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December 8, 2015
How to Make Peace with Your Past and Move Forward by Rochelle Melander
December 8, 2015
Note From Rochelle
Dear Writers,
Greetings! I’ve just survived another crazy holiday weekend, where I was busy from dawn until long past dusk without accomplishing any of my own decorating or baking, let alone writing. I’d hoped to have my annual book recommendation article ready for you today, but I haven’t had time to write it. I’m racing against the clock, trying to finish a book and the new website. I haven’t had a second to reflect or write. And it shows: I’m cranky.
How about you? How are you doing with the demands of the season? Are you taking time to write?
This is a good time of year to reflect and plan. The additional hours of darkness make it easier to get home earlier and reflect on our lives. Today’s tip will help you do just that.
Happy Writing!
Rochelle, the Write Now! Coach
Do you ever wish you could travel back in time, and give your younger self a gentle nudge or a kick in the pants?
After her mother died suddenly, Ellyn Spragin longed to know how her mother had felt during significant moments or handled difficult situations. Spragin sought answers from women she admired, like Maya Angelou. She collected these letters in the book, What I Know Now: Letters to My Younger Self. Here’s what a few of the women had to say:
“Don’t let anybody raise you. You’ve been raised.” –Maya Angelou
“Please yourself first…everything else follows.” –Macy Gray
“Try more things. Cross more lines.” –Breena Clarke
Your turn: What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of 2015? If your younger self possessed the wisdom you’ve gained over the past year, what would you have done differently?
Review. Review the year past. Record your successes and missteps. Did you accomplish something that surprised you? Did one of your successes bring you more joy than you expected it to? Is there anything you regret? Something you wish you’d done (or done sooner)? What did you spend too much time worrying about or crying over?
Write. Once you’ve completed your list, write your younger self a letter. What advice or encouragement would you give to yourself?
Forgive. Let yourself off the hook for past mistakes or missteps.
+Start by offering yourself compassion: Dear one, I understand. You did the best you could.
+Then forgive yourself: I forgive you for ____.
+Let go: I let go of hoping to have a different past. I promise to not beat up on myself for past mistakes or missteps.
+Repeat as needed.
Celebrate. As a coach, I am constantly reminding my clients about the successes they downplay or ignore. I encourage my clients to celebrate each and every win. And I want you to do the same thing. Sometime this week, find a way to celebrate what went well this year. And remember, no accomplishment is too small to celebrate!
Resources
If you need some inspiration for your task, check out this video made by the CBC program, Wire Tap: How to Age Gracefully
If you need some help, don’t forget my end-of-the-year coaching special. From now through the end of December, purchase a single 45-minute session for just $75. Purchase five sessions and get the sixth one free!
December 1, 2015
Inspiring Holiday Gifts for Writers by Rochelle Melander
December 1, 2015
Note From Rochelle
Dear Writers,
Where did the year go? It seems like just yesterday we were planning for 2015 and now we’re purchasing calendars for the New Year. Yikes!
As always, I’ll be writing about how we can review our accomplishments and make sense of our missteps in 2015 and vision for 2015. But first—before it gets too late to purchase gifts for the holiday, I want to offer some tips for buying gifts and books for the writers and readers in your life. This week’s tip talks about gifts for writers and next week’s tip will provide some of my all time favorite books to give as gifts.
Happy Writing!
Rochelle, the Write Now! Coach
I’ve wanted to create a gift guide for writers for a long time—and finally, here it is. If you know a writer who needs a bit of inspiration or encouragement—and I can’t think of a writer who doesn’t need that—then these gifts are perfect.
1. The “You Rock” Journal
Several years ago, I purchased a journal and filled it with love letters and sweet quotes for my husband. It made a great Christmas gift that he’d held onto over the years.
Find a journal you like (or make your own out of an old book) and fill it with:
+Inspiring writing and reading quotes (Goodreads has a great collection quotes on writing and reading.)
+Quotes from your favorite books.
+Encouraging notes from you.
You need one, too: Make a “You Rock” Journal for yourself by copying or pasting in your favorite you rock letters from editors, readers, and friends.
2. The Writing Bag
I’ve always liked the idea of having a portable office. Today that’s easy. My niece and daughter both write on the notes feature of their iPhone/iPod. For the writer in your life, purchase a sturdy tote. I like the totes made from recycled feed and cement bags. (Try the bags from Malia, whose mission is “ to increase economic opportunity for women in Cambodia and to support organizations that fight human trafficking in Southeast Asia.”)
Fill the bag with:
+A blank journal or notebook.
+Cool pens.
+Mechanical pencils
+Bookmark sticky notes.
+Chocolate or other appropriate treat.
+Gift card to a coffee shop.
+An inspiring writing book.
3. The Superwriter Kit
Most days I feel more like a slug than a Superwriter. But I long to write faster than a speeding bullet, leap over writer’s block in a single bound, and turn out stories more powerful than a speeding train. For the writer in your life who needs a little superhero mojo, think about creating a Superwriter kit for them.
Pack a superhero tote (You can get a dozen of them at the Oriental Trading Company or choose a special tote at Superhero Stuff.)
Fill the bag with:
+A list of words that describe your super-heroic writer!
+Superhero socks (Superhero Stuff carries great socks. I also like the socks from Joy of Socks.)
+Superhero shirt (Target has a great collection of inexpensive superhero shirts—and of course, so does Superhero Stuff)
+Superhero snacks
+ You could also add a superhero journal, hat, and a few comic books!
