Recently, I took a free Coursera course on “How to Craft Contagious Content.” The information was so compelling I realized that you could use it to write anything. Emotional. How many times have you received a rejection or a critique that your story wasn’t emotional? It didn’t have enough heart in it. This is the emotional pull that makes people keep reading or unable to turn away from the television during a commercial. What affects you on an emotional level is what you remember. A social worker once told my mother that while my grandmother wouldn’t remember details, she could…
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Hawaii is in lockdown. Many of us are in shelter mode while we’re juggling normal daily tasks and the added joy of homeschooling our kids. It’s not easy to find the silver lining on days when the kids are not listening, jumping on beds, and oh yeah writing hasn’t happened in weeks.While you’re fantasizing about the freedom to sit in a coffee shop, here are a few good things going on now. And don’t we all need good news? Writer’s Digest free tutorials for a month. Always wanted to learn how to write the best middle-grade query or develop a…
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I first heard about Paulette Perhach through her popular book Welcome to the Writer’s Life. It was one of those writer books that I couldn’t stop talking about on Twitter and Instagram. Filled with writerly tips for writers at every stage, it was also surprisingly fun to read. Every ounce of her book oozes with personality, which is how Perhach writes-like you know her, like you’re one of her bestfriends. This is why I was ecstatic when she agreed to be interviewed, I knew it would be helpful and loads of fun! In your Yoga Journal article, “How I Became a Front-Row…
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There’s legitimate fear in the air and it’s not just for us anxiety prone writers. Yes working at home and cancelled events may give you more time to work on your novel, but it’s also being monopolized by worries: Financial, Health, Familial. While I don’t have the magic wand to dissolve our global fear right now, I can offer solutions and maybe even hope, which is not readily available these days. I know. I’ve looked. So here it is. It might not be much. But I hope it helps a little. Turn off the news and limit social media. This…
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Lately, I’ve been really into all these Twitter writing contests. And learned that while I love a good photo on Instagram, Twitter with it’s purely wordy platform is where it’s at. This could be why I have more Twitter followers and why I’m still figuring out being a writer on Instagram. I’ve also been entering writing contests like crazy. For months I’ve been pitching, querying and entering. And here’s what I learned. If you’re new to the entering Twitter and writing contests game, you’ll want to read this. You need to get your ducks in order way before the deadline. Sometimes…
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Guest post by: Level Up author Rochelle Melander My first book came out twenty years ago. For years I’ve juggled coaching, editing, writing, teaching, parenting, and having a life. And even though I’ve gotten better at managing my time, I’m finding it increasingly more difficult to get it all done. My clients face the same struggles. As they strive to run their businesses as coaches, consultants and freelance writers as well as building a platform and promoting their books—they struggle to find time to write. Why is it so hard? Writers have always had to manage writing and promoting. Most…
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Here’s my secret confession. In order for me to get up to write every day, to post here or submit manuscripts weekly I need to be inspired. Sometimes that comes from watching Super Soul Sunday or listening to anything on Sounds True. Other times it comes from the writers I follow on social media. She’s one of them. And today, I’m excited to share with you another. Natalia and I met virtually about a decade or so ago. She was one of the first writers I got to know and someone who I continue to cheer for on the sidelines.…
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I follow her on social media and she’s someone who constantly inspires and impresses me with her publishing success. When she reached out about her upcoming nonfiction book, I was eager to feature her on Author Q&A. She happily agreed. I think you’ll enjoy our conversation. It’s real insight into what it’s like to be an author of both fiction and nonfiction. You’re no stranger to authoring a book. You have two successful novels out, All Different Kinds of Free and 2018 Arizona Book of the Year Peculiar Savage Beauty. But this March you’re coming out with a nonfiction book,…
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Do you know the mirage? The place that looks like a gorgeous lake, but is really a glorified puddle? This is everything we post on social media-the fancy writer gig, our new book, and all the writer activities we’re apart of. It’s all nice and sparkling. Everyone watching wants to jump right in. The problem with mirages is that they’re not real. Perhaps, all of that is true. But it puts observers on the outside, it separates us, and makes us feel alone. If you pan out from the image, you’d see that we’re all watching the mirage-that vast magical…
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Full disclosure here. A professor once told me I’d be a professional student and I didn’t prove him wrong. I still take oodles of writing courses from the comfort of my home. And one thing I’ve been hearing a ton from literary agents are all the true and shocking stories of writers who write obnoxious things in response to their rejection letters. Please if you’re a reader here, new or old, do not end of being one of those writers. I know I’m guilty of hitting the reply button too soon, but accusing agents of not reading my work or…