12 Ways to Increase Your Brain Power

, by

  “Nutty with a Dash of Meat Jeanette Levellie” here. We already know how smart you are, since you’re following the CAN blog! But if you’d like to increase your brain power, I believe you’ll enjoy these 12 fun ways. I discovered  the first 11 on brain specialist Dr. Daniel G. Amen’s blog, and the 12th–a fun method I use to stretch my own brain muscles–is my idea. I have also added some of my thoughts to Dr. Amen’s. 1. Learn something new–an obscure president’s name, a variety of flower, even a little-known verse to a song.

Read More

10 Things I Love about Writers Conferences

, by

Hello from Jeanette! I’m in the process of last-minute preparations for the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference (March 26-30). This conference is always a highlight of my year. I attended for the first time in 1995 and now have the honor of serving on the Support Staff as the coordinator of the first-timers’ Buddy System. If you have never attended a conference like Mount Hermon, I highly recommend it. Here are just a few of the things I love about writers’ conferences:

Read More

Starting Places for Greater Creativity

, by

Hello! Jan here hoping to generate some freshness into not only our nonfiction writing, but also our speaking. Today is the Friday before Valentine’s Day. My childhood memories create a picture of schoolchildren across the country stuffing decorated boxes with sentiments and enjoying cupcakes with red sprinkles and candy hearts. What does that have to do with writing and speaking? Starting places for infusing very needed freshness into what we do . . .

Read More

Creativity + Focusing

, by

Aloha from Karen, CAN Treasurer So far this had been a crazy year for me with lots of writing (contracts) and lots of family activity. And then I cracked a rib sledding with one of my grandsons. In the midst of it all someone asked how I can keep up, be creative, and focus on writing with lots going on (plus pain).  I’ll chat about that today.  

Read More