4. The gift of the month club
For the last few years, my husband has given me a gift of the month club for my birthday. So far, he’s gifted me with a sock of the month club from Foot Cardigan, gift card of the month (my favorite) and film of the month from Film Movement.
I’ve done a bit of searching on my own, and found two that I think are great for writers. Of course you could always create one of your own! Several years ago, a friend gave me a bread of the month club, and made me a delicious loaf of bread every month for a whole year. Yum!
Snack boxes. Who doesn’t love (or need) snacks? When you purchase a subscription from Love with Food, they donate money to feed hungry children. Cool, eh?
Curated boxes. What would it be like to have a gift chosen by the experts at Book Riot, Science guy Bill Nye, fashion guru Nina Garcia, or musician Pharrell Williams? You can with the curaged boxes from Quarterly.
The family On Broadway, before seeing Beautiful
5. The gift of an experience
In my family, we’ve stopped giving stacks of holiday gifts every year. Instead, we choose an experience or adventure to take together. So far, we’ve traveled to places like Branson and Disney World. We’ve seen the Rolling Stones and Ed Sheeran in concert. And we’ve visited many museums. If you’re looking for an experience to give to a writer or reader, try:
+A conference. Jodie Renning maintains a fantastic list of writing conferences at her site.
+An author event. I’ve been lucky enough to live near an independent bookstore for the last 20 years. I’ve seen famous writers in person before and after they made the big time. Gift a writer friend with an outing to a book talk by one of their favorite writers—and buy the book for them so they can have the experience of a meeting a treasured author.
+A coaching session. When your friends are struggling with how to overcome writer’s block, choose a book project, or build a platform—you may not know how to help them. Though you can listen and ask questions, it’s tough to be objective. Think about giving them a session with a writing coach.
From now through the end of December, I’m offering a special on coaching sessions. Purchase a single 45-minute session for just $75. When you purchase five sessions for friends, I’ll give you a session at no charge!
A final word. I skipped shopping on Black Friday in favor of reading all day. It made me think that the best thing you could give a writer—or reader, for that matter—is time. So, if none of these amazing gifts seem quite right, then offer to create some extra time for the writer in your life. Take care of their kids, walk their dogs, or cook them a meal so that they can spend an extra hour at the keyboard.
November 24, 2015
The Forgotten Key to Productivity by Rochelle Melander
November 24, 2015
Note From Rochelle
Dear Writers,
Wisconsin, November 2015
Our lucky stretch of weather ended on Friday night with a small snowstorm. So, no matter how much I’d love to delude myself about the weather in Wisconsin, I can’t. I live in snow country. I’ve dug out my boots and hat, and am trying to make my peace with it. (Read: She’s drinking lots of hot chocolate and reading books.)
Now, I need your help! I’m still collecting information from people who have written books to attract clients or boost business. If that’s you—or if you’d like it to be you—please take time before tonight at midnight to fill out the survey.
And as my thank you to you, everyone who fills out the survey can enter to win:
+A $50 Gift Certificate from Amazon (Yeah, books!)
+A $10 Starbucks Gift Certificate. (Mmmm. Coffee.) (And, I’m giving away 3 of these!)
Today’s tip talks about the one thing missing from most productivity plans. Read on to learn more!
Happy Writing and Happy Thanksgiving to our American readers,
Rochelle, the Write Now! Coach
By mid-afternoon on Monday (yesterday!), I’d been staring at my computer for two hours and still hadn’t finished writing this tip. I’m usually not that behind. But I had an editing project due Monday, so I worked all weekend meet my deadline. Early Monday morning, I dashed off an article for a blog. (Well, dashed might be stretching it. It was more like slowing cobbling together words.) Then I turned my attention to the tip. After writing a few words, I took a look at Facebook, sketched out a few sentences, checked on my two sick children, wondered if eating chocolate might help, and then wrote a bit more. But nothing seemed to gel. My usual productive pace had slowed to a crawl.
At first, I couldn’t figure it out. I used my usual productivity tricks, including exercise, scheduling time to write, and sketching out possible ideas for developing the article. And then it hit me. I was tired. I hadn’t taken a whole day off in more than a week. Because I spent Saturday afternoon visiting the just-renovated Milwaukee Art Museum, I forgot that I’d worked the rest of the weekend.
Writers, don’t forget this key element of productivity: rest.
Runners know that rest is key to peak performance. Stacy Sims, Ph.D., from the Stanford Prevention-Research Center, School of Medicine, has said, “Problem is, if you don’t take time for proper R&R, your body won’t adapt to the stress of your training—you won’t get stronger or faster.”
As writers, we need rest time, too. Sometimes when we think we are experiencing writer’s block, we are really tired. We need time to step back from the relentless pressure of producing finished work.
Time away from constant deadlines prevents us from producing work that is boring and predictable. Rest provides time to explore and nurture new ideas. Rest can also help us to approach our work in progress with new enthusiasm.
Next time you’re feeling blocked—take a look at your schedule. If you haven’t had a day off, then take one. And if you regularly spend your days off taking care of household tasks or volunteering, then plan a rest day. Engage in activities that help you recover from the relentless pressure of daily deadlines. Read, nap, see movies, play with children and pets, or walk outside. Do anything that will help you feel rejuvenated and ready to write again.
And with that…I’m off to … read books, eat chocolate, and bead.
November 17, 2015
Advice About Blogging, Building a Platform, and Writing with a Partner: An Interview with authors Norine Dworkin-McDaniel and Jessica Ziegler
November 17, 2015
Note From Rochelle
Dear Writers,
I’m writing an ebook about how books can attract clients—and I need your help. Whether you’ve written a book that has boosted your business or want to, I invite you to take time to fill out a survey. After I take a look at the survey, I will contact some of you for an interview.
