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Is it time to step into the light of your story?

I recently wrapped up work with a client and I wanted to share some of what she had to say in her post-project feedback (yes, coaches need feedback, too!) because it exemplified everything I aim to do when working with a writer.

“First, the whole process was very professional and thoughtful. Then there was the feedback. It was organized in a way that was helpful and not overwhelming. It was very specific which helped me get a sense for why something wasn’t working. I also appreciated the open ended questions and ways the feedback got me thinking.”

I want to break this down.

Working with a coach is a professional relationship. I take it seriously which means I take you and your project seriously. As a writer, I know how close these stories are to our hearts and so I will never take the responsibility of giving feedback to you lightly.
I will be thorough, but my job is to always organize what I see into patterns for you. I think this makes it easier to learn and apply new skills across your manuscript, not just in one paragraph.
I am the question asker. If I think something isn’t clear or that you can dig deeper, I’m going to push on that spot with lots of questions. Sure, I could say “more emotion here” and go about my day, but I think asking the writer questions will help you dive deeper to truly capture your story.
I want to leave you thinking. And excited. And invigorated! When a writer gets to a place of inviting in feedback it’s often because we (and I include myself here because samesies) don’t know what’s not working anymore. We may even feel a little blah about our stories. When we are finished working together, I want you to feel armed and ready to attack another round of revision/planning/drafting with renewed energy and enthusiasm for your story.

The writer went on…

“I really liked how my story had evolved but it didn’t feel “done.” After receiving feedback and meeting with you, I can see the story getting better. And while I have work to do, I don’t see it taking a long time. Again, the feedback was very specific, which makes all the difference.”

Specific feedback and next steps. That’s what you get when you work with me. Whether it’s a manuscript evaluation, planning your next idea, or walking through a revision plan. The goal is for you to have the tools needed to elevate your story to the next level.

Sometimes, we just don’t know what we don’t know yet. I want to help you see your stories in a new way, walk you through any new skills you may need, and provide you with the confidence you need to do the hard work.

Because as a coach, I can’t do the hard work for you.

Sorry.

But you can.

“I wasn’t sure how I’d answer the questions about [story specifics redacted] without dumping a bunch of information. But the minute you walked me through how to [story specifics redacted] a light bulb went off.”

With me as your coach, I’ll be your light switch.

As you look ahead to next 2025, if starting or finishing a novel are on your goal list, I invite you to reach out. I’ll be your partner, your cheerleader, and your light switch.

Are you ready to shine in 2025?

I’ll be here when you’re ready.

Want more information on coaching? Fill out my contact form here.

Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

The [Wicked Witch] is in the details…

We saw Wicked as a family on Friday. I know. It’s everywhere. You can’t escape the promotion, the commercials, the non-stop TikToks and Reels.

I know.

But seriously…

Have you seen it yet?

I’m obsessed.

Already planning on seeing it again.

What I adore about all the behind-the-scenes videos and interviews and beauty of the actual film is its intentionality.

No detail is too small to augment the story telling.

From the color scale to some body language hints to musical underpinnings to Wizard of Oz callbacks to singing live during stunts.

Writing good stories is all about the specificity and the details.

Yes. I am often preaching here about the big picture structural things and taking the 30,000 foot view of your story, but the details are where stories resonate with our readers.

Of course those details are nothing without building up the right scaffolding first, so don’t skip that step.

But when it’s time to get into the nitty gritty, don’t be afraid to get specific.

Do I know what it’s like to be green and have objects turn into projectiles when I’m angry?

Not a clue.

Do I know what it’s like to feel a little on the outside as the sensitive kid who couldn’t always control her emotions?

For sure.

More specifically, do I know what it feels like to be the shy five year old at a new friend’s birthday party who panics when I don’t know how to act out the animal sound I’ve been handed in the game and bursts into tears of embarrassment needing to be lead out of the party room by the birthday girl’s mom?

All too well.

Those details echo in the reader because of their specificity. We don’t need to have experienced the exact situation to layer it on top of our own lives. We have all panicked or been at the mercy of a surprise emotional reaction or been on the outside looking in.

Painting the picture is what makes that visceral and real and connects the piece to the audience.

Just like when Elphaba enters the dance hall in “the” hat. 😭

So paint your pictures with precision and detail. Don’t shy away from specifics.

Now grab your broomsticks. We fly to the theater at dawn. See you there!

Give yourself the gift of writing this holiday!

Let’s chat about how to partner in the new year to finish your book!

Reply to this email or fill out my contact form here.

Featured photo by Jesse Gardner on Unsplash

Carving out time to say thanks🍁🥧

It’s Thanksgiving week and whether you are reading this while waiting on a flight or stuck in traffic somewhere (with someone else driving!) or taking a quick break between visits to the fridge for leftovers, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for allowing me to pop into your inbox each week and be a small part of your writing journey. It is one of the things I am most grateful for every day, not just Thanksgiving.

Today, I want to share a little Thanksgiving story.

My husband and I host each year and have for two decades. It’s just my favorite. For years, I’d experiment with different dishes and now I have a set-list I adore (although the cauliflower gratin we tried last year became an instant repeat dish, so we’re still open to new additions).

The one thing we