Video: I Wrote My Book in 2 1/2 Days!
June 18, 2010
I did it – I finished my book in only 2 1/2 days!!
June 14, 2010
success is possible
I did it. I finished my book in only two and a half days! Believe it or not, I wrote 54,156 words.
Sounds impossible doesn’t it? But it’s not because I have living proof right here in front of me – a document that bears my name and a working title to my book.
That’s all I can say for now. Just wanted to update all of you and thank you so much for all the good wishes.
Cheers to you all! I’ll be back next week and let you know all about it. But my message to you today is to believe in the impossible because it’s completely and totally possible!
Yours in story and a brand new book,
Annie
Be A Failure Outloud
June 13, 2010
facing failure
I wrote a blog post about why I’m afraid to tell my stories but why I am going to do it anyway. So I wanted to explain why I’m willing to be a failure out-loud.
It’s not for the self- aggrandizement, that’s for sure! But being a failure outloud is one of the best things we can do for our soul.
If you are going to change the world, you need to change yourself, then let others follow by example.
That’s why I always strive to do the harder things in life, because I want more, not just for myself but for you too. I want more for all of us and hiding behind our false failures is a reality that none of us need. We all feel like a failure in some way or another.
get to the gold
But the reality is that none of us are. We are all perfectly imperfect, trying to carry out our spiritual task of shedding the crap that we were born with and becoming the luminous souls that we are meant to be.
This is the journey for each of us. Each of us carries a story inside that is about getting beyond the gunk to get to the gold. We are all hero’s and heroines in our own story. It is a HUGE task to do this work.
And some people don’t do it.
Look around and you will see complacent people everywhere. They are hiding inside their tiny lives of ‘I have enough just like this, don’t bother me for more.’
The problem is that’s not really true. We all need more and believe it or not, shucking the shell of your shame, embarrassment, discomfort and fear is the best thing you can do to live a bigger life.
eeek!
Think of a hermit crab – if he stays in the shell that is too small he will be stuck and unable to grow. He has one moment when he sheds his too-small-shell and runs at full speed for his new one.
But this moment it is sheer terror!!
He is stark naked, unprotected and could be easily assailed by any of the malevolent forces of the Universe. But he won’t be. He’s protected but he doesn’t know it.
He’s protected by the act of courage itself. Courage gives you force and energy, one you didn’t even know you had until you make a run for it towards your larger shell.
So that’s why I’m willing to live my discomfort out-loud, because I’m hoping you will too. I’m hoping that together we’ll make a train of little hermit crabs scuttling across the beach shouting, “I want a bigger life and I’m willing to be uncomfortable.”
Are you willing? Are you willing to shuck your shell and join me on this scary, intimidating, life-enhancing journey???
If you are, I’d love to hear from you. All hermit crabs in search of new life, line up here. I’ll make a run for it first, then all you have to do is follow. It’s really that easy.
Eeeeeekk! Here I go! You coming?
Into the Real Desert
June 11, 2010
Sedona
Well I’m off to write my book.
I’m going to Sedona, Arizona for an eight day writing retreat and my book will be out of my system by the time I’m back!
Don’t worry, I’ll still be sending out wonderful stories that I’ve scheduled while I’m away. It will almost seem as if I’m still here!
Writing this book is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
But challenging ourselves is good for our growth!
So here’s to climbing the Sedona red rocks and returning with book in hand.
A New Paradigm for Writing
May 27, 2010
change the world
If I could change the world, I would. I mean change everything. It’s really screwed up from the top to the bottom.
But I can’t overhaul the world overnight. It wouldn’t be fair. We must be patient and let it evolve slowly.
But still I’m working as hard as I can to change everything I can and this is definitely something that’s gotta change – we need a new paradigm for writers.
The way that it has been up until now has been an unworkable mess. In the past you would spend a year or two (or more) writing a book and then you would spend many desperate attempts trying to get published.
Those lucky few that would get published would then consider themselves in the elite category and anyone who was unpublished or self-published was down in the dregs.
NOT a workable paradigm for our future.
