Take Advantage of Technology

You don’t have to go back too far in time to a time when publishing and printing a book was made tremendously easier by typewriters, typeset printers and printing presses. However, these media outlets and communication centers were often controlled by the select few or governed by censor laws of the king, government or religion.

If you wrote about the right things, you may find yourself hard-pressed to find a publisher; if you wrote about the wrong things, you may find yourself imprisoned – or worse.

Enter technology. The advent of devices such as the computer, the mobile phone, digital recorder, video camera, and the internet - coupled with programs and applications such as Word, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube - plus the World Wide Web has made the world seem much smaller.

If you live in a free democracy such as the United States of America, you enjoy limitless freedom of speech which can be broadcast through any number of mediums of your choosing.

Google makes information easily and readily available at the speed of light – for free. Editors, publishers, coaches, consultants and other writing experts are also easily found and readily available to help you in your quest to convey your wisdom through the written word.

Now it’s easier than ever before in the history of mankind to transfer your thoughts into the written word or recorded medium and share them with the world. Take advantage of technology and use it to make your contribution to the information age.

Healthy Writing

Never underestimate the importance of health, even in writing. You may wonder why you need to be healthy to perform a sedentary activity that requires virtually no physical exertion; therefore, I implore you to ponder the following equation.

A healthy body = a healthy mind = healthy thoughts = healthy writing.

When you’re healthier, you naturally have more energy to do what it is that you truly desire in life. A healthy, pain-free body and stress-free mind will foster better concentration, focus, clarity, creativity, thought patterns and energy. This will be evident in your writing. 

Writing Evolution

The human race is separated from the millions of other animal life forms on this planet by many different characteristics; some are physical, more are intellectual. One of these intellectual characteristics is our ability to reason and rationalize. When we speak before thinking, we are not using our ability to reason and obviously not using our brain-mouth connection to its best capacity.

Many animals communicate through sound – such as a barking dog, a chirping bird or a roaring lion. Other animals communicate with scent and smell from the release of pheromones or other chemical communicators. Still other animals communicate through sight – evident by the colorful feathers of a peacock, the elaborate movement of ant colonies, or the fanned-out hood of an erect King Cobra who is ready to strike.

My point is that countless methods of communication are evident in nature, but show me a species other than human that is capable of sitting down with a pen and paper or laptop and creating a literary masterpiece – a poem, a novel or a historical account.

Write Before You Speak

Have you ever spoken before thinking – only to put your foot in your mouth later? Or have you blurted out something in anger, frustration or the heat of passion that you wish you could have taken back right away? We think it’s safe to assume that most of us are guilty at least once in our lives.

When we communicate through writing, we flex our evolutionary muscles as we create thoughtful communication. Writing funnels all of our sensory perceptions into a series of meaningful, duplicable, and transferrable text that others can easily read, share and interpret based on their own beliefs and rationale. The author has the opportunity to think before he writes, then re-read, revise, edit or delete his work before sharing it with anyone. This is quite contrary to the irate driver who honks their horn and then screams out the window to the driver that cut him off in traffic – only to find out at the next stoplight that it’s their boss.

Open mouth, insert foot. Open book, insert thought.

The Write Foundation

Communication is the foundation of relationships both personal and professional – as well as the backbone of leadership, marketing, sales and many other aspects of business, politics and education. In my opinion, writing is the most thoughtful and effective form of communication.

Writeaway Island

I’ve found that the best way to stimulate your senses is to change your environment. To create something different, you need to do things differently – somewhere different.

Inspire creativity by immersing yourself in a tropical paradise!

The Writeaway Island Retreat offers a unique experience for those who are yearning for something different in life. Something that offers a total release of your creative capabilities while delivering tangible results.

I’ve done some of my best writing while travelling - away from the normalcy, responsibility, stress (or comfort), and, most importantly the habits that I hold onto in my regular life. I know that you will too.

Six aspiring authors are going to have the best vacation of their lives. Seven days in a lush tropical paradise – with everything included once they step off of the plane. You’ve just got to get here!

You’re going to be pushed, but pampered. You’re going to sail, snorkel, hike, rest, relax, reflect – and write! Each of the unique daily activities and exercises will serve a purpose to stimulate writing on a particular topic. Individual writing and group collaboration, brainstorming and feedback will be part of the regimen to help you break through writing barriers and give you the confidence to forge your own story.

There's a secret surprise included as well!

The retreat doesn't end when you leave the island. We are going to work with you one-on-one for the next three months until your book is written, edited, and published. From the initial idea in your head to the published book in your hand, we're there for you every step of the way!

For more info and to apply for the retreat, email Sean@Seandon.com

Live a little

I'm not saying live recklessly; I'm just saying throw some traditional caution to the wind sometimes. Live a little. Do some things you wouldn't normally do. Write that book!