And as my thank you to you, everyone who fills out the survey can enter to win:
+A $50 Gift Certificate from Amazon (Yeah, books!)
+A $10 Starbucks Gift Certificate. (Mmmm. Coffee.) (And, I’m giving away 3 of these!)
Today’s tip offers an inspiring story with plenty of practical advice. Norine Dworkin-McDaniel and Jessica Ziegler, authors of the new book, Science of Parenthood, are here to talk about their book and how it happened! If you’d like to enter to win a copy of the book, please scroll down to the bottom of the article.
Happy Writing! Rochelle, the Write Now! Coach
Today’s tip might just change the way you approach finding ideas, writing books, building your platform, and blogging. I’m serious. I connected with Norine Dworkin-McDaniel and Jessica Ziegler through an online writer’s group—and I’m glad I did. Not only are their blog and book hilarious, their approach to writing will both inspire and inform you. And if you’d like to enter to win a copy of their new book, you can enter at the blog.
Rochelle: Your Science of Parenthood book and blog are hilarious! How did you happen to start the blog—and what has led to its success?
Norine Dworkin-McDaniel: We love to make people laugh, so thank you. I gotta say, I love telling our How We Started story because it’s so Hey, Kids! Let’s Put On A Show! We dove in without knowing half of what we didn’t even realize we didn’t know. We started after my then-second-grader came home from school talking about Newton’s laws of force and motion. You know … An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by a force. So, as he’s explaining this over dinner, it hits me that Newton’s law is remarkably similar to my kid with his video games. So I posted on Facebook: Newton’s First Law of Parenting: A child at rest will remain at rest … until you want your iPad back. I was coming up with a bunch of these “observations,” like Sleep Geometry Theorem: A child will always sleep perpendicular to any adults sleeping next to them. They were a ton of fun to write. I knew Justin Halpern had tweeted his way to a book deal for Sh*t My Dad Says, and I thought maybe I could do the same with my science-y observations. I thought they’d be great in a gift book. But they really needed visuals. So I called Jessica to ask if she’d like to illustrate a gift book.
Jessica Ziegler: It was New Year’s Eve 2012. I was definitely wary at first. It sounded like a lot of work, on top of working from home and parenting. I spent the first half of the conversation trying to figure out how to gently say, How ‘bout NO. But she sucked (suckered?) me in. I had seen what she had been posting on Facebook and could definitely see how some sort of illustration would make them even better, but it could be even more. It could be a website … and a Facebook page … and Twitter … and ALL THE THINGS. Before we got off the phone, we had secured the domain name, Facebook page and Twitter handle. About three weeks later, we launched the website.
Norine: It was crazy fast! As for the blog’s success, well … you have to start with good content. The parenting niche is very crowded, so you need something to make you stand out from the many other bloggers writing about the adorable/frustrating things their kids are doing. Our parenting spin is unique—no one filters the parenting experience through a snarky math and science lens like we do.
The other thing that’s key for success is a network. Over the three years we’ve been blogging as Science of Parenthood, we’ve built a solid network of parenting bloggers who very generously share our content with their readers. I was a freelance writer for 15 years, and coming out of magazines where the communication was always writer to reader, it took me a while to understand that blogging is a communal media. Unless you’re blogging for a big media company, you need other bloggers to help push your content out into the world. And to help you out when you get completely flummoxed. We’re in several Facebook groups with other bloggers who share tips and strategies and best practices, so we’re not perpetually reinventing the wheel. I will never forget when I was struggling to make a simple meme in PicMonkey (I am NOT the graphics genius in this partnership). The program kept asking me to upload an image, but all I wanted was words on a plain background, and I could not figure it out. I must have posted about my frustration in one of the Facebook groups, because (and I will be forever grateful for this), Ellen Williams of Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms uploaded a plain white square of the correct dimensions that I could use as a template. It was a simple thing, but it speaks volumes about how ready and willing people are to help. I’ve heard Jill Smokler of Scary Mommy and Jen Mann of People I Want To Punch In The Throat say, “When the water rises, all boats rise.” We don’t succeed at the expense of other blogs and bloggers. There’s room for all of us.
Rochelle: What was it like to take your blog and grow it into a book? What are some of the steps you had to take? (And, what would you advise other writers to think about before beginning this process?)
Jessica: Begin building your platform from day one, without question. Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr can be a great testing ground for new ideas. You need to build and learn about your audience. For example, our audience loves memes and graphics (which really shouldn’t have been that surprising to me, and yet…) They don’t care that much about long-form writing, so we don’t spend a lot of time on blog posts these days. The thing that I’ve seen work best in terms of building a huge following is when a writer or cartoonist shares about themselves, what is REAL in their world. Think: Jenny Lawson, Jen Mann, The Oatmeal, Books of Adam.
Norine: What Jessica said, absolutely. We also used the blog to build our network and establish our street cred. I started my writing career as a newspaper entertainment writer so I know how to craft a good interview. Many of the bloggers we looked up to, like Honest Toddler, Nicole Knepper, Jen Mann, Jill Smokler, Jason Good, had hilarious parenting books coming out, so we used author Q&As on our blog as a way to introduce ourselves to people with larger audiences. They got good publicity for their books and we could demonstrate that we were good content creators too. People are more approachable than you might imagine. No one ever turned us down when we asked for an interview. And our author interviews are among the most popular posts on our blog.