Writers, authors, artists, storytellers and those who express themselves through the written or spoken word, are the prophets of our future. Writers tell the tales, share the stories, point out societies ills and provide new solutions.
We need that.
speak up
In a right world they would be revered, not because they had successfully published something, but simply and strongly because they dared to speak up. Authors tell the truth and point out what we don’t want to hear and we need that to keep our world in balance.
So as I’m going off to write my own book, I’m working to create the proper mindset from which to be an author.
Here’s what I don’t want:
- for it to be all about me (a big fat ego trip)
- my own fame and fortune – i.e I’m striving to be noticed, be on Oprah, get famous
- for it to be about whether I ‘get published’ or not. That’s not the deal breaker
Here’s what I do want:
- a sense of collaboration even though I’m writing it myself
- that the words I write be less important than the thought, care and energy behind it
- to change the paradigm for writing
- to get that success is in the in the doing, the rest is icing in the cake
Is that easy? Heck no! Societies pressure is all against my new paradigm. Society says that it means nothing if you just write a book – you have to be a published best-selling author in order to succeed.
I don’t agree.
sharing
I am reversing that. My whole point of writing this book is to share my wisdom, knowledge and love. If it benefits anyone that will be a secondary gift to me. But if I die with all of that still left inside of me, I have not really lived my purpose.
I’m pushing myself to do the hardest thing ever, because I want to change this world.
I want a world in which it is enough just go out of your comfort zone, think of others and be brave. This is the world I want to leave behind.
What about you? Is there something you’re longing to share, express, write or otherwise articulate? Then you must. Don’t wait for the right moment, don’t believe what people tell you – it’s not impossible.
Today whatever it is that you long to do, start doing it now. Don’t wait. The world is waiting for your expression.
If we want to change the world and create a better way for all we need to break the barriers and step out beyond the comfort zone.
GO FOR IT!
Each step that we take, makes it easier for the next person to follow. This is the new world we’ve been waiting for.
Be Creative in Your Communications, Or Else!
May 18, 2010
creativity counts
creativity counts
Or else what?
Or else be left behind in the dust. These days we can no longer afford to poo-poo creativity. Time is ticking and creativity is the wave of the present and the future.
Those who are still thinking in the past will be left behind in the un-creative dust.
So you do want to be on the wave of the future, don’t you? I’m sure you do.
Being creative in your communications requires thinking outside of the box. Communications is a wide field of expression – everything from print media to video, to public speaking, to billboards.
It is everywhere we go and in today’s fast paced world, we need to use our creative brains to keep up with the pace.
It can at first seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have, because using your creative brain is actually enjoyable and energy saving. It’s your old, stuck-in-the-rut left brain that’s getting in the way.
your lizard brain
So who is this old brain that keeps you doing the same old same old? I affectionately call him Mr. Lizard and he loves doing the same things over and over again.
Mr. Lizard is the master of repetition, but needs to learn some creativity.
Why? Because he HATES change. He hates being original and he does not want to stand out in the crowd. He enjoys being one of the boring pack.
But do you?
Do you really enjoy expressing yourself like everyone else? I doubt it. You might be used to doing that but it’s probably not what you really want.
Try this test – if you’re tired or bored with what you’re putting out in your communications, then it’s a likelihood that you’re relying to much on your old lizard brain (cousin to your left brain).
Mr. Lizard doesn’t mean to but he enjoys keeping you stuck. So you’ve got to override his ideas and try something different. That’s what creativity really is – it’s the art and science of doing things differently.
Originality is creativity’s middle name.
Thinking outside the box means trying things that you haven’t tried before. And often, those that are most successful, come up with something that at first seems totally ridiculous!
Think of Se
think outside the box
th Godin’s purple cow. Silly right?
Silly but effective. Imagine yourself putting a big purple cow on your website, business card or brochure. You’re probably cringing right?
Well I’m not suggesting that YOU put a purple cow on anything. That was Seth’s original idea. But I am suggesting that you take risks like he does and think outside of the routine.
Here are some ideas to get you started, but feel free to improvise:
- Think in color, that was part of the purple cow’s effectiveness, it catches our eye and is interesting and different.
