By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills As a novelist, one of my jobs is to show character change and growth. This is a process that takes the entire book to accomplish. A character is challenged by life, and he/she can choose to open the door to solve a problem or slam it shut. A hero or heroine grabs hold of life and …
15 Ways to Survive Stress—and Enjoy the Holidays
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Stress is nothing we plan or calendar. It doesn’t even ask our permission, as though the gray clouds rolling our way are something we want. We respond per our personality, how we were raised, and life experiences. Some of us do a better job than others. October ushers us into the holidays—Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New …
October 16, National Dictionary Day
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills October 16 was National Dictionary Day. Are you a word lover? Next to coffee and shoes, words are my favorite obsession. I value learning their meanings, how to spell them, and use them. Words are my addiction I can be who I want to be From a queen to a knight To an owl in flight. …
Mentoring For All Seasons
@DiAnnMills A Guest Blog by Janet Thompson I grew up in Southern California where, with few seasonal exceptions, the weather was consistent year round—sunny and beautiful. Sunny and hot with morning fog near the beach in summer. Sunny and warm with occasional Santana winds in the fall. Sunny with a few storms, rain, and overcast days in the winter, when …
Read! Add Power to Your Life
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills People who reads add power to their lives. With all of numerous techy ways to entertain ourselves, why do leaders and successful people spend hours reading fiction, nonfiction, articles, and blog posts? How does reading add power to our lives? Gain Knowledge The more we learn about people and the world, the wiser we become. When …
13 Characteristics of a Heroine
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills I’m writing the second novel in a new series titled FBI – Rapid Response Series, and my heroine is a tough gal. While working on her characteristics, I discovered strengths and challenges. Her strong points are designed to help her journey through difficult situations. Some of her weaknesses will become victory points as she learns how …
How Cooking Makes Me a Better Writer
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills I love to cook and bake. It’s relaxing, satisfying, and hopefully the results are tasty. I’ve discovered my passion for writing has a lot in common with food prep. In fact, cooking makes me a better writer. Look at the following, and I think you’ll understand what I mean. Decide on a recipe Just like I …
7 Ways To Stomp out Perfectionism and Embrace Acceptance
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills A perfectionist is seldom satisfied with her performance, and she’s rarely pleased with other’s accomplishments either. Some say it’s the way the person is wired, or how the person was raised, educated, and a host of other reasons, which are really excuses for an attempt to step out of the human DNA. None of us are …
Spreading the Word about Fav Books
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills As readers, many of us finish a novel or nonfiction book and post a review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBD, Goodreads, LifeWay, Mardel, etc. In addition to reviews, many of us post our opinions about a title on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Still others choose word of mouth to recommend …
Why Getting Outside is Good for You
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills When we were kids, we couldn’t wait to get outside. A sunshine-filled day exploded when we opened our doors, and we were energized. We laughed, played, and our spirits lifted higher than the tree tops. What happened to the kid in us who felt better with the sky as our ceiling and green grass tickling between …