Snacks: You are so prolific!  It seems like you are writing all the time.  How do you manage your time and stay so focused?

Laurie: It's my job to be prolific!  I'm a full-time freelance writer and blogger, and my goal is to earn $40,000 a year from my blogs. I've eased up on the freelance writing for magazines because I'd rather be writing for myself -- but I do accept article assignments. It's not difficult to stay focused because I love, love, love what I do. That said, however, I have a daily schedule for my five Quips and Tips blogs. For instance, I write for Quip and Tips for Successful Writers on Tuesday and Thursdays, and Quips and Tips for Achieving Your Goals on Mondays and Fridays. I write for Quip and Tips for Couples Coping With Infertility on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Quips and Tips for Money on Love on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Snacks: You also have 6 different blogs.  What has drawn you to that particular genre and what do you find so compelling about it? And how do you come up with such great content?

Laurie: Thanks for saying I have great content -- I really appreciate that! I love helping people solve problems, which is why all my posts offer at least five tips. My content comes from a variety of sources: reader questions, books I'm reading, problems and solutions I'm encountering in my life, conferences, the newspaper, etc.  Plus, I'm old (I just turned 40), so I have lots of life experience! 

Snacks: A lot of your work, like your new Muse book, is focused on helping other writers.  What does this process give back to you?  How do you get such great input from others to compile into your works?

Laurie: Helping writers makes me feel good, I guess! I've learned a lot about writing, freelancing, blogging, and taking rejection in stride -- I just like to share what I've learned. To get input for my ebooks (73 Ways to Fire Up (or Just Fire!) the Muse and Quips and Tips for Successful Bloggers), I used HARO (Help a Reporter Out). It's a great resource for freelance writers and bloggers, because it connects writers with sources.

Snacks: I love that you are not afraid to talk about achieving “financial abundance” and working for food.  Is that message always received well in the writing community?

Laurie: Hmmm....why wouldn't my goal of making lots of money as a writer be well-received?  Why shouldn't writers want to earn a living doing what they love?  For me, being a "real" writer has always meant that I can support myself writing. This is just my definition of being a writer, of course -- all writers must define what being a "real" writer means for themselves. That's the beauty of writing!

Snacks: Which authors have influenced you the most and what are you reading now?

Laurie: I could never pinpoint one specific most influential author! So many writers have influenced me in different ways. But, I'd say that my first most influential writer was Judy Blume. I remember being mesmerized by the fact that she wrote for both YA and adult readers....it astounded me that she could connect with such different audiences. Right now, I'm reading a novel called The Book of Dahlia by Elisa Albert. And, I'm browsing two nonfiction books about money, two books about health and wellness, and a pile of books that PR people and publishers have sent for me to review. I'm happiest when surrounded by books, books, and more books.

Snacks: You have certainly seen much of the world!  How do your extensive travels affect your writing style and choices?

Laurie: Ironically, I rarely write about travel. I don't like to write about myself, my thoughts, my opinions, or things I've seen -- I see it as rehashing my experiences, which bores me!  I'm trying to insert more of myself in my writing because I know readers enjoy it, but it doesn't come easy.

Snacks: And of course we must ask, what do you snack on while writing?

Laurie: I chew lots of sugarless gum -- I love Juicy Fruit and Extra Bubblemint. That's it for writing snacks for me....not counting your site, of course!