- Think ‘difference’ – take a look at something that you’ve done and ask yourself, “What could be different about this?” One small change often makes a big difference.
- If you really want to go out on an edge, and I suggest you do, then ask yourself, “What is the last thing that I’d want to do?” You can decide whether you want to do that or not, to do that or not but at least you’ve gotten yourself to think way outside of your usual box.
That’s the idea. Stirring up your creativity is good for you and good for the world, because no one wants to read or engage in your boring, ordinary communications. They just don’t, so don’t kid yourself about it.
be creative
People today, especially the younger generation like things snappy, quick and interesting and so do you if you’re honest with yourself.
Sometimes we’re afraid to make change, try something different and live outside the box. But that is old Mr. Lizard again asserting himself when he should be off taking a nap.
Today wake up Mr. Lizard and try something new. You will be glad you did.
Creativity in communications is everything. It is the wave of the future and I know you want to be on that wave.
Don’t you?
Thanks to my friend Jeannette Paladino of Write, Speak, Sell for inspiring this post!
Why I AM Writing the Book That I Don’t Want to Write
May 16, 2010
Nope, it’s not what you think. It’s not for the usual reasons. I’m not trying to make more money, get more business or be on Oprah – although my blog fan Brian thinks I should!
I am writing the book that I don’t want to write because I must. Yep that’s right I have no choice. I have to do it.
What no choice you say?
Doesn’t that go against everything you believe about choice, free will and the use of language to create your reality Annie?
Not in this case.
The lack of choice is this – there are some things we want to do because they feel good to us, a natural step in our growth. But there are other things that we need to do but that are out of our comfort zone.
These things that don’t feel comfortable are often for a greater purpose than we know. We need to grow, not just for ourselves but for the evolution of humankind as well.
That’s why I’m writing this book.
When we do not grow according to this uncomfortable urging, we stay stuck and stuck is not what I want. I want to grow and I imagine you do too.
So why I am writing this book is because it’s a must-do urging of my soul, not a wanna-do urging from the easier side of life. I want to grow so I’m willing to leap through hurdles to do it.
And this has been a HU
GE hurdle! Like an elephant in my bedroom It’s been haunting at night. I have tried to ignore it but it won’t go away.
Imagine a tusk-bearing elephant trumpeting loudly in your ear while you try to sleep.
Not so easy right?
That’s how these stories have been speaking to me – LOUDLY. But loud is good. If it wasn’t loud I would keep trying to ignore it. You know those things that just won’t go away?
It’s an urging from the depths of the soul and I am heeding the call (hear bugle call here).
In June I’m going off to Arizona to write my book in only 8 days. Why waste time after something’s been haunting you for years right? Right.
Eight days and the baby will be birthed and I will be free of the torture. Just kidding, but it is torture in the sense that I have a muse who is haunting me. She has chosen me for this book and once they choose you, they won’t let you off the hook.
So who is this not-so-amusing muse that is haunting me? Well she’s a kind of Love Goddess. I know that sounds silly but I actually have a voice in my head who talks to me about the screwed up state of love on this planet and what she wants me to do about it.
Me who has considered myself a total failure in this regard! It’s kind of like flunking math – now you want me to teach it??
But according to her, that’s exactly why I have to write this book – because of my experiences that have seemed more like Chinese water torture than love, SHE feels that I have gained some wisdom.
Anyway, she feels that something is seriously screwed up down here on Planet Earth in the realm of love and relationships and she wants me to do something about it.
What an irony right?
Hardy, har, har. It’s a great cosmic joke (start laughing now).
Yes I am going o write a book about an area of life that I have totally failed in!
Or have I??
According to my Chief personal consultant who keeps me on track he says, “We all need experience to create wisdom. A great Captain learns on the seas of outrageous fortune – never from sitting all day in a small, safe harbor. You are meant to live large and prosper – to suck the marrow from your huge, wild experiences – then share the resulting wisdom.”
Beautiful!
And my niece Devon who was the catalyst for my getting started told me, “Annie you need to write these stories. We need them. We need your wisdom in this area so we know we’re not alone.”
