But by being steadfast and taking consistent steps to getting better, writers can grow and be much more motivated as time goes on.

Being steadfast can be difficult because of the many ways that writers are pushed and pulled to do way too much. Here are a few ways writers can become steadfast.

1. Be consistent.

2. Focus only on three writing goals at a time.

3. Work on one task at a time.

4. Produce quality work at all times.

5. Take one step every day to complete one writing goal.

By being steadfast in this way, writers can be successful and motivated to be their very best.

Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor