Looking Back at Nine Years of Writing This Blog
Nine years ago this week — on December 21, 2009 — I published my first blog post and Leah’s Thoughts was born. I like to
What I Know For Sure
I had a birthday this week. I turned 43. It seems like yesterday I was turning 39 and published the 39 Questions Answered About Me
Why Every Writer Needs Their Own Writers’ Room
When I tell people I’m a writer, the response is usually something like this: “That’s so cool, but I could never be a writer. I
Discovering New Music, Appreciating the Old, and a Laurel Canyon Playlist You Need in Your Life
A few months ago, a friend told me about an article that said people generally stop discovering new music at the age of 30. The
5 Ways to Overcome Common Writing Obstacles
When I talk to prospective writers and teach writing classes, one of the most common things I hear from people is how much they want
Roadside Views, Or Getting Lost and Found in Indiana
For most of my life, I felt like I was constantly in a hurry to get somewhere. Even when there wasn’t a destination in mind,
Welcome to 5th Grade
Last week Sophie started fifth grade. Fifth grade. The last year of elementary school. I don’t remember crying when Sophie started kindergarten. Maybe because by
Reflections on Two Years in Indiana
When I announced on this blog that we were moving from San Diego to Indiana, I started the post with the following paragraph: In You’ve
Parenting: A Daily Lesson in Failure
There’s a scene in one of my favorite television shows, “The Killing,” where the main character, Sarah Linden, describes the never-ending cycle of failure and
The Summer Bucket List 2018
We were a bit late getting our summer bucket list written this year. But it’s now hanging in our kitchen, and posting it today coincides
Why “Just Ask for Help” is Not Always the Answer for Those Who are Suffering
It’s hard not to be effected by the news of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain’s suicides last week. While few of us knew them personally,
7 Strategies to Find Your Writing Tribe in a New City
When you make your living as a freelance writer, it’s important to know where you can find fellow writers in your community. Whether you want
The Greatest of Gifts: Stepping Outside our Bubble and Listening to a Different Perspective
We are at a critical time in the world when it is more important than ever to seek outside opinions and learn from each other.
How Do You Create Habits to be a Successful Freelancer? This Tool is What You Need
NOTE: This is NOT a sponsored post, nor does it contain affiliate links. I’m simply sharing a resource that has been extremely helpful to me
On Journalists, Writing and the Movies That Inspire Me to Tell Stories
I knew I wanted to be a writer and journalist from a young age. In elementary school, I wrote fictional stories. At age 12, I