The other thing I’d add about growing a book from your blog is that the book really needs to stand on its own as new content. It can’t simply be your favorite blog posts bound as a book. Why would readers buy what they can read for free on your blog? According to our publisher, the rule of thumb is that a book should be about 80 percent new material. Our book, Science of Parenthood: Thoroughly Unscientific Explanations for Utterly Baffling Parenting Situations, covers many of the same themes that you’ll find on our blog—sleepless nights, picky eating, tantrums, sickness, diaper blowouts, family vacations, homework, toy clutter, anxiety that you’re doing everything wrong. Essentially the nuts and bolts of any parenting blog. Then we took those ideas and drilled deeper and ran farther with them. We have flow charts and bar graphs and Venn diagrams, which we’d never done on the blog before. We have satire and science experiments, algebraic equations and quizzes. And, of course, our signature cartoons. The book will feel familiar to those who already know us, but not repetitive. Only a handful of our very favorite cartoons from the blog made it into the book. So there’s a lot to entice new readers who’ve never heard of us as well as fans who’ve followed us from the first cartoon. There’s plenty in the book that’s brand spanking new.
Rochelle: Your book had me laughing out loud. What was working together on this project like? And what helped you work well together?
Jessica: It was a lot of fun! It was hard at points, just trying to get SO MUCH DONE on a deadline, while continuing to work and have a life. But that’s what great about working on a humor project, it keeps you laughing! We work well together because we can divide and conquer, that works for the blog as well as the book. Two people working on different parts can get a LOT done.
Norine: Our skill sets dovetail so nicely, we’re never duplicating efforts. Because I live in Orlando and Jessica lives in Denver, we text and phone and Skype a lot. We put files in Google Docs so we’re always sure we’re working on the latest version of something, and sometimes we write together in Google Docs. Our work just seems to divide along our individual strengths. Jessica does all of the visuals while I do more of the writing—although one of Jessica’s hilarious essays for In The Powder Room won a Voice of the Year award this year from BlogHer/SheKnows Media, which is a really big deal. Plus, we’ve been friends for more than 10 years. We know what’s going to make the other one laugh. And, really important—we check our egos at the door and focus on what serves the blog and book. We both get that not every idea is golden and we’re both comfortable saying, “Yeah … No.” In three years, we haven’t had a significant disagreement (*knocks wood, spits, tosses salt over shoulder*).
Rochelle: I published my first book AFTER I had my first baby. But, writing and parenting don’t always go together. (Yes, our son puked on the night of our first book signing AND we had to scramble when the babysitter refused to come over and sit for a puker.) How do you juggle parenting and writing ?
Jessica: Have older kids, and only one of them? Seriously, it gets so much easier once they are in school all day. Getting up earlier than they do helps, too. I’m not productive at night, I’m at my best first thing in the morning. Of course if the kids catch on that you are up at the crack of dawn, they will likely join you, and then you’re screwed.
Norine: All I’ll say is I’m extremely grateful for Minecraft and the Disney Channel.
Rochelle: Any other advice you’d give to writers who parent or parents who want to write?
Jessica: Just do it. I mean if you really want to, then do it. Don’t let some sort of idea of what that should look like stand in your way.
Norine: Exactly. Give yourself permission to make the time and do it. Ask your husband or partner to keep the kids alive so you can have a few hours peace. Or, if you have the resources, hire a babysitter a few hours a week. I’ve talked to so many women in the blogging community who feel like they’re not entitled to make their writing a priority or who feel guilty for taking time for themselves to write uninterrupted or to take a writing class or go to a conference to network or pick up new skills. Writing is my job and when I freelanced regularly, it represented half of our household income, so not writing was never really an option for me. But I certainly get that it can be challenging with a little one around. Some days, just holding a sentence in your head is a major win. But even though I’m not yet generating the income I did as a full-time magazine writer, my writing is still a top priority. And I’m quite fierce about protecting that time. My son is 9 now, and he knows that when I’m working and I hold up my Just-One-Minute Finger, unless there’s blood, fire or he’s lost an appendage, whatever he needs me for is just going to have to wait a few minutes until I’ve finished whatever I’m writing. And I’m okay with that.
About the authors: Norine Dworkin-McDaniel and Jessica Ziegler are co-authors of the new book, Science of Parenthood: Thoroughly Unscientific Explanations for Utterly Baffling Parenting Situations, published this month by She Writes Press. Find it wherever books are sold. You can follow Norine and Jessica on their blog Science of Parenthood and on Facebook and Twitter.
Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author, a certified professional coach, and a popular speaker. Melander has written ten books including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It). As the Write Now! Coach, she teaches professionals how to write books fast, get published, and connect with readers through social media. Get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.writenowcoach.com.
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November 10, 2015
From #NaNoWriMo Project to Published Novel by Writer’s Relief
November 10, 2015
Note From Rochelle
Dear Writers,
When I work on my NaNoWriMo project, the gremlins assault me with messages like:
+“Are you sure this is worth your time?”
+”What if it’s not good enough?”
+ “You can’t compete with big name authors.”
Sharon Nagel and Jocelyn Koehler
It takes a big dose of chutzpah with a bit of discipline thrown in to keep my butt in the chair. Of course, it helps to have friends and colleagues who have revised and published their NaNoWriMo Novels—like Sharon Nagel and Jocelyn Koehler, who you met in last week’s blog post. Today’s blog post from Writer’s Relief shares a few more NaNoWriMo success stories and then talks about how they can help you submit your novel.
Speaking of writing help, I’m moving my Write-A-Thon class to the New Year. Watch this space for details on dates!
Happy Writing! Rochelle, the Write Now! Coach
Thanks to Rochelle Melander, aka The Write Now! Coach, for hosting us today!