So here I go folks, leaping off the edge of comfort and into the raw and real zone. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.
Your gifts don’t always come from what’s comfortable for you. Today, take a leap with me and find the zone that is beyond what feels easy, good or comfortable. Why? Because we want to change the world.
And if we get on Oprah then we’ll share together.
Retreat 42 – We’ve Launched the Ship!!
April 11, 2010
Wow, who knew that out of the confusion of my life, I would create something as amazing as Retreat 42, my brand new program for retreat in daily life.
Back in December, I was feeling stuck about getting bigger projects off the ground. I had several bodies of work that I never finished and it was really bugging me.
This coincided with meeting my now business partner, the fabulous Ian Waddelow who lives in France, although he’s a Brit by birth. Ian contacted me last fall and we hit it off immediately and began to collaborate.
Ian has amazing creative energy and wisdom in spades. He is a senior consultant to CEO’s and boards dealing with strategy and brand marketing. He’s also an educator at several major business schools in England and a well-known speaker at conferences and events.
Let me tell you, Ian is a wizard at what he does. He transforms businesses in a way that I’m pretty sure, they don’t even know what hit them!
After meeting Ian I was asking myself - What does it take to get bigger projects off the ground?? And I decided to put myself on a retreat in daily life to figure this out.
My premise was this – every great idea came from somewhere. We have this idea that when we need inspiration, that we need to ‘wait on the muses’, but I decided that waiting on the muses wasn’t good enough. Mine are too fickle, they’re always off shopping in Paris!
Waiting on the muses is a phrase we use to infer that inspiration is fickle or out of our control. But is it? If inspiration comes from somewhere else, where is that somewhere else and how can we tap it whenever and wherever we need it?
If you think about it, every great idea, every artistic masterpiece, Eureka moment, life changing work or project comes from a realm that the mystics call the 99%. This is the place of ‘divine inspiration.’ All creative ideas come from a place beyond the ordinary five senses.
That’s why it feels like we can’t tap inspiration when we need to. But I decided that there must be some way to tap it reliably and regularly. This was my quest to find out exactly how.
I took time every day to listen to music that would take my brain to another state. No, not New Jersey, but another brain state that’s called the theta wave. I tried not to work or think too hard, but just let ideas and inspiration come easily.
Each day when I woke up, I spent time writing, journalling and jotting. During the day, I would just allow inspiration to come and I would jot that down as well.
At first I didn’t even know exactly what I was going or how I was going to figure any of this out and it was pretty scary to commit to something that you don’t know exactly what it is! I decided that it needed to be 42 days.
Why 42?
- the mystics went into the desert for 40 days. I figured in our modern life, we need a day to get in and a day to get out = 42!
- it takes ’6 weeks to get a change into the bones’ – 6 weeks equals 42 days.
- the first lines of creation in the ancient Aramaic equal exactly 42 letters.
This all seemed to line up perfectly and so 42 days was set in my mind. I gave myself a few guidelines upfront. I agreed that I had to finish the retreat no matter what. I told myself that even if up with absolutely nothing, it would be ok and I committed to giving it my all and trusting the power of inspiration to guide me.
I did the same thing for 42 days and by the end of it, believe it or not, I had created an entire body of work – I had written a whole book and created an entire process that I didn’t even know I was creating.
How’s that for pure magic!
Once I was finished, I decided to take a risk and invite my new partner Ian onboard as a collaborator.
I’m sure Ian won’t mind me saying that he was pretty skeptical at first. I’m sure he thought my idea was pretty wacky, but he trusts me so he agreed to go on the Retreat 42 himself.
At first I was a little worried. Ian’s results seemed mixed. I wasn’t sure it was working and being British, he didn’t tell me much :>)
But then somewhere near the middle of the retreat, things started to happen – the ground started to quake and something new started pouring forth. After he finished, he suggested we try it out with a group and so we launched a Pilot program of 24 brave adventurer’s who agreed to try out our program for free.
I’m happy and proud to say that they did it! Their last day is today and they made it through the desert and have come out with gifts. I’ll let some of them share their stories in upcoming blog posts.
