A Chat with Author Georgia Shaffer

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Greetings from C. Kevin Thompson. Well, winter is officially over, I guess. I know. I know. Those of you in Minnesota and Montana might argue the point. It’s all about three words: location, location, location. We almost broke a record the other day of 87 degrees here in central Florida. So much for spring… So, we sit here on the front porch…ceiling fans on high…ice-cold glasses of lemonade sweating on thirsty stones…welcoming Georgia Shaffer to the Guest’s Adirondack Chair. Welcome, Georgia! Before we get going on the other questions, first tell us about your latest book, A Gift of Mourning…

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What to Do When You’re in Over Your Head

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Georgia Shaffer from Pennsylvania “I am physically weary and emotionally exhausted,” my coaching client said with a heavy sigh.  ‘I’m not motivated to write or do anything.” She was in over her head at home and with her writing deadline. I knew how she felt . . . been there recently myself. Overwhelmed with too much to do and little energy to do anything. So I’ve decided to share four things that help me in those, “in over my head” moments. 1.  Do nothing for a while It seems counter intuitive.  After all, you have all these things to do,…

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Five Tips to Rescue Your Brilliant Idea

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Georgia Shaffer from Pennsylvania Did you ever have a brilliant idea that later seemed to turn bad? Three years ago I had a great idea for a book. Once I decided to take action and make it a reality, however, I felt at times like it was the worst idea I ever had. We have all had similar moments. Since my bright idea became a published book (Coaching the Coach: Life Coaching Stories for Transforming Lives), I’ll share five things to remember when a brilliant thought flashes through your mind, and what to do afterwards as you try to bring…

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Positive or Negative Influence?

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Georgia Shaffer from Pennsylvania Recently I read a blog for singles written by a woman who was obviously still bitter about a man she had dated. Her sarcasm and biting comments about men in general and one man in particular offended me. Her post caused me to stop and reflect on who I am and how my writing might negatively impact my readers.  Am I carrying unforgiveness or deep resentments? Do I have any hurts, feelings of betrayal or frustrations that I have ignored but are slowly seeping out in what I write? Reading that article reminded me how our…

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Rewrite Your Thinking

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Georgia Shaffer from Pennsylvania Last month I wrote about anxiety and how it can ambush our writing. This month I’ll discuss the self-sabotaging mindsets we have that undermine our creativity and productivity. Some mindsets are caught from our parents or friends. Others we’re taught. Some mindsets are helpful and some are self-defeating. The latter keep us stuck in negative thinking and deplete us of vital energy. Sara Blakely, the billionaire founder of Spanx, is a great example of how positive mindsets propel us forward. She said, “My dad encouraged us to fail. Growing up, he would ask us what we failed…

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Is Anxiety Ambushing Your Writing?

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Georgia Shaffer from Pennsylvania One coaching client emailed me, saying, “Every time I sit down to write, I’m flooded with anxious thoughts. The voices in my head shout that I can’t write and nobody wants to read what I have to say. How do I deal with all this anxiety?” In highly motivated people like this woman, I’ve found it is often anxiety that interferes with our creativity and ability to focus. Obviously not all anxiety is detrimental to writing. These feelings can motivate us to take action. But constant anxiety can lead to moodiness, writer’s block, headaches and even insomnia…

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Organize Your Thoughts . . . Before You Write

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Georgia Shaffer from Pennsylvania One mistake I repeatedly made early in my writing career, was, as I sat down to write an article, newsletter or a chapter in a book, I neglected to first take the time to organize my thoughts. I ended up wasting lots of time writing and rewriting as I would try figure out where I was really going with my topic. Before you begin to write, focus on how you will organize your ideas by answering the following questions: Who is My Audience? Part of narrowing your focus is defining your audience.  Are you writing for…

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MARKETING: TAKING A LOOK AT PINTEREST

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  A Note from Carol McAdams Moore Do you remember the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words? Sometimes that is difficult for authors to embrace. We are used to painting pictures with our words. Using an actual picture to communicate an idea makes us stop and reroute our creative process. If you are an author, or an aspiring author, it is important to take that “reroute” to capture the attention of your readers. Why? Pinterest is a growing avenue of social media. The savvy author will have a well-planned presence on Pinterest.

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Should I Have a Blog, a Newsletter or Both?

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Georgia Shaffer from Pennsylvania While you may have a blog or are considering writing one, you may also want to think about having a newsletter.  Newsletters can increase the number of people you reach and also build awareness of the various resources you have available. Darren Rowse, a professional blogger, speaker and consultant said, “I don’t sell services or products in my blog but I do sell through my newsletter.” Many of my author friends find his statement to be true for them too. They have both a blog and a newsletter. But it is in the latter that they…

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NEW RELEASE: FEBRUARY 2015 – 12 SMART CHOICES FOR FINDING THE RIGHT GUY by GEORGIA SHAFFER

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Are you frustrated with dating? Wondering how to find the right one? Christian psychologist and life coach Georgia Shaffer reveals how to avoid unhealthy people, build vibrant relationships, and find romance! These 12 smart choices will help you… – pinpoint the qualities you want in a mate – determine if someone has integrity and is trustworthy – deepen your capacity to connect romantically – minimize emotional reactions that can block intimacy Gary Chapman, Ph.D., author of The Five Love Languages wrote, “Save yourself time and heartache by applying the principles shared by Georgia Shaffer.

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