Ever since we were little baby writers, we were taught to write to please other people. There were our teachers, our parents, our friends, and later our partners, professors and employers. We wrote to get good grades not to mention love and social acceptance. And like so many habits and patterns in our lives, the conditioning of childhood has stuck to us, like gum to our shoe. Take, for example, the humble birthday card. When was the last time you wrote what you really thought on someone’s birthday card? Do you write, “Best wishes for a fabulous year”, or do you write what you’re really thinking, “It’s not fair. Why are you successful and beautiful and rich and have a gorgeous partner, while I’m broke and alone, trying to get my novel published?” Chances are you take option one. If not, chances are you don’t have any friends. Either that or they are all broke and alone just like you. And while option one will guarantee you social acceptance, and even love in some cases, it slowly but surely strangles your creative spirit, albeit in teeny tiny little increments. Whenever we spend our time, and creative juices, on writing anything from meaningless fluff to people-pleasing platitudes, we are essentially stunting our own creative growth, and worse still we are denying our creative truth. Stand up right now and go and look in the nearest mirror. Go on, I’ll still be here when you get back. Ok, now when you looked yourself in the eye in that mirror, could you honestly tell yourself that you write from your heart, for the pure joy and passion of it, to express your own personal truth, and in some way, big or small, communicate your view of the world? Can you truthfully say that you are in control of your creative destiny? If you can, then fabulous! Go forth and write with gusto. For the rest of us, it’s time for a reality check. Are you ready to take charge of your creative destiny? Are you ready to take full responsibility for the direction of your writing career? And most importantly, are you ready to be true to yourself, and write truthfully from your own creative well? If you have just answered a resounding Yes! Yes! Yes! then try these five simple steps to set yourself firmly on the path to taking control of your own creative destiny. Step One: The Basics When you are writing, just write. Sound simple? Well, yes it does sound simple, but it is often the hardest thing of all to do. Try these three simple rules to just get you writing: 1. Capture first thoughts

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