It was amazing to watch an entire group go through this process. They are extraordinary people from all over the world – England, Germany, Spain, Belgium and the US. They helped us to see that Retreat 42 really works, anytime, anywhere. 
Thanks to them, Ian and I are proud and delighted to announce:
Retreat 42 is officially launched!
We will be starting our first programs in the Fall, with an amazing line-up of goodies – from self-guided retreats, to themed programs and even (get this) wonderful in-person retreats in amazing locations around the world.
We have made the package and the pricing incredibly attractive. You just won’t be able to resist trying this out for yourself!
And I guarantee 100% that it is the most life changing thing you can do.
It was for me. I wrote a whole book and created an entire body of work in only 42 days – something that I never thought possible. If you’d like to know more about Retreat 42 or join one of our upcoming programs, please email me or Ian. We’d be happy to chat to you.
You can connect with us at annie@anniehart.com and ian@ianwaddelow.com. I encourage you to get to know Ian. He’s someone really worth knowing.
POP! Here comes the champagne – Retreat 42 is officially launched.
There’s No Such Thing As Writer’s Block!
April 5, 2010
I know, I know. Before I even get this story out you’re gonna tell me – What do you mean there’s no such thing as writer’s block? And then you’re gonna spill out all of your stories about all the ways and times that you’ve been blocked from writing something, right?
Yes I agree that we all believe that there’s such a thing as writer’s block, but I’m here to tell you that it really doesn’t exist.
Think about it this way – when you were 4 or 5 years old and someone threw some Playdough down in front of you, did you ever say -’ Oh I can’t play with that. I just don’t know what to make?’
The answer is no you didn’t. You never said that as a kid, you just dove in and began molding the Playdough. That’s just what your hands wanted to do. Many times you didn’t even know what you were going to make right? Something just emerged.
Well it’s exactly the same way with writing. At it’s best we write they way we used to play as kids – freely and fully. Sounds easy but it’s not. It’s tremendously difficult. Not the writing itself, but undoing what’s in the way of letting it flow.
So if there is no such thing as writer’s block, then why can’t we write easily and freely like children playing? Because though there is no writer’s block, there is what I call the Critic’s Seige. 
It’s not really that you’re blocked. Remember that when you didn’t know what you were going to make with Playdough, you played freely and rolickingly. But when you sit down to write, paint or create, then your good old inner critic sneaks up behind you and while you’re trying to write or create, he or she is whispering menacingly in your ear.
You know those dog whistles that dogs can hear but you can’t? That’s how your inner critic works. It’s a silent but potent voice that stops you in your tracks.
It’s not that you’re blocked. It’s just that you’re listening to the wrong voice. You’re listening the one that says things like:
- who do you think you are?
- no one wants to hear what you have to say
- you have nothing of value to offer
- even your mother doesn’t love you (I just threw this one in for fun)
The critic is telling you all of the things that you secretly believe about yourself. You just never knew you did, because these awful lies lay hidden inside of you like tiny fungi waiting to sprout in the spring rain.
Your desire to write, paint, sing, dance and create actually sprouts these little monsters quicker than anything. So beware.
Beware and be aware that when you move into your creative energy, these little beasts will do anything and everything to stop you from sharing the beauty of life inside of you.
Why? Because these little beasts prefer darkness. They are like fungi and prefer the cold, dark, dampness, not sunshine and the flowers. They hate when you have a streak of inspiration or get past their roadblocks they have set up to stop you.
That’s why THEY created the term ‘Writer’s Block.” Ha! Yes, they figured if they could confuse you and make you believe that you were stopped, then you would be.
But you’re not blocked and you’re not stuck. You were just temporarily in a bad trance that was induced by these little inner critics, gnomes, trolls and other such creatures whose sole intent is to stop your creative energy.
It was a temporary trance unless you believe it of course.
So obviously do not believe it. Go back to playing like a child. Write, dance, sing and create as if you had not a care in the world. Remember that feeling? It’s glorious.
You will be surprised at what comes out. Even if you don’t ‘like’ it, you will feel it’s life energy. And that’s the whole idea. You just need to create.