You might think that frenzied NaNoWriMo typing amounts to a big writing exercise in futility. NaNoWriMo books never get published, right? Wrong! In fact, a total of 250 NaNoWriMo writers have been published traditionally. Here are three of the best:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Christened “playful and dramatic realism” by the Washington Post, Morgenstern’s The Night Circus was a product of the 2003 NaNoWriMo. When literary agents rejected her work, she whittled away at it and developed a tighter plot. Several NaNoWriMos later, the book was print-perfect: It snapped up a six-figure deal with Knopf Doubleday Publishers in 2011. Persistence pays off!
The Night Circus spins a classic love story of two star-crossed lovers manipulated by their dueling guardians. Marc and Celia are uniquely talented magicians employed by a mysterious night circus, compelled to participate in a deadly confrontation that only one is expected to survive.
Fangirl
by Rainbow Rowell
Rowell credits NaNoWriMo with pushing her to put Fangirl on paper and leading her to some of her “bravest writing.” The book was a New York Times 2013 Notable Children’s Book.
Fangirl traces the social misadventures of Cath, a freshman in college, forced to make new friends when her sister decides to room with someone else. Complicating matters is the return of her long-absent mother, a flirtatious classmate, and her worrisome father. Cath’s only escape is funneling her experiences through writing fan fiction.
Wool
by Hugh Howey
When Hugh Howey published his e-book Wool, a thousand copies sold in a month. NaNoWriMo encouraged him to really lay out the next four installments of the story. The complete novel topped both Amazon’s and the New York Times E-Book Best Seller lists. Howey became the first self-published author to receive a six-figured print deal AND keep digital rights to the book.
In this post-apocalyptic thriller, a society preserves itself from the toxic atmosphere on earth by existing in a silo 144 feet underground. When Sheriff Holston breaks taboo and asks to go outside, he is replaced by Juliette, a skilled mechanic. As the new sheriff, Juliette discovers information suggesting that everyone in the silo has been lied to.
Ready to Submit that #NaNo Project? How Writer’s Relief Can Help
In our twenty-plus years of service to writers, we at Writer’s Relief have found that most of them would rather do just about anything besides making submissions. Often, creative writers are overwhelmed by the work required to send submissions—navigating the complex publishing industry, reviewing piles of research, proofreading and formatting, and then actually submitting (with adherence to countless sets of guidelines). And what happens after those submissions are in the world? Meticulously tracking every submission, waiting for what feels like forever, and cookie-cutter rejection letters. When you can barely make time to write, it’s no wonder the business and busywork of submissions seem daunting at best.
Luckily, Writer’s Relief is here to provide just that: Relief!
For example, imagine an eager book author attempting to make submissions of his or her novel, hoping for a literary agent’s representation. The process quickly becomes much more complicated than many writers realize. First, the hopeful author needs to research agents through market books or online resources, trying to figure out which of countless agents would best fit their novel. Once the author found a list of prospective agents who look promising, he or she must write a query letter that perfectly captures the manuscript and holds those agents’ attention—and then make sure that every submission follows specific agents’ guidelines to the last detail. Later, when it comes to submitting other work—or trying a new batch of agents if the first didn’t work out—the author has to start back at square one. Though perseverance is often the key to getting a literary agent, the process can be exhausting to many writers. That’s where we come in.
What Writer’s Relief Does
Established in 1994, Writer’s Relief is an author’s submission service with the knowledge that each author requires a tailored approach. We help writers make submissions to literary journals (for short prose or poetry) or literary agents (for book manuscripts). We can professionally write an author’s cover or query letter. We can format and proofread a writer’s work so that it meets industry standards. And to ensure we’re sending an author’s writing to the markets most likely to be interested, we carefully consider style, word count, and the work’s topics and themes. Then we analyze literary markets to get an idea of what they typically accept. We have thousands of journals and agents in our database, waiting for writers to submit!
Basically, we promise that if an author takes care of the writing—we can take care of everything else.
What makes Writer’s Relief special is our clients’ ability to contact staff members with questions or concerns. Our strategists will walk a writer through the submission process and even act as cheerleaders for writers dragging their feet through complications and rejections. You’ll find an eclectic mix of proofreaders, writers, motivators, and organizers here at Writer’s Relief, with experience in everything from publishing to social media to customer service. These talents meld to fit the needs of each individual client. Founder and President Ronnie L. Smith insists, “A good submission service does not offer a one-size-fits-all approach.”
A La Carte services are available for writers who want to take advantage of Writer’s Relief’s help only on a temporary basis. We also offer a more inclusive and intensive Full Service program. This option is available by invitation only, through submission to the Writer’s Relief Review Board. Consideration by the Review Board is always free of cost and obligation. After a submission is received, it is read by multiple staff members to discern the skill of the writer and the marketability of the work. If the Review Board’s decision is positive, the writer will receive an invitation to our Full Service program, with no requirement to join.
Of course, we cannot guarantee publication—but we can guarantee that we’ll make the process of submitting your writing easier and less stressful!
We also offer free resources—such as our informative blog articles and our online publishing tool kit chock-full of information and tips—to writers who can’t afford our services or prefer to undertake the submission process on their own. And everyone is invited to sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter, Submit Write Now!
It’s true that most of what Writer’s Relief does is work any writer could do on his or her own with unlimited time and resources. However, the dedication, enthusiasm, thoroughness, and focus we offer our clients are unparalleled. We not only help an author make submissions, we help them keep faith and stay motivated throughout the process. We’re incredibly proud and humbled to have built a community of successful writers—and we believe that’s priceless!
