Why you need to get out of your own way and just let the words come out without judging
Month: May 2017
7 Surprising Ways Reading Romeo and Juliet Can Make You a Better Leader
By Sherry Siska When it comes to learning to be a better leader, everyone should take some lessons on what not to do from the Bard himself, Mr. William Shakespeare. Consider that familiar high school classic, Romeo and Juliet. Every year when I pull out our well-worn copies and teach it to my ninth grade […]
How I Gained Unexpected Wisdom from a Devastating Medical Mistake
By Sherry Siska When I was younger, I spent a lot of time hanging back, worried about what other people would think of me if I did something crazy or risky or “silly”. It’s the reason I didn’t ‘fess up that I was a writer for years. It’s the reason why I didn’t buy a […]
Be Fearless: Drown Out the Killer Voices and Embrace your Destiny
By Sherry Siska Don’t be gettin’ above your raisin’, now, you hear? Well, don’t you think you’re little Miss High-and-Mighty? Did you see her, running around, thinking she’s all that and a bag of chips? Just who the heck does she think she is, Miss America or something? It took me a really long time […]
The Sure Fire Way to a Happier Life? The “Just Say Yes” List
By Sherry Siska In our family, we have several things that we always are supposed to just say “no” to: blooming onions, rum punch, and illegal drugs top the list. Lately, though, inspired by Cheryl Richardson, I’ve come up with a “Just say yes” list. This is a list of things I should make sure […]
Southern and Sensational: 3 Writers You Need to Read
Lee Smith, Adriana Trigiani, and Sharyn McCrumb By Sherry Siska Whether you’re looking for a master class in storytelling and dialogue, or just a whopping good read, you can’t go wrong with picking up a book by one of these three fabulous Southern writers. Lee Smith Every few years I have what I call a “Lee […]
Flex Your “Can Do” Muscle: Advice from a Cough Drop
by Sherry Siska Because nothing says “live your best life” like a cough drop And to think, I almost crumpled it up and tossed it in the trash can. There I was, in the throes of practically coughing up a lung, legs crossed so I wouldn’t pee myself, all the while thinking, “gee, I sure could […]
Diamonds, Pearls, Memories: Treasure in Old Photos
By Sherry Siska The picture above is of one of my cousins and me, sitting under a tree, gleefully stuffing watermelon into our mouths. We’re around three or four, and scattered on the ground around us are a variety of combs. It seems that we couldn’t wait for the grownups to cut open the delicious […]
Heaven on Earth: Launching a Lifetime of Love for Books
By Sherry Siska It doesn’t look like much, but as soon as I saw the photo, posted on the Facebook group page for the small town we lived in when I was a small child, I immediately time-traveled to the very moment I first climbed those rickety stairs and entered that little building. Inside, I […]
Plotting a Murder: What Happens at the Intersection of Writing and Running
By Sherry Siska For me, writing and running are intertwined. In fact, the quickest way from nothing to novel is through running. I used to run with a mp3 player and a playlist heavy on songs about running. Then there came a blistering hot September and I was back at school. The best way to […]