1. Writing for a living turns you into a different kind of writer. All writers are intricately tied to our work. We all view our identities as writers first and people second, but once you are a professional this identity takes on a new, heavier meaning. Slumps and blocks are no longer just frustrating aspects of the writing life, they are harbingers of disaster, notices from the universe that you should never have had the guts to call yourself a writer in the first place. Wh

1. There is a difference between surviving and living. Surviving is simple; you wake up and do what it takes to keep breathing until you go back to sleep. Living is something less definable and infinitely harder to accomplish. Living requires joy, purpose, or both. 2. Some days, surviving is all you can expect. Some days, continuing to breathe is the hardest thing you can do. On these days, it helps to acknowledge the accomplishment rather than to berate yourself for all t