Writer’s Relief is a highly recommended author’s submission service. They assist writers with preparing their submissions and researching the best markets. They have a service for every budget, as well as a free e-publication for writers, Submit Write Now! Visit their site today to learn more.
Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author, a certified professional coach, and a popular speaker. Melander has written ten books including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It). As the Write Now! Coach, she teaches professionals how to write books fast, get published, and connect with readers through social media. Get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.writenowcoach.com.
November 3, 2015
Yes, Virginia, you CAN publish your novel (but it will take more than a month) by Juneau Black
3 November 2015
Note From Rochelle
Dear Writers,
Are you in? NaNoWriMo started yesterday, and I’ve been shuffling my schedule to make extra time to write each day. I’m not writing a novel this year. Instead, I’m finally writing a nonfiction book I’ve been thinking about (and jotting down notes for) for years.
How about you? If you’re even thinking about using NaNoWriMo to work on a nonfiction book project, consider joining my Write-A-Thon class. I’ve designed the class to help you overcome the biggest writing obstacles: choosing an idea, finding time, organizing all that information, and more. If that’s you, you can sign up at my website. But act fast—registration closes tonight at midnight!
Today’s tip tells a NaNoWriMo success story—and it’s a good one. Enjoy!
Happy Writing!
Rochelle, the Write Now! Coach
Juneau Black is a name full of mystery, isn’t it? Who is Juneau Black? Well, Juneau Black is an author. Sort of. Juneau Black is the pen name of two writers, Sharon Nagel and Jocelyn Koehler. We wrote a novel during NaNoWriMo. Now it’s a book you can hold in your hands.
Want to do that yourself? You can! Here’s what we learned:
Have an idea: Sounds basic, and it is. Have your idea before you start writing. We came up with characters and concepts first (using cute animal finger puppets — yes, really!), and then built up the larger story around those. We weren’t 100% sure who the murderer would be (pro tip: that’s an important part of a murder mystery.). But that didn’t stop us. We kept writing. Don’t feel you have to know everything. Just know something. Get those notes on file somewhere.
Have a plan: When we first decided to write Shady Hollow, we knew it would help to have an external deadline. So we chose to write it during NaNoWriMo. Go here to get started with NaNo: http://nanowrimo.org. There are lots of tools and tips for writers, and a supportive community as well! We also chose to tag team the writing: Sharon one day, Jocelyn the next. We’d email the file back and forth after adding our daily word count. If you’re working alone, you just have to make sure you’re accountable to you. Alternatively, ask a pal to check your progress.
Have a goal: With NaNoWriMo, the goal is already defined: 50,000 words in 30 days, or 1667 words per day. That’s just enough to net you a short novel. Maybe you can’t squeeze that much into your month, but you can still define your own goal (two months? six months?). Then stick to it. Break down your daily word count so it’s not overwhelming. Can’t write every day? How about one morning or evening a week? Do whatever works for your life.
Have a timeline: We achieved a complete draft after NaNo, but that was only the first part. We had a bad first draft. Much editing was needed. It was only when we decided that the publication date would be November 2015, for real, that we got moving and made the book happen. Don’t settle for “some day”. Choose a real day. Then work towards it.
Have flexibility: We had some setbacks with Shady Hollow. The project limped along for a while. There were cross country moves, career changes, and marriages. We chose to indie publish it, which meant that we were responsible for a huge part of the work. We accepted that life happens, and didn’t give up. When your plan gets derailed, or you miss a deadline, don’t punish yourself. Identify what went wrong, fix it, and get back on track.
Have a party: When you finish your novel, celebrate. Maybe you don’t need to publish it. Maybe it’s enough for you that you wrote it. However you define success, when you reach the end line, have a party. We are! On November 4 at 7 pm at Boswell Book Company, we will read from the book and answer questions and giggle a lot. Because we wrote a novel. And that’s amazing. Come on over if you can (details here). We’d love to meet you!
Shady Hollow is now available in paperback and ebook. Order it from a spectacular bookstore like Boswell Books, or your favorite online bookstore. Learn more about Juneau Black and future books here: www.juneaublack.com
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Jocelyn Koehler
Sharon Nagel
Juneau Black is the pen name of authors Jocelyn Koehler and Sharon Nagel. They share a love of excellent bookshops, fine cheeses, and a good murder (in fictional form only). Though they are two separate people, if you ask either of them a question about their childhood, you are likely to get the same answer. This is a little unnerving for any number of reasons.
October 29, 2015
Join my Fall Write-A-Thon Class!
Write-A-Thon Class
Fasten your seatbelts and get ready to write! What would it be like to emerge from the year –with a finished book? Even better, what about creating a book that shares your message with the world? You can! Sound impossible? Not at all!
This year, I’m offering a special Write-A-Thon class for people who want to write a short nonfiction book or an ebook. This class is specifically designed for nonfiction writers who want to use a book to boost their business.
With weekly classes designed to teach you how to create your book, overcome challenges, and stay on track, you’re bound to finish a product you’ll love sharing with your clients and friends. What do you have to lose? Join us!
Class Schedule
Each class will contain an interactive presentation and group coaching. You will have reading to do before and after each class, from my book Write-A-Thon and online sources. And, you will have homework (which you must do if you want to finish your book!)
Class One: Choosing a Book Topic for Your Market (November 9, 2015 5:00-6:30 PM) Are you flooded with ideas, not sure which one will attract clients and benefit your market? I will lead you through several exercises that will help you examine your life experience and work for ideas. Then, I will teach you how to test market your ideas. Your homework will include creating a log line for your book. You will use the log line to guide your writing and market your book.
