The Four Dignities of a Warrior-Writer

four dignities of a warrior-writer by Melanie Lamaga

I’ve been working overtime launching The Evolution of Reptilian Handbags and Other Stories and keeping various other businesses afloat, while writing a new novel, all of which necessitated organizing my files, because my head hurts from all the different hats piled on it, like so many mattresses atop the pea, and I needed a better […] Read more »

What Writers Can Learn from The Walking Dead

Michonne from The Walking Dead TV series

Beyond the Zombies … True Horror I have a love/hate relationship with zombies as they are portrayed in American culture. They’re crude and redundant: all they do is stagger around looking for something to eat. They never get full or tired, even when their rotting limbs are falling off. I can’t resist the gory little […] Read more »

Oh No, My Balls Hit the Floor! (5 Ways to Get Your Writing Project Re-Started)

How to Get Your Writing Project Restarted

Juggling the Balls of Desire This is the writer’s life: we carefully construct plans and schedules; we arrange and sacrifice. Everything from, “If I give up TV, I can write for two hours more each night,” to life-altering decisions like deciding to major in creative writing in college or putting off having children. This probably […] Read more »

6 Steps to Get Your Book Ready to Publish

collage by Melanie Lamaga, The Metaphysical Circus

How Do You Know When It’s Go Time? Before you submit your manuscript to agents and publishers, you would be wise to make sure it is well crafted, polished and clean. This will greatly up your chances of finding what you seek. However, if you go indie, there is no gatekeeper other than yourself. The […] Read more »

7 Reasons to Self-Publish, 7 Reasons Not to Self-Publish

In case you haven’t heard the news, writers now have a choice when it comes to publishing books. I’ve done a lot of research over the past year and here is what I’ve learned. You Might Want to Become an Indie Author Because… 1. Mo’ Money Most publishers give you an advance, and then between […] Read more »

Give Your Creative Self a Gift

Give Your Creative Self a Gift

Birthdays, The Daily Show, and Books of the Future It’s my birthday this week, and let me say this right off: I’m not one of those self-effacing, ‘aw shucks, doing nothing special’ types. That’s something else we could learn from 4-year olds. Bring on the cake! Bring on the Party! Pin the tail on the […] Read more »

3 Easy Steps to Reignite Your Creative Fire

3 Simple Steps to Reignite Your Creative Fire

Fighting the January “Back to Work Blues” I took some time off between Christmas and New Year, vacationing with family (fun!), and then friends came into town (more fun!), and the next thing I know, it’s Monday, Jan 7, 2013 at 1:10 PM. The holidays have worn out their welcome, and I have no more […] Read more »

Creating Our Dream Life – What We Can Learn from 4-Year-Olds

Creating Your Dream Life, by Melanie Lamaga, The Metaphysical Circus

Creativity and Change… Because I Want To As anyone who has been around kids knows, at a certain point around four years old their favorite phrase becomes, “Because I want to.” It got me wondering, when do we stop believing that this is reason enough? For example, a friend or family member asks you to […] Read more »

Creative Thanks Giving, Reclaim Your Holiday

illustration of article by Melanie Lamaga Creative ThanksGiving, Reclaim Your Holiday

How is Creativity Like a Turkey? Thanksgiving, gratitude comes from feeling of abundance– that you have enough and some to spare. But American culture has always been about striving to improve ourselves, which too often devolves into a bottomless desire for more, more, more. It makes me wonder if Thanksgiving is really about gratitude, or […] Read more »

Traveling with Joy

 Boost Creativity and Productivity through Bliss Last week I wrote about the book Get High Now (without drugs) and, somewhat coincidentally, this week I find myself blissed out to an extent I haven’t felt in quite a while, and as a result, my creativity is humming. I know it’s probably foolish to analyze this. The […] Read more »