The thoughts are flowing, the pages are forming, and then all of a sudden — bam! You hit headfirst into writer’s block, along with procrastination, sentence forming issues and the desire to be perfect with every word you write. Xulon Press knows more than others what it is to be stopped by writing hindrances, as several of our own staff members have struggled, and overcome, these same author issues. Hear two staff members’ stories, Mimie Auxila and Michelle Johnston, describe their own writing experiences and how they surpassed the pitfalls of writing their first book. 1) What are your books…

There’s so much advice on New Years resolutions, but at the risk of stating the obvious, the start is only the beginning. Everyone understands the concept of making New Years resolutions, but we all have trouble actually going through with them. The main consensus seems to be that the only way to truly change is to be very lazy about it. You read that right—lazy. Do nothing more than roll them out in microscopic bits. For example, if you want to form the habit of flossing your teeth, start with flossing one tooth. Work your way up to two, then…

So you’ve been waiting to jot down your story. You’ve spent days, even months planning what you’d write once you decide to write, but find yourself opting out. When you make excuses you are creating self-limiting beliefs and habits, cultivating a quitter mentality. When you procrastinate and find things to do aside writing, investigate why you haven’t committed to your craft. If you are inspiration parched, join a local group that will nurture following through. Complete more research on your topic, or be sure to find a subject you’re truly passionate about. Many writers experience blockages and discover problems with…