Hillary Rettig's Blog, page 15
February 9, 2014
On The Importance of Going OFF the Internet
Going off the Internet seems a radical act, but for most people it’s essential for creativity. The Internet is inherently and continuously interruptive, and that’s not a good mix with creative work, or productivity in general. In classes, I quote Jonathan Franzen (“It’s doubtful that anyone with an Internet connection at his workplace is writing […]
February 7, 2014
What Muhammad Ali Can Teach You About Getting More Work Done
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” That famous quote from Muhammad Ali really does captures the spirit and essence of productive, joyful work. Let’s break it down: 1) “Float like a butterfly.” You move lightly and freely around and through your work until you see an aspect of it that inspires you. (Inspiration […]
January 27, 2014
John Scalzi on Why You Should Never Let Your Reviewers Get You Down
The Inimitable One offers a list of one-star reviews of books that later went on to win science fiction’s celebrated Hugo award. My favorite is this review of Scalzi’s own novel Red Shirts, which actually uses the word “onanistic”: This is an onanistic shallow and very disappointing book. Little or no character development. What should […]
January 21, 2014
New Yorker Cartoonist Shows What to do When You’re Stuck on a Piece
Please check out this wonderful piece by New Yorker cartoonist Drew Dernavich, in which he discusses his creative process for a cartoon. He submitted it in 2007, but it was rejected. At that point, he did NOT do what many perfectionists would do, which is to either: (a) despair, and maybe give up cartooning, or […]
January 10, 2014
This Month Only: Free eCopy of It’s Not You, It’s Your Strategy
My heart goes out to everyone seeking work–it’s one of the worst chores around. For many people, however, it’s made harder than it has to be due to poor advice from college career offices, outsourcing consultancies, the media, and even well-meaning friends and relatives. That’s why I wrote my ebook It’s Not You, It’s Your […]
January 7, 2014
“Essential Guide to a Better Authorship”
A fantastic review of The 7 Secrets of the Prolific from The Metapsychology Online Reviews: The book constantly reminds the reader that moralistic labels are useless and poisonous. Lightened up by the witty illustrations by Barry Deutsch (just to quote one: the monolith a la 2001: A Space Odyssey vs. a spaghetti snarl) it is […]
January 6, 2014
Hello Crewel World!
And knitting world, scrapbooking world, decoupage world, etc.! Check out my post on How to Get More Crafting Done in 2014. Many thanks to Lois Winston, author of the fun Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, for the opportunity to guest blog at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers.
December 31, 2013
Check out my BoomerCafe piece!
For BoomerCafe I wrote a piece on how, in my fifties, and in the face of a growing realization of my mortality, I’m finally learning to play defense in terms of my ambitions. All this would be a bummer if I didn’t have so much to be grateful for and defend. Check it out!
December 26, 2013
Register Now for January’s Time Management and Weight Loss Classes (Boston and Online)
See the Events Page for my classes.
Last Call for December Coaching Discounts! (Usable throughout 2014)
Nothing catalyzes success more than coaching. If you’re seeking to finish a writing or other project, reclaim your enthusiasm for your work, get a new job, gain more life balance, or make another important change, coaching’s the thing. Purchase my productivity coaching for yourself or anyone else between now and December 31 and save 15%. […]
