If you’ve ever watched a movie about a struggling writer, you’ve heard of writer’s block. It’s that nasty plague that chases your muse away, right? But is this something that happens to actual writers?
I’ve spoken with hundreds of writers on their productivity, and I’m going to say yes… and no.
Broken down, Writer’s Block is the simple act of time passing and writing not getting done. And to be clear, that happens to most, if not all writers at some point, so if it’s happening to you, you’re not alone.
But there are many reasons this might be happening and figuring out what kind of Writer’s Block you’re experiencing is the key to resolving it and getting back to the good work of writing.
If you’re not writing as much as you want to be, I made this week’s Inspired Writing episode for you. In this week’s 10 minute video tip, I describe the 4 most common reasons I see as a Book Coach that writers aren’t writing, and give 6 strategies to break free and let your creative juices flow again.
If there’s one thing I’m known for by my friends and colleagues, it’s killing whatever writing and business goals I set for myself. In this week’s Inspired Writing episode (the first of 2021!), I want to share with you the three areas I focus on that help me move my writing forward every day.
2020 was the most challenging year yet for many of us. In March, I watched helplessly as my full roster of speaking engagements evaporated and my event appearances were canceled. I hunkered down and adapted my home office to accommodate my husband and three kids for work and online learning. I took some time to reflect on where I was going. I took a deep breath and set goals in my three focus areas. I trusted in the process I’d enacted many times before and I showed up every day with intention. I defined not only WHAT I wanted to achieve, but HOW and WHY as well. These three areas are especially important when setting creative goals and I’ll walk you through how to define your own goals to make the biggest impact you can on your writing life.
Through the remainder of 2020, I completed my Advanced Book Coaching Certification from Author Accelerator, grew my Book Coaching practice, started this weekly Vlog to help others with their writing lives and still managed to get a new book on submission. Phew! In December, I hired my first two part time employees to support my growing business.
At the start of 2020, I couldn’t have imagined where this year would take me, but I’m pumped for 2021 and super excited to share my goal setting process with you, which I’ve honed over two decades as a business executive before starting my own business doing all things writing. Get my goal setting strategy <<HERE>>
No matter where you are on your writing journey, I’m here to support you. I can’t wait to hear all about your 2021 writing goals and supporting everything you want to achieve this year. Drop me a line and let me know what you’re hoping for. I’m cheering you on!
Finding a great partnership with an editor is the single best thing you can do for your writing to make sure the book you’ve created is exactly what you hoped it would be. A trained editor can help you see your book from a reader’s perspective and help make your writing stronger.
As in many professions, there good editors out there and some not so good. And a perfect fit for one writer might not be for the next. So, how do you make sure you get what you need from your investment?
In this week’s Inspired Writing Episode, I share with you 5 simple things that you, the writer, can do before hiring an editor to get the most out of your experience and make your book shine.
I recently earned my Advanced Book Coaching Certification from Jennie Nash’s Author Accelerator, and I was sooo excited to shout it from the roof tops! WOOOHOOO!! It took me eight months to get through all the materials, work with practicum clients, and complete the certification process.
And then the questions started flooding in. What the Heck is Book Coach? People asked… so I made a video to explain!
If you’ve been curious about what a Book Coach really does, think you might need one, or you might be interested in doing this job yourself, then I made this week’s Inspired Writing Episode for YOU! In it, I talk specifics about what a book coach does, let you in on what I went through for the certification process, and let you know how you can get involved.
When I launched this Inspired Writing vlog, I asked writers – if I could give you one thing that would help with writing and your writing life, what would it be? The number one thing you told me was TIME! So, I scratched my head to figure out how to give you more time. Impossible without Hermione’s time turner, right? WRONG!
I put my thinking cap on and looked at my own life. I write books, support the books I already have published with appearances and marketing, speak and teach (online these days!), edit, and am building a Book Coaching business, all while leading a busy, happy life with my hubby and 3 kids. So, how do I do it?
In this episode, I’ll tell you just how long I’ve been working on efficiency, and share my 8 Time Hacks for Busy Writers downloadable guide, so that you can try out some of my wacky ideas for yourself. Hint: My hacks aren’t the typical writing advice.
I meet people every day (mostly online this year!) who want to write a book. Some have an idea, some have started writing and maybe got stuck partway through the process, and some have completed works that have yet to be published.
But many are reluctant to call themselves “Writers”. Is there some secret rule or certification you need to use this title? How does one get from “Aspiring Writer” to “Writer”?
In this week’s Inspired Writing Episode, I talk about when you can call yourself a writer. Hint: you may be one already.
There’s nothing I love more than meeting readers and talking books. And while there have been less opportunities to meet readers in person in 2020, I’m thrilled to be at Millarville Christmas Market this week.
Writers ask me a lot about the events I do, so this week my Inspired Writing Episode is dedicated to giving you a look behind the scenes of my planning for these events. In this episode I share
What I talk about with readers
When an author should consider doing events AND
My checklist of things I bring to events so I’M PREPARED FOR ANYTHING!
So far at the market I’ve met thousands of readers, braved a winter storm (my booth is outside!) and used up two pens signing books that will make their way into readers’ hands this Christmas. I can’t wait for what this next weekend will bring.
I am so grateful for my online communities. I think of my network as my coworkers, and when I take the time to connect online I feel like I’ve been out in the world, even if I haven’t left my house or even my desk all day.
But I am all too aware that access to everything at my fingertips can be a HUGE distraction, which if left unchecked can hurt productivity.
So, how much is enough? Is there value online for writers, or is it just a distraction?
I made this week’s episode to share with you 3 destinations online I’ve found ways to
– Learn more about writing and the publishing industry
Is your Manuscript ready for early readers? Get the inside scoop on how I use Beta Readers. What are they? What’s their job? How do you find them?
And as an added bonus, I’m giving you the exact questions I asked my Beta Readers for The West Woods, Book 2 in my award winning The Fountain Series. You can use these questions with your own Beta Readers, or tweak them to make them your own.
