Linda Eve Diamond is an author with nine books in the areas of business, education, self-help, and poetry. I have had the pleasure of attending one of her poetry readings with my children (it was wonderful) and have enjoyed her company in more informal settings.
Every once in a while I try to pick Linda's brain for writing tips. I am not sure if she is even aware that I have been slowly gathering information from her about the process of writing, but her commentary has been immensely helpful in getting my writing on track. Thanks Linda! She is one groovy human being and the subject of this week's interview.
Linda is also the creator of www.ListenersUnite.com, a website dedicated to listening skills, and the recipient of two International Listening Association awards. Her website is www.LindaEveDiamond.com.
When did you first know that you were going to write for a living?
I was a writer before I knew it—literally. I was in the corporate training field and was taking on more and more program development and technical writing projects. My writing about communication issues began to take on new dimensions, and I was growing as a writer even though I didn't realize it at the time. The corporate training company was a successful family business, which was my mother's dream—so I tried to make it mine. By the time she retired, we both knew my heart wasn't in the business nearly as much as it was in the writing. She encouraged me to follow my dreams.
What is/are the biggest challenges you have faced as a writer?
Confidence has always been and continues to be my greatest challenge. When I first started feeling good about things I’d written and when others responded positively, each success felt like a lucky fluke. I had a few books out before I began to feel comfortable even saying that I was a writer. Somewhere inside me lurked the fear that I would establish myself, print up cards, and then my luck would run out. Taking credit for luck seemed fraudulent, but so far I’m still pretty lucky!
Do you set aside time each day/week to write and do you impose deadlines on yourself?
When I started freelancing, I saw work as the priority and tried to set aside time for living; now I live and set aside time to work. I prefer most of my writing time to be during typical workday hours because I enjoy having total downtime in the evening, though that’s a fluid idea. I still enjoy writing in the evenings when it can be a relaxed, creative time. As for deadlines, I have no trouble meeting external deadlines, but I'm not nearly as good about the ones I set for myself. I used to be so strict about them, but now I see that sometimes the things that slow down the process become part of the process. Sometimes, ideas need more time to brew, and experiences that slow a project down make it richer in the end. I know one thing, that I’ll be right where I need to be when it’s time.
What other creative endeavors are you working on?
I’m preparing to record a new poetry CD and to open an online gallery of photographs. I'd say when I expect them to be announced, but no one would believe me after what I just said about self-imposed deadlines!
What is the weirdest moment you have had as a professional in the creative arts field?
The weirdest moment for me was the first time someone recognized me. I don’t think “recognized” is the right word, because I was surrounded by author signs with my name, but she was the first to walk up off the street and know me from my writing. She ran up to me saying, “Oh my God! It’s you! You’re here!” She was pointing to the sign with my name, then me, and she was so excited that I was sure someone I knew was teasing me. She was on vacation from Ohio and had read a feature article about me and my poetry in a local magazine. She flustered around in her purse and pulled out a piece of paper to show me that finding my book was on her “Must Do” list. I don’t know which one of us was more excited, but I’m pretty sure it was me.
What is the one thing about your work that most people do not know or misunderstand.
My book topics include motivation, team-building, sales, listening skills, educational material (reading, language skills, and spelling), business writing skills for foreign-born executives, and poetry. Now I’m putting out photography and hoping to have my children’s books published. I imagine that looks a little scattered, but it seems perfectly rounded to me. Listening is critical to business success and is part of every business book I write. There is poetry in listening and listening in poetry. Photographs are poetic expressions and are often moments of deep listening. Everything is connected—even business and poetry.
Some subscribers to my monthly newsletter might be interested only in business, or primarily in communication issues, or exclusively in poetry. Few people's interests will completely mirror the interests of another. At first, I was advised that every topic should be its own newsletter with its own list. Unfortunately, that would be completely overwhelming to me. There would also be a good deal of crossover, which might not work well for people subscribing to more than one. So, I do my best to create the newsletter in a way that people can easily scan for their interests. I've received some good feedback that this has been working well. I'm thankful that newsletter subscribers will stay with me even though their interests may not be addressed with anything new for a month or two. I also appreciate the thoughtful comments I receive from readers. Writing is solitary, but the work is sent out with the hope that it will connect with someone. So, it's always heartening to hear about those connections.
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