Some flisters have heard my tales about my early years as a writer. I would camp out in front of the fireplace, yellow doctor’s bag loaded with crayons on one side, and an endless supply of paper on the other.  I penned The Magic Mittens by the age of seven. I completed Clean Your Room Sara Ann before I turned nine.  Stories oozed out of my ( Read more... )

Last week I finished presenting all the theories regarding what motivates you and me.  If you missed them you can go here to learn about instincts, here to learn about drives and incentives, and  here to learn about arousal and humanism.  You will find that each theory is one piece of the jigsaw puzzle that is human motivation.  Each piece serves a ( Read more... )

Last time ( here) I talked about how biological needs (i.e., thirst and hunger) and incentives (i.e., awards and recognition) can drive a character to behave or act. Yet, sometimes we eat when we aren't hungry and we don't always receive recognition for our efforts.  And prior to last week, ( here) I said instincts such as love and fear are not ( Read more... )

Last time, I talked about how instincts motivate us to act. ( here) Many believed that fear and love were strong forces propelling us to act.  But not everything we do is a reaction to love or fear or …well, an instinct.  This, explains why we have four more theories motivation to explore.  This week I will talk about two: drive and incentive.

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Motivation, simply defined, is the biological, emotional, cognitive, or social forces that activate and direct behavior.  It tells us the WHY behind behavior.  It is often inferred.  Yes, even you make inferences about your motivations.  Huh?  Haven’t you ever found yourself doing something that is counter to how you view yourself?  Sure you have.  ( Read more... )

Dear Neighbor Who Lives Next Door:

We have never met, which is a fact I find hard to believe.  Because only people I have met AND with whom I am very familiar, are allowed to wake me up before the sun hits the horizon.  I am going to wager a bet that your alarm clock going off every morning at 6 am and continuing to buzz until 7:30 am is your ( Read more... )

Monday morning I began listening to Her Fearful Symmetry by Niffenegger (such an unfortunate last name.) in my car.  As I drove along at about 65 mph, I noticed brake lights in all the lanes up ahead.  I slowed down, checked my rearview mirror to make sure people behind me were doing the same.  All was well.  Then out of nowhere a blue car rushes ( Read more... )

On average, I read two books a week.  That’s a lot of reading.  That’s a lot of opportunity to read good books and great books and angels-singing-fabulous books.  That’s a lot of opportunity for me to think about WHY this book is good vs. great.  And I do decide. Every book I read gets rated on my Good Reads page. If you are not familiar with GR, I ( Read more... )

As I make my way through another set of revisions, I find myself thinking about plots and character development more than . . . cake. I know. It’s hard to believe.  I know that plots are an out growth of characters’ decisions and actions.  And I know that a well developed story has rising action, with high stakes and setbacks and a grand climax ( Read more... )

Typically, I share what I learn at writing conferences, but never share what I learn at psychology oriented conferences. Well, today I’m sharing. Maybe the information will help you with a story line. Maybe it will cause you to respond with compassion when you meet someone who is struggling. Without further ado, highlights from the 18th Annual ( Read more... )