Brummet's Conscious Blog

The best business advice I have shared with others is: "Don’t make anyone work for anything; provide everything they will need so that they do not have to ask for it."  As an entrepreneur you really do need to be prepared for each action you intend to take. You have to keep motivated and have a steady level of self-discipline to learn what each step requires.  Let's look at the example of taking the book you have written to the publication stage. At this point you need to learn how to query your manuscript to a publisher. You'll research information on how to find the right publisher and you'll be looking at various publication options, deciding on the ones that suit your situation best. The next thing to pursue is attaining an understanding of what publishers want from potential authors. You'll also want to understand the publishing process so that if they decide to sign that contract, you will be ready for the next steps ahead of you. Now, the best way to st...

-- World of Writing, Interview --   I am proud to feature Sharon Brukman today - founder, CEO and publisher of Natural Awakenings Magazine . Join us for this fascinating discussion about Sharon's journey to finding a way to have a work life that she can be proud of and passionate about, one that is in line with her personal beliefs. I love the fact that her focus is on creating a better world, sustainable living, and respect of living beings.  Sharon Bruckman launched the original Natural Awakenings magazine in Naples, Florida, in 1994 when she recognized the need in her local community for a resource to share information and connect with people searching for alternative and natural ways of caring for their health and the environment. Since then, her enterprise has grown organically, responding to people’s increasing awareness of the critically interlinked issues we face today because of mainstream approaches to health ca...

Writers Influencing Positive Change As writers we have the perfect craft for creating positive change and I’d like to share a few of these options here today. As writers we can help others heal and express their emotions through our own poetry or song lyrics, we can express love and passion, share memories and educate others. By writing about causes and providing readers the tools to enact upon them, we enable our readers to also be a catalyst for positive change. We can help someone else share their stories, their experiences or family history. But there are other ways we can make a difference too. Before querying a publisher or publication: -        Investigate their in-house green and socially responsible activities to see if their actions align with yours. (recycling efforts, carbon offset programs, alternative energy use, charitable donations, tree planting efforts etc.) -        S...

 -- Quote of the Day -- “ You may little suspect the fullness of someone’s character just from reviewing your memories. Your fathers character, say, goes on unfolding and you go on learning about him, from him. He returns to mind in flashbacks and reveries. As you age, and you become more like him, he often feels nearer. A glimpse in the mirror, a dish in the restaurant, a joke in an old movie and traits of his light up never having been noticed before. Under scrutiny, the images reveal more and more …teaching still. " ~ James Hillman Today's quote was chosen for all of our readers today who are experience memories, and loss, during the holiday season. Loved ones are especially missed during these holidays... even if we never celebrated the season with them. It is the frame of mind this holiday season puts us in, I think. We just feel closer to, and want to connect with people we are close to. Both my mother's birthday and the anniversary of her suicide is here - ...

 -- Chatter --  I've just learned from one of our publishers that the softcover format for Trash Talk (environment) and Towards Understanding (poetry) will no longer be available. Instead, the publisher is switching to hardcover formats only! - And they are doing this at the same retail price, which is really cool.  The hardcovers will, of course, be much more durable and will retain their value (for resale in second hand stores, for instance) - I think that will appeal to today's readers. From what I understand this change will occur in early June. It will be interesting to see what will come of this. Watch for the changes via your favorite online retailer over the next couple of weeks, as their systems become updated with the format change. -- Brummets in the Media -- I am excited to share that I will be interviewed on on http://SellingBooks.com today - the interview between myself and Cathy Stucker will be posted around 2 PM (pacific), or soon after. Please c...

-- Conscious Discussions Radio -- Today's topic was focusing on how literature plays a vital role in living consciously. I shared numerous fun and interesting quotes about the craft of writing and the power of the written word by famous individuals from around the globe. I also shared information on how to deal with unfinished projects, skill development, research, pressures and stresses, and writer's block. Writing, whether it is available for the public to purchase or not, is a way of leaving a legacy behind. Writing is a way of communicating with ourselves, our society and future generations; it is a way of connecting with the past and analyzing the future. For the reader, we benefit from stretching our minds, increasing knowledge and tools to live consciously. Where would we be without the understanding and empathy we learned to have for so many individuals, cultures, or historical times? Drop by and listen to the half hour Writing with Conscious Thought episode of Conscio...