Class Two: Creating a Book and Chapter Structure that Works (November 16, 2015 5:00-6:30 PM) Do you worry how you’re going to organize all that information? Does outlining cause panic attacks? Fear not! I will teach you multiple types of book structures that are easy to read and write fast. I will give you current book examples for each structure so you can review them and make an informed decision. In addition, we’ll review chapter features that add value and make your book better. For example, many readers love having a chapter end with action steps. It gives them a concrete way to put your advice into action.
Class Three: Making Time to Write (November 23, 2015 5:00-6:30 PM) Do you struggle to find time to write? Or, is managing your energy more of a problem? Before the class even begins, you’ll set aside time to do your homework and write. By this class, you’ll have an idea what’s working and what isn’t. We’ll talk about how to find your most productive writing times, how to schedule writing so that you’re guaranteed to do it, and how to divide up your writing tasks so that it’s easy to write each day.
Class Four: Overcoming Obstacles (November 30th, 2015 5:00-6:30 PM) What happens when you get stuck? If you experience writer’s block every day, does that mean you can’t write? Most of the people I talk to encounter an obstacle and assume the worst: they have no talent, the project does not work, or their life doesn’t provide time to write. And they give up. In this class, we’ll talk about what went well and what didn’t go well. We’ll treat those experiences as information. Then we’ll analyze them and strategize how you can write forward. I’ll give you concrete tips for building on your strengths and overcoming obstacles.
Class Five: Revising Your Book (December 7, 2015 5:00-6:30 PM) Do you wonder if your book is good enough to attract clients? No matter what the first draft looks like, we can make it work. I’ll provide you with the steps you need to take to make your book readable, including using beta readers, hiring an editor for content review, revising the book, hiring editors for copyediting and proofreading, and how to figure out when you’ve finished the book. We’ll also have additional time for troubleshooting any of the problems you’re having with the writing process.
Class Six: Publishing and Promoting Your Work (December 14, 2015, 5:00-6:30 PM) Do you get confused about all the publishing options? Does social media feel like on big chore—with no direct results? We’ll consider the various options for self-publishing our ebooks and examine the steps we need to take (editing, cover design, page design, printing, etc.) We’ll also talk about how we can use our book to promote our services and how we can promote our book through social media.
Sign up soon!
Registration is open now through Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at midnight. Because of the interactive nature of the class, I’m only taking 10 students. You can register for the level that works best for you at the Write-A-Thon Class Page.
October 27, 2015
An Interview with Award-Winning Mystery Author Hank Phillippi Ryan by Rochelle Melander
October 27, 2015
Note From Rochelle
Dear Writers,
This coming Wednesday, October 28 at 12:00 PM CT, I’ll be teaching a special Write Now! Mastermind Class on the various ways you can use a book to attract clients. If you’re not yet a member you can sign up here. Of you are a member, watch your email for information on how to attend the call.
This year, I’m offering a Write-A-Thon class for people who want support writing a short nonfiction book. If that’s you, you can learn more at my website.
For today’s tip, I have an inspiring interview with the award-winning and bestselling author Hank Phillipi Ryan. And if you’re interested in winning a copy of her book, The Other Woman, you can enter at the end of the interview below.
Happy Writing!
Rochelle, the Write Now! Coach
I met Hank Phillippi Ryan last September at Mystery Writer’s of America University (MWA-U) in Chicago. She gave an inspiring talk about persistence. In my notes on her talk, I jotted down this reminder: “There is no there to get to—only the journey. Be happy sooner.” Her moving words—along with the helpful tips of the other teachers—have helped me put my butt in the chair and write a novel in the past year. Since the event, I’ve been reading her fantastic books and following her on Facebook—and enjoying both! I’m delighted to welcome Hank to the Write Now! Coach blog!
Rochelle: You’re the on air investigative reporter for Boston’s NBC affiliate. What prompted you to write your first mystery novel?
HANK: What prompted me? Like the beginning of every other wonderful project, I had a good idea. I was at my desk at Channel 7 and got a strange spam email, which I opened by mistake. The subject line said “a new refinancing deal for you.” But inside were lines from what looked like a play by Shakespeare.
I thought–that’s weird. Why would someone do that? And then my brain said: what if it’s a secret message?
I got chills, I remember it completely. And I went home and said to my husband, “I have the idea for my book!” And finally enough, I have been wanting to write a mystery ever since I was a little girl… So it only took me 55 years to come up with one!
The first Jane Ryland book, THE OTHER WOMAN, came from an article in an old People magazine! That I read at the dentist office. It was the story of Mark Sanford, and his Appalachian Trail fabrication. And it his wife who was quoted as saying, “You can choose your sin but you cannot choose your consequences.” Again, I got chills. And I remember thinking my book my book my book! And that became THE OTHER WOMAN.
My newest book—WHAT YOU SEE—is just out! And it also came from one moment in my reporter life. It’s in the very first chapter of the book—email me when you discover it!
Rochelle: When I heard you speak, you talked about the challenges of getting that first book published. Can you share a bit of that story with us?
HANK: Oh, gosh, if I had known how difficult the road to publication would be, I might not have started. So I am delighted at my own naiveté!
A friend of mine has a wonderful analogy: it’s like when you are driving, sometimes you get all the green lights. Why does that happen?
It’s just the same with publishing. First you have to have a good idea, green light. Then you have to write it well, green light. Then an agent has to like it, green light. Then an editor has to buy it, green light. Then the publisher has to present it well, green light. Reviews, bookstores, distribution, readers.