Creative energy was meant to be expressed in as many forms as possible.
Today, stay unconfused about your creative energy. Let it come up, out and move into the world. Do not worry about where it goes or how it expresses itself. Just open the gate and let the horses run free.
The Storyteller Tells Her Stories
February 20, 2010
It’s time to take a leap. Every now and then in your life, more often then I’d like, it’s time to take a deeper plunge, a bigger risk and really go for the gold. So I am going to be writing and telling my own very personal and sometimes painful stories for the very first time.
Whew! Breathe.
It’s not easy! I make it look and seem easy for other people, that’s my gift. But damn it is really hard to do for myself. Luckily I have found just the right team as it honestly takes a team to pull these stories out of me. They don’t want to come out on their own.
These stories are like little long-fingered underwater creatures who are gripping onto the rocks so they don’t have to let go. Eeeeeek!
Why is it so scary to tell personal stories? Very personal stories.
Gosh, I could give you a long list of the reasons that it’s so scary. It seems silly to say but it actually feels life threatening to a part of us. Telling our stories is a way out of the box that we have lived in. We are bound by the emotions, the memories and the meanings of our past stories and thus like the famous Pandora’s box, we must liberate them.
Fortunately as I said, I have just the right team – I have my wonderful reliable weekly writing buddy whom I meet weekly at the local Barnes and Noble coffee shop so we can write together. We’ve been doing this for some months now.
In case you’d want to know my reason for meeting there – it’s because they have sunshine streaming in the windows (I need to feel warm), great Earl Grey tea (I need to have good tea) and a bag of delicious potato chips doesn’t hurt.
Basically it’s a good way to bribe myself to keep on going doing something that is hard!
Then I have my fabulous listening buddy who is helping me tell the stories orally. Written stories and orally told stories are two very different animals and so I know from my own story guiding of others, that the deeper, more painful and often more powerful stories need to be ‘listened out of you.’
My story Maestro listens to me very carefully. He is impeccable in his listening, which is what I really need. He does not trod on my heart nor make those kinds of comments afterwards that make you wish you’d never told your story. He wears a white velvet glove of purity that makes the telling easy.
To be impeccable in your listening you have to be out of your out of your own way – be really silent and really present.
But here is the best part of all. He also makes me laugh while I’m crying! Yesterday was a perfect example.
Yesterday as I was telling a difficult story (and blowing my nose through the telling), I suddenly heard an indescribable noise, a kind of ‘crkkkkrrrrrr‘ sound. Hmm, what was that???
He didn’t say anything about it and I heard him make an ‘uh huh‘ sound like he was listening, so I just carried on.
A minute later I couldn’t hear him, so I asked, “Are you there Chief?” (that’s one of my nicknames for him). Then there was the sound of scramble, scramble, scramble and then he says, “Yes I’m here. I just kicked the microphone over.” Perfect timing!
It was perfect timing. I started laughing so loudly that my crying and snorting turned into guffawing. It was a priceless moment.
Perfect for the storyteller to be paused mid-sob for a moment of sheer humor. My impeccable listener, who was working so hard to be there for me knocked over his microphone and was trying to retrieve it without interrupting.
I am still laughing just picturing him trying to rebound without disrupting my story. What a riot!
These are the precious moments of storytelling. In that moment I realized that it’s not just the telling of the story that is important, but every thing beautiful that surrounds it – the bonding that happens between two humans as they listen and share and the moments of pure delight when real life magic happens and humor appears out of nowhere.
This is the true magic of storytelling.
I am pr
oud, honored, scared and delighted to be telling my own raw and real stories. The deep ones, the raw ones, the ones that matter. If I can’t lead the way on then I’m not worth my metal.
Gotta leap, gotta take a dive.
Thanks to all my partners for supporting me. It takes a community to tell a story. I’d still be on the ledge without you. Thanks as well to all of my blog readers for caring about stories and storytelling. You make all the difference.
Stay tuned for more of the raw and real, the places we dive deep together and make life more fulfilling from taking risks.
Yours in diving into the heart of the matter and laughing about it all the way,
Annie
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