Writing is a personal endeavor. It should come from the heart, with passion and conviction. If an author only writes for money or fame, success will be fleeting at best. I can promise you that.

Twenty-three years ago, even though I wasn't a senior citizen at that time, I managed three publications in Texas - all of them created specifically for active seniors - and I loved every minute of it. The experience was fun and brought me lots of opportunities, but more importantly, it showed me that I had to write what I really cared about.

During this time, I began a column entitled SASHA'S WORLD, ostensibly written by my dog, a gorgeous Alaskan malamute/husky cross named Miss Sasha Rotten, in a San Antonio publication called AGELESS TIMES. Unfortunately, this magazine was mismanaged and didn't last nearly as long as it could have, but SASHA'S WORLD - because I wrote it with so much love and a sense of fun - lasted much longer than the publication. I loved both Miss Sasha and the magazine, and I believe our readers knew it. I used that column for years.

In fact, I'm even thinking about sharing that column on my Author’s Facebook page for all you dog-lovers out there (especially sled dog lovers), just because it means so much to me. If I did that, would you like to check it out? Let me know!

Anyway, I've carried that experience with me ever since. If I don't care about a subject, it's almost impossible for me to write about it. It's like pulling out teeth, to coin a cliché. To this day, if the words don't come, something is wrong and I need to put it away. Rethink it. You can't force it. Just wait a bit. It'll come.

So, writers, if you're staring into a blank screen and your brain seems equally empty, you're probably trying to force words that don't mean anything to you. You're not writing anything you feel strongly about; you're writing to get rich, or become famous. Not a good plan, in my opinion.

I didn't mean to go off on a rant. I just really care...