Books to Motivate you as you Write Your Story

If you have 5 minutes, let me tell you about 4 books that have motivated me as an independent author:

Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy is a short book - and I happen to like short books! You can start and finish them without getting bogged down, and they leave you with something to think about. What does it mean to eat a frog? Essentially the concept is based on a quote by Mark Twain: "Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day." I'd paraphrase it with "do the difficult stuff first." When you set out to write a book, or to do any other project, start with the hardest task and the rest of your day will go seemingly smooth!
 
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey is a fascinating little book that describes the habits of authors and artists. Who wakes up early in the morning to write? Who drinks coffee (or alcohol) while they write? Did you know some prefer to write lying down? Not me! There is much to be gleaned from studying the habits of successful authors and artists.

The Other 8 Hours: Maximize Your Free Time to Create New Wealth & Purpose by Robert Pagliarini is a book I read 6-8 years ago, and it's been vital for me in moving from a job "stuck in a cubicle" to pursuing my dreams. If you sleep 8 hours a day and work 8 hours a day, what are you doing in those other 8 hours to pursue your dream job?

What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada is my current favorite children's book for adults! Although it's a picture book for kids, it has spoken a lot to ME in my 30s. If you have a dream, and idea, a book inside you, or something you desire to do with your life but you feel fear, ridicule, or insecurity about it, go immediately to your local bookstore or library and read this book! Kobi Yamada puts pictures to the concepts of chasing your dreams despite what others think - and despite your own insecurities.

These are my current favorite recommendations for writers and artists, and I mentioned all of them in my newest book which is a resource for new authors! You can find Write Your Story: Straightforward Steps for (Finally) Writing and Publishing Your Book on Amazon and (soon) other online book retailers.

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Hi, I’m Betsy, and I live in the Washington, D.C. area with my husband, Mike. We have been married since 2008, and look forward to the arrival of our first baby in 2018! We enjoy exploring new cities together on foot and doing life as a team.

I write because I feel called and I enjoy it, and I hope that my words point you toward God! My first book, Embracing Hope During Infertility is intended to infuse hope into your heart! My second book, although written for children, will point you toward the goodness of God, even in the darkest times. I just released my third book Write Your Story.

You can learn more about me here. I would love for you to connect with me by following my Hope During Infertility Facebook page or my Betsy Herman, Writer Facebook page. I’m also on Instagram and Twitter as @lovethatbetsy.

Thanks so much for reading this post!