
“A writer who is a real writer is a rebel who never stops.” – William Saroyan It’s been awhile since I last posted anything on my blog. I wish I could say my absence is due to all the work I’ve accomplished on my manuscript. But in truth, it’s kind of due to my worries, [...]

Steve Jobs is quite an interesting man. Whether you like what he’s done or not, you have to agree, he has accomplished incredible things in his life. At a young age, Jobs did what he wanted to do–he followed his heart. While in high school, Jobs worked summers at Hewlett-Packard with Steve Wozniak. He attended Reed College [...]

Sometimes it’s easy to just let the Magic 8 Ball make your decisions…but sometimes, we need to take matters in our own hands and work it, no matter what. These quotes are for those times we’d rather take control. What are you going to do today to reach your goals? Nothing will ever be attempted [...]

I dug up this post and thought I’d share it again…hope you take the time to watch this brilliant video. Thanks to Robin Brande for finding these words of wisdom. Sir Ken Robinson is funny, engaging and wise. Take the time to listen to him. It’s worth your time, and even better, it may very [...]

“You see, in my view a writer is a writer not because she writes well and easily, because she has amazing talent, because everything she does is golden. In my view a writer is a writer because even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of promise, you keep [...]

Hey, did I get your attention? A 30 Day Challenge? Is this for real? Only if you want to go the distance with me. The fabulous 3 prize combination package: A productive new habit for you; Increased motivation to reach your goal; and A finished first draft. Tempting, isn’t it? I’ve heard somewhere that if [...]

Steve Jobs is quite an interesting man. Whether you like him or not, you have to agree, he has accomplished incredible things in his life. Did you know Jobs was 21, when he co-founded Apple? No college degree. No money. Just pure drive, determination, smarts and a dream. Jobs was the 2005 Commencement Speaker at [...]

A repost from my HipWriterMama blog: I’ve often wondered what kept people moving toward their dreams when obstacles fell in their way. Sometimes, these rocks are just too massive and downright overwhelming, sucking up every bit of energy from one’s soul. It’s enough to make one want to give up and decide it obviously wasn’t [...]
Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. -Aristotle Constant dripping hollows out a stone. -Lucretius ————————————- My children were anxious to play with their friends when they came home from [...]
I just heard the sad news that Randy Pausch passed away earlier today. I’ve decided to repost this, in his honor. Randy Pausch–professor at Carnegie Mellon University, founder of the Alice Project, author of The Last Lecture–inspired millions and made people believe anything is possible. My thoughts and prayers go to his family. Please make [...]
Forty-somethings never looked so good. Dara Torres, a nine-time Olympic medal winner, is headed to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. I know I’ll be cheering her on. Want some inspiration? Just watch this video….then get to work. © 2007 – 2010 HipWriterMama – All Rights Reserved. © 2007 – 2010 Vivian [...]
But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it’s better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you’re fighting for. -Paulo Coelho Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. -Robert [...]
“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.” -J.K. Rowling, 2008 Commencement Address “We do not need magic to transform the world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves [...]
Three of my nephews graduated from college over the past couple of weeks. Besides the fact it makes me feel old, it also makes me nostalgic for my college days where it was easier to believe that I could accomplish anything. Enter Randy Pausch: professor at Carnegie Mellon University, founder of the Alice Project, author of [...]

Saturday was such an awesome day. My nine-year-old daughter came with me to Rick Riordan’s talk and book signing for his book, The Battle of the Labyrinth, in a nearby town. The Wellesley Booksmith, an independent bookstore, hosted this incredible event. I knew there would be a crowd, and wasn’t sure if my daughter would [...]
It’s been a few weeks since I wrote a real Inspiration Monday post. I’ve been busy, as all of us are, and a little overwhelmed with projects I wanted to or needed to do. But, it’s time for me to get back on track and focus on my goals–the big one, as most of you [...]
Randy Pausch–professor at Carnegie Mellon University, founder of the Alice Project, author of The Last Lecture–has inspired millions and made people believe anything is possible. Please make the time, 76 minutes to be exact, to watch the Last Lecture of Randy Pausch, Professor of Carnegie Mellon University. I know, it’s a lot of time. [...]
Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure…than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. -Theodore Roosevelt I told myself I can’t blog until I finish my [...]
Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of [...]

I’m a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it. -Thomas Jefferson Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. -Seneca All of us have bad luck and good luck. The man who persists through the bad luck – who keeps right on going – is [...]
For those of you who need a little encouragement, here’s a great commencement speech from Steve Jobs. I wrote about this before, but just found it on YouTube. When you have a moment, take the time to listen to it. I think you’ll find it inspiring. I’ve been going through major writer’s block for the [...]

Justina Chen Headley is celebrating the release of her new book, Girl Overboard, in a big way. For those of you familiar with readergirlz, you know this vivacious readergirlz diva is big into encouragement, empowerment, and giving back. This generous lady not only talks the talk…she walks the walk. Justina donated half of her advance [...]

Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher I am so happy. Twenty people signed up for the 2008 New Year’s 30 Day Challenge. And there may be more people out there, who are going to [...]