O'Hanlon closing address (continued)

O'Hanlon wraps up with his own story of how he went from "Pissed to Blissed."

The short version: He never enjoyed writing, but wanted to "have written." The way he started writing was the he got "pissed off" after leaving home, dropping out and feeling suicidal. He became interested in the field of psychotherapy where he discovered people in the field didn't care or take it seriously. He was angered by this and felt that to be taken seriously he should have a book. So he was spurred to become an author.

He closes with a quote from Churchill: "Never ever give up."

"What are you doing sitting here listening to me for," he adds, "Get up, go home and write."

Thanks to everyone for a wonderful conference! Best of luck to you all! Thanks so much on behalf of the entire staff at Writer's Digest.

POSTED BY SCOTT FRANCIS

O'Hanlon closing address (continued)

O'Hanlon's "Not to Do List"

The discussion has turned to important things to avoid in your writing life.

• money leakage
• energy leakage
• shifting attention to the wrong areas
• wasting your time

He makes the point that you need to think about all the things in your life that contribute to all of these wasteful habits and create a NOT TO DO LIST.

POSTED BY SCOTT FRANCIS

O'Hanlon closing address (continued)

Everyone seems to be engaged in O'Hanlon's message. He's using examples of soundbytes as examples of the kinds of energy writers can draw on to get inspired.

Right now his example of "dissed energy"--where a writer is spurred on by some kind of rejection-- is from Patsy Rodenburg's Right to Speak.