77: Shelley Wood on Staying Loyal to Your Dream

"Blogging is like going to the word gym. I practice writing in the same I would go to a gym to get stronger muscles. Writing is a muscle and I try to stay fit for it. " Is it possible to strive to be a writer and make a living at it? Shelley knew she wanted to be a writer at a young age but how could she make a living doing it? Today is all about making dreams happen.   Shelley quit her job, moved to France for a short period and wrote a book. By the way, she had never written a book of fiction before and had no idea how to do it. She’s going to tell us how she got the idea eventually and how she made it happen.   Shelley's fiction, creative non-fiction, columns, and travel writing have appeared in a range of Canadian and international publications. She won the Fall 2015 Tethered by Letters fiction contest, the 2016 Frank McCourt Prize for Creative Nonfiction, the Winter 2016/2017 Nonfiction prize from Causeway Lit, and the 2017 Fiction prize from Freefall Magazine. The Quintland Sisters, her debut novel, will be published in Canada and the United States in March of 2019. You can order or pre-order depending on when you listen to this, at shelleywood.ca  Born and raised in Vancouver, Shelley divides her time between a full-time home in Kelowna, Canada, and a full-time job in New York, NY, where she is the Editorial Director at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation and Managing Editor at the cardiology news website, TCTMD.   With that, let’s listen in and gear up for what’s next.  Where to Find Shelley Instagram Her website BEFORE YOU LEAVE - If you are enjoying the shows, I hope you’ll subscribe, rate, review and share with your friends!  About Lisa Gerber: Lisa advises CEOs and senior level management on how to use the power of storytelling and effective communication to influence action and bring ideas to life.  She guides companies through the digital maze of constantly changing tools to build discovery, loyalty, and ultimately help them achieve their own big leaps.  When she is not in her office, she might be out skiing or trail running. This is where she does her best creative problem-solving. To learn more about booking Lisa for consulting, speaking or workshops, visit www.bigleapcreative.com.