Nicole M. Miller

At a gas station, I overheard an exchange between two pre-teen boys, ages 9 or 10 I’d guess, who had just loaded up on candy and sodas of all varieties. They stood at the counter as the attendant rang up their total, eyes expectantly watching the register. Both jumped up and down when they learned they had enough money for all their loot. The ring leader asked for his change in ones so he coud use them in vending machines. They swiped their goodies into their arms and paraded out. One turned to the other, “We should have spent it all. Why bother saving money?” The other huffed a laugh....

I started 2013 off with this daily Confessions blog to challenge myself to be real online and refine my writing voice. I don’t think I’ve really made the breakthroughs I’d hoped to make, so I’m again contemplating a slight change. Rather than blogging five days a week, I’m considering cutting it back to two days a week + Thankful Thursday posts. (So I’m thinking Monday, Wednesday and Thursday…) I want to maintain good content for you readers and some level of discipline in my own writing. I also have to invest my time into my newest venture, Miller Media Solutions. That blog needs me, desperately. I’d love your thoughts in...

From time to time, I get questions from friends about starting up a blog, so I thought I’d share a little bit about that here. A little history: in 2009, I attended my first real writers conference and learned that establishing your online platform is vital for later promoting your published work. So, I registered nicolemillerbooks.com and the blog has morphed a lot since then. I focused on just about everything from history, horses, writing, daily life, to peeling potatoes. (That last one isn’t exactly true.) Here’s what I use: – WordPress.org – though I have my own “real estate” on the web (i.e. I “self host” my blog on...

This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to take a mini writing retreat—and I pounced on that opportunity even though I could only spare a few hours. On the Friday leading up to this retreat, I found myself listing out all the things I could work on at this mini-retreat. I’d have my laptop and wifi—I could get so much done on the volunteer work I do, or the freelancing jobs I’ve taken on, or developing my new side business… But I had to stop myself. No matter how long my to-do list is, I have to allow myself time to set it aside and just do what I love...