A couple of weeks ago I was invited to participate in a blog hop. It sounded like a great way to connect with some other writers and to share my writing process with others. Kelley E. Carter invited me to the process and she has a really fun job in which she writes about traveling with your pooch! Here’s her story http://kellyecarter.com/writers-blood-sweat-tears/. I think you are going to really enjoy meeting her. Here are my thoughts on why I write and the process I use to write.
When I was a little girl I wanted to be an author. Somewhere throughout a life of “have tos” and “musts” I stopped wanting. I was sad, missing a creative outlet, and filled with regret and resentment. One day I decided to write a blog for a local online newspaper. I wrote the first entry rather quickly but it took me weeks to post it. I pushed through every fear and insecurity to do it and I obsessively checked how many people read and shared it. Since that day, I worked my way to not only calling myself a writer but to actually being one. I post a few blogs a month on my own website (Smart Women Inspired Lives), Your Tango, and guest sites. It does my heart good to write; I’m happier and more connected to others and myself. I try to write without connection to the outcome, in other words I write for me. It’s icing on the cake when others like what I have to say but it isn’t essential to the joy I feel when I write.
What am I working on/writing?
I’m actually working on a book for women about overcoming our perfection pursuit. In my work with women I find a constant issue is the outrageous demands they put on themselves to be perfect in everything they do. What happens is that they are both exhausted and miserable, feeling as if they are never good enough. I’m excited to have my own book and to write it with my own sassy attitude! I’m always writing blogs about parenting, women’s issues, and stress management. I just finished a blog about how social media can either make us happy or really miserable.
How does my work/writing differ from others of its genre?
The feedback I most frequently get on my writing is that it’s very down to earth and relatable. I try not to hold myself out as a “know it all” but rather as a professional who also struggles with all the same issues as others. Most of my writing comes from my own life experiences or what I’ve learned from family, friends, and clients. I’m pretty snarky when I write because I’m willing to say what others only think. I’m a big believer in being truthful and real so that’s what you will find in my writing. My life is fabulously flawed and that’s what I like to share. I also love to inspire and motivate with my writing. I don’t want anyone walking away from something that I write feeling bad about themselves.
Why do I write what I do?
I write what I do because it is literally what comes out of my head and into my written words. It’s how I express myself. Yet I also write what I do because of the common themes that I hear from so many women. Sometimes we get stuck, we put others before ourselves, and we don’t know how to move forward. I write to help women get unstuck and find the joy and happiness in their lives. When I write something it comes straight from my heart and I want it to touch others in the exact same way. When I get an email, response, or private note from someone who has read one of my blogs that tells me how much my writing touched them, I know I’m writing exactly what I should.
How does my writing process work?
Most of my writing is done in my head. I come up with an idea based on an experience I’ve had or have talked to others about. I typically take a walk with my dog and let the ideas gel in my head before I put them on paper. Almost always I’m able to write my blogs relatively quickly because I’ve thought them through already. When I get stuck on what I’m writing I know I’m either taking the wrong path or it isn’t a blog that I’m ready to write. The right blogs just come very easily to me. If I don’t have any ideas, then I don’t write. Though that doesn’t happen very often. I seem to have a lot to say!
Let me introduce you to four other fabulous writers:
Lauren Margolin aka The Good Book Fairy
Lauren is a freelance writer, the owner of Inviting Ideas, an invitation and stationery studio and for the past three years, a book blogger and creator ofGoodBookFairy.com. She has reviewed hundreds of books and gives honest and relatable opinions, which has built her loyal and trusted following. She connects with authors and publishers and does many speaking engagements. Lauren presents at book events, libraries, book clubs and loves all things regarding the appreciation of books.
Lori Day author Her Next Chapter: How Mother-Daughter Book Clubs Can Help Girls Navigate Malicious Media, Risky Relationships, Girl Gossip, and So Much More
Lori Day is an educational psychologist and consultant with Lori Day Consultingin Newburyport, MA. Previously Lori worked as a psychologist, teacher and school administrator for over 25 years in public schools, private schools, and at the college level. She is a co-founder and member of the advisory board of the Brave Girls Alliance, a global think tank of girl empowerment experts who advocate for healthier media and products for girls. Lori is also a freelance writer, as well as a blogger for the Huffington Post and various other sites, writing about parenting, education, child development, gender, media, and pop culture. Her first book, titled Her Next Chapter: How Mother-Daughter Book Clubs Can Help Girls Navigate Malicious Media, Risky Relationships, Girl Gossip, and So Much More, came out in May of 2014.
Cornelia Shipley the author of Design Your Life: How to Create a Meaningful Life, Advance Your Career and Live Your Dreams
Cornelia is an Executive Coach and Master Practitioner of Energy Leadership. She holds and MBA from Southern Methodist University and worked in leadership positions in both the Sales and Human Resources functions. Cornelia currently lives with her husband in metro Atlanta and this year she published the #1 Best Seller Design Your Life: How to Create a Meaningful Life, Advance Your Career and Live Your Dreams. She will publish her blog post on August 26th at www.corneliashipley.com/blog.
Kelly E. Carter the author of The Dog Lover’s Guide to Travel
New York Times bestselling author, freelance writer and Founder/President of The Jet Set Pets, the luxury travel site for pampered pets on the go. Her latest book, National Geographic’s The Dog Lover’s Guide to Travel was released April 1, 2014.
And a quick summary about me:
Lisa Kaplin is a psychologist, life coach, professional speaker, and blogger. She is the owner of Smart Women Inspired Lives where she hears women’s stories, helps them understand why they are stuck, and helps them rewrite their futures into joyful lives that they hadn’t thought possible. Lisa’s unique education and life experiences allow her to really understand the stress, overwhelm, and struggles that many women face. She uses humor, empowerment, acceptance, and a healthy dose of pushing to guide her clients into life long changes. Lisa is married and the mother of three teen-aged children. In her free time she’s cuddled on the couch with her dog and a book. You can find her at www.smartwomeninspiredlives.com or Lisa@smartwomeninspiredlives.com.