Emily Grabatin's Blog, page 2

Finding Motivation to Write Your First Draft (and Finish It)

Before you can publish a book, you have to write your first draft.

To find the focused time to write, it’s helpful to actually to decide to write your book.

I was amazed at the energy that ramped up when I finally decided that was the year I was going to write the book I was going to publish. Envisioning it finished, anticipating its heaviness in my hands, quickened my pulse. Imagining someone being encouraged by it made me giddy and hopeful.

Suddenly, my priorities shifted. I wished I could bottl...

Sprint or Marathon?: How to Write Your First Draft (and Finish It)

Before you can publish a book, you have to write your first draft.

To find the focused time to write, it’s helpful to actually to decide to write your book.

I was amazed at the energy that ramped up when I finally decided that was the year I was going to write the book I was going to publish. Envisioning it finished, anticipating its heaviness in my hands, quickened my pulse. Imagining someone being encouraged by it made me giddy and hopeful.

Suddenly, my priorities shifted. I wished I could bottl...

Enneagram for Authors: Unlock Your Creative Potential in Your Writing Journey

Have you considered how your creative process is affected by your personality type? As a writer, I had been aware of the Enneagram for authors creating their fiction characters. However, I it wasn’t until I was wrestling through my mindset blocks that I considered how useful knowing my Enneagram type was for my creative process.

“If I’m going to write a book, it’s going to be good.”

I remember the day I finally decided I was going to fulfill my dream of writing and publishing a book. The decision...

A New Way of Doing Vision Boards

More “being”, less doing.

I typed vision boards in my Google search bar, wondering what the buzz was about.

References to Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, Jack Canfield and Jim Carrey populated the search results. Blogs, interviews and YouTube videos boasted how Vision Boards helped them set crazy goals and get to where they are today.

Then came the article from Psychology Today. It told me to scrap vision boards because research shows they don’t work.

So what was the truth?

Photo by Valentina Conde on Unspla...

How to Organize Writing Ideas: Tools for Authors

When I finally decided I was actually going to write my book, the excitement was undeniable—but so was the overwhelm. How do I store and organize writing ideas? I wondered. I had my topic nailed down, but the thought of starting from scratch felt daunting. That’s when I remembered something that energized my whole process: Evernote.

One morning, I was lying in bed, feeling inspired with a story that needed to fit into the book somewhere. I opened my app to create a new note, and stumbled upon a t...

52 Journal Prompts for Making Decisions at Life’s Crossroads

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a loop of indecision, endlessly weighing pros and cons, trying to find the “perfect” choice? Try finding clarity with some journal prompts for making decisions.

As an Enneagram 1w9, I get it—striving for the right decision while maintaining peace within can feel like an exhausting balancing act. Add in trying to discern God’s will for your life and relationships, and decisions feel even weightier. Our natural drive for perfection, integrity and avoiding regre...

Finding Time to Write: 5 Approaches for Busy Lives

Life can often feel like a whirlwind, can’t it? Between managing a demanding job, juggling family commitments (hello, kids!), nurturing our spiritual lives through church activities, and giving our time to various volunteer efforts, it’s no wonder may of us are left wondering: How do I find time to write?

Of course we have the responsible choice to ask, How do I make time to write? But that’s not exactly a light switch of revelation, either. At least, not often a sustainable one.

And let’s be hone...

Book Writing for Self Discovery, Growth Mindset and More Benefits

When you think about writing a book—whether it’s a memoir, non-fiction, or devotional—you probably picture yourself sharing your wisdom or telling your story to help others. But what if I told you that writing a book is just as much about helping you as it is about impacting someone else?

Growth through Writing for Self Discovery

I knew when I started writing Dare to Decide that I would touch on seasons of self-discovery in my life. Little did I know that the entire book-writing experience would t...

29 Free and Paid Ways to Promote Your Book Birthday

Congratulations on your book birthday, author!

If you’re a busy, heart-centered author, you’d probably rather write or live your life than be in the limelight. But if you don’t promote your book, chances are slim others won’t know about or remember either. One sweet time to do that is by celebrating your book’s birthday! Though this is certainly not the only time to promote your book, this special day is a milestone—it’s a chance to honor your hard work and connect with your readers in a meaningf...

Summer Serenity: Balancing Writing and Relaxation as an Author

Ah, summer! The season of long, sunny days, warm nights, and the perfect time to unwind after a busy year. As an author, you might wonder how to balance enjoying your summer while still making progress on your non-fiction book. It’s possible to do both with a bit of planning and creativity. Here are ideas for can balancing writing and relaxation this summer.

Create a Summer Bucket List

First things first, decide what you want most out of your summer by creating a bucket list. What does res...