You have to get green lights all the way. And you have to be very lucky, too. So my first novel, PRIME TIME, got about 10 rejections from agents. (Actually, a very wonderful record. But back then, 2005, I was in despair.)
But here’s the green light. One editor who turned us down called us back a couple of days later and said, “I can’t get that story out of my head. Can Hank take her book, (which at that point it was a sort of funny frothy mystery), and make it into a bigger, stronger, more textured novel?”
In other words, write exactly the same story with the different sensibility. I have been a reporter for 40 years, and am constantly rewriting and editing and making things better.
I took it as a wonderful challenge, and rewrote the entire book—keeping exactly the same story, but using a different tone. And that book was PRIME TIME—which won the coveted Agatha Award for best first mystery. BIG green light!
Rochelle: In the Jane Ryland series, you juggle three story lines: Jane Ryland (the journalist), Jake Brogan (the detective), and the story of their relationship. How do you plan before or during the novel writing so that you can keep track of all three story lines and keep them interesting for the reader?
HANK: As soon as I saw the word “plan” in your question, I burst out laughing! It’s not so much as a plan as it is a journey.
I start each book with one cool thing. One gorgeous gem of a unique idea. For instance, in WHAT YOU SEE, I wondered what happened to all that video that’s shot by surveillance cameras.
We know about the pictures of football players in elevators, and actors trashing hotel rooms. But what about the pictures of you and me and everyone else? Those all exist, right? And what might someone do with them?
That’s all I knew about the book. I also wanted to explore Jane’s family life, and wondered how I could do that.
My husband is a criminal defense attorney, and had a case very like the Curley Park stabbing. So I put all those together for WHAT YOU SEE.
But how that would happen—I wasn’t quite sure. I do keep track, but along the way. I have a very low-tech yellow legal pad, on which I keep a scene-by-scene chart of what I have written. So I know who is where and what time it is and what day it is. But this is AFTER I write it. I consult it all the time.
But as a TV reporter, I know it’s all about telling a good story. So that’s at the top of my mind at all times–what is going to keep the reader turning the page?
And since I have no outline, it is always a surprise to me! So when people say: “Wow, the ending of WHAT YOU SEE really surprised me,” I can say: yes it surprised me too! And I love that.
Rochelle: You work as a television journalist, write mystery novels, and speak frequently at conferences and events. How do you juggle it all—and still get books written? What writing habits have helped you write award-winning books so quickly?
HANK: How do I juggle it all? I am very, very organized. And I am very much a creature of deadlines. After all, I cannot say to my news director, “Can I be on the news at ten-after-six instead of six? Because I am really not feeling the muse right now…”
Right? So my very strong (some might say crazy-strong) journalism work ethic has translated, thank goodness, to my writing life. When I have an assignment, I do it. My 100 percent best, and on time. It’s work. I adore my work, but it’s work. It’s my job.
And I will confess, I have a words-per-day chart. I know if I write 640 words a day, I can be done with a first draft two months before deadline, which would give me just enough time to revise. That has NEVER happened. But at least I know exactly how far behind I am, so I don’t panic. Too much.
As for “quickly,” it doesn’t feel quickly to me, I must say. But I try to write every day, and “visit my book,” as I say, every night before I go to sleep. I love my stories, and maybe that propels me along.
Rochelle: Many of our readers are aspiring novelists. Do you have any advice for them?
HANK: It is very easy to get discouraged. It just is. I feel discouraged all the time.
Because it is very difficult to write a book. It is incredibly difficult to write a really good book. But people do it, they do, every day. Word by word and page by page. There are days that you will be unhappy, and doubtful, and not trust yourself. Everyone has those days. Everyone. Remember, Harper Lee threw away To Kill a Mockingbird, and Stephen King tossed the manuscript of Carrie in the trash.
So if they can be discouraged, so can we, right? So just keep going, just persevere, just be determined and do not give up.
My husband and I do not celebrate the anniversary of the day we met. We celebrate the anniversary of the day before we met. And we call that You Never Know day. Because you never know what wonderful thing is around the next corner.
So believe that, OK? Something wonderful is about to happen. You just have to be ready when it does.
And email me when it happens, okay? I love to hear these stories!
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s NBC affiliate. She’s won 33 EMMYs, 13 Edward R. Murrow awards and dozens of other honors for her groundbreaking journalism. A bestselling author of eight mystery novels, Ryan has won multiple prestigious awards for her crime fiction: five Agathas, the Anthony, Daphne, Macavity, and for THE OTHER WOMAN, the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. National reviews have called her a “master at crafting suspenseful mysteries” and “a superb and gifted storyteller.” Her 2013 novel, THE WRONG GIRL, won both the Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel and the Daphne Award for Mainstream Mystery/Suspense, and is a seven-week Boston Globe bestseller. TRUTH BE TOLD is the Agatha Award winner for Best Contemporary Novel, an Anthony Award nominee and a Library Journal BEST BOOK OF 2014. Ryan also won a second Agatha Award in 2015 for Best Nonfiction, as editor of WRITES OF PASSAGE, an anthology of essays by mystery authors. Ryan’s newest novel, WHAT YOU SEE, is a RT Book Reviews Top Pick and received a starred review from Library Journal, which raves, “Mystery readers get ready: you will find yourself racing to the finish.” She’s a founding teacher at Mystery Writers of America University and 2013 president of national Sisters in Crime. Visit her online at HankPhillippiRyan.com, on Twitter @HankPRyan and Facebook at HankPhillippiRyanAuthorPage.
