Welcome back to the work week, everyone. Here's a brief post for the day, inspired by a long, rejuvenating weekend where I did only the things that nourish me, including writing. Julia Cameron says, "We should write because humans are spiritual beings and writing is a powerful form of prayer and meditation, connecting us both to our own insights and to a higher and deeper level of inner guidance." Do you agree? Do you use writing as a form of prayer and meditation? I asked two of our own authors for their insight on the topic. I knew they would say something beautiful to say. That their answers are so similar does not surprise me at all. Sara Wiseman, author of Writing the

As an acquisitions editor, my job is to shop for books, but of course it’s not the final bound product I’m looking for. I shop for the material needed to create books – a commercial idea, a promotable author, and solid writing. All of these elements come through in a successful book proposal. Book proposals are the universal language authors use to convey the value of their work and get a contract -- either from an editor or an agent. All good ones follow a certain formula, which Writers Marketplace and numerous other resources can demonstrate. But there’s a certain panache that comes through when you understand a bit about the publishing process. Here’s an insider’s look at

Now that my blog at Llewellyn is up and running, I'd like to share a bit about my perspective on spirituality -- where I come from and what I've come to believe. Chakras, auras, spirits, and psychics? Five years ago, I would have said no way, no how. Today, my answer is always a curious maybe. You Llewellyn fans probably knew this already. Are you glad I finally caught on? I grew up without spirituality, religion, or much a higher power of any kind. As an ex-Catholic turned nature-worshiper, my mom decided she'd never force religion on me. I read books, hung out at the library, and ran around the park with friends. It's no surprise I studied literature and eventually got a master's

Sometimes I roll my eyes at the posts I find online promising that I can be happier by just reading a few simple tips. Eh. Isn't happiness... well, an existential dilemma? Don't we have to call in therapists and philosophers with PhdDs to help us with that? Or at least spread a little love around the world before we can find peace within ourselves? The answer, of course, is yes and no. On a daily basis, it's the simple things you can easily control that go far to increase your happiness. This post Twenty Easier Ways to Be Happier at Divine Caroline charmed me instantly with its first tip. Make your bed. At The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin says "making the bed is one of the quickest,