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Erin Barrett

Goodreads Author

Born

in Birmingham, AL, The United States

April 15

Website

http://www.amazon.com/author/barrett_erin

Genre

Nonfiction, Humor and Comedy

Member Since

May 2013

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Erin Barrett grew up in South East Asia and traveled extensively through her childhood years, instilling a lasting and deep curiosity about almost everything. This is reflected in the diversity of topics she has written about in her numerous book titles, dozens of articles, and her long-running nationally syndicated column, Random Kinds of Factness, which appeared in newspapers around the country for over seven years.

Her innate curiosity has produced a rather eclectic CV. Barrett is an editor, a certified Life Coach, an urban sustainability expert, a beekeeper and beer maker, a writing coach, a painter, photographer, singer, and fine wine specialist, with over a decade of work within the wine industry. She currently resides in Northern Cal ...more

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

Erin Barrett Everyone has a different approach that works for them —or sometimes, several tools to rotate through until something breaks through. For me, I simply …moreEveryone has a different approach that works for them —or sometimes, several tools to rotate through until something breaks through. For me, I simply sit down and write, anything at all, then work back towards a topic needing my attention. If the words just aren’t coming to me, I’ll even free-write; jot down some lines with poetic cadence, or sketch a mood or sentiment. I find doing anything at all helps eliminate the roadblocks.

But, to get to the heart of the issue is the most effective way to minimize writer’s block. And, it’s important to reframe the pressure—conscious or unconscious—that’s preventing free-flowing of words, thoughts, specific story or topic. I’ve found any blocks I’ve experienced, typically come from internal pressure, and usually perfectionism is at the center of the problem. Writers, and most artists, actually, don’t have an easy time of it, when it comes to criticism, editing, judgement. If creating is like putting a piece of ourselves out to the world, it’s not surprising that we struggle, once in a while, from blocks and paralysis, particularly when life hits some personal turbulence and we don’t have enough resources in reserve to gird our loins against potentional negatives, about our work.

Usually, though, my blocks come solely from lifelong beliefs about achievement, performance, standards of ‘excellence,’ and how those define (or not!) personal worth. Understanding that perfectionism isn’t constructive or true, but merely another way we talk to ourselves negatively, and which holds us back from living life, it’s become easier to acknowledge those thoughts/feelings, and allow them space for a moment, talk into them, if need be, and then move forward with more authentic and true thoughts. It took practice, but typically this exercise diminishes any blocks and words start to flow again. (less)

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Erin Barrett Focus time and attention on personal work/growth. And, work on securing your ego in rich, fertile soil so roots grow deep and strong! As I’m sure you’…moreFocus time and attention on personal work/growth. And, work on securing your ego in rich, fertile soil so roots grow deep and strong! As I’m sure you’ve heard before, writing professionally can get brutal, at times, so anything you can do to fortify your resolve to reach the goals you’ve set, the more likely you are to achieve them. I haven’t know anyone, who wanted something (anything, actually!) badly enough to put in their all — they worked hard for it; ignored the ‘No’s’ and accepted positive criticism, and just kept pushing through, no matter what — who did not get what they wanted, eventually. Do whatever you can to be that kind of writer; that type of dreamer, and you’ll get there. (less)

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Erin Barrett’s books

Average rating: 3.68 · 361 ratings · 36 reviews · 43 distinct works • Similar authors

	Random Kinds of Factness: 1001 (or So) Absolutely True Tidbits about (Mostly) Everything by Erin Barrett (Goodreads Author), Jack Mingo (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 112 ratings — published 2005 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Doctors Killed George Washington by Erin Barrett (Goodreads Author), Jack Mingo (Goodreads Author), David Colbert (Goodreads Author) 3.63 avg rating — 32 ratings — published 2002 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Cats Don't Always Land on Their Feet: Hundreds of Fascinating Facts from the Cat World (Total Riveting Utterly Entertaining Trivia Series) by Erin Barrett (Goodreads Author), Jack Mingo (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 26 ratings — published 2002 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Not Another Apple for the Teacher: Hundreds of Fascinating Facts from the World of Education by Erin Barrett (Goodreads Author), Jack Mingo (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 23 ratings — published 2002 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	It Takes a Certain Type to Be a Writer: And Hundreds of Other Facts from the World of Writing by Erin Barrett (Goodreads Author), Jack Mingo (Goodreads Author) 3.70 avg rating — 23 ratings — published 2003 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dracula Was a Lawyer by Erin Barrett (Goodreads Author), Jack Mingo (Goodreads Author), David Colbert (Goodreads Author) (Foreword) 3.32 avg rating — 19 ratings — published 2002 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Just Curious About History, Jeeves by Erin Barrett (Goodreads Author), Jack Mingo (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 16 ratings — published 2002 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ben Franklin's Guide to Wealth: Being a 21st Century Treatise on What It Takes to Live a Rich Life by Erin Barrett (Goodreads Author), Jack Mingo (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2004 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Random Kinds of Factness: 1001 (or So) Absolutely True Tidbits About (mostly) Everything 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2005	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dracula Was a Lawyer: Hundreds of Fascinating Facts from the World of Law by Erin Barrett (Goodreads Author), Jack Mingo (Goodreads Author), David Colbert (Goodreads Author) (Foreword) 3.50 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Erin Barrett…

Erin is Currently Reading

Erin is currently reading

The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For and Believe

by Richard Rohr

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Jun 05, 2019 06:00PM

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The Time Is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage

by Joan D. Chittister

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Jun 05, 2019 06:00PM

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Men Explain Things to Me

by Rebecca Solnit

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Sep 24, 2018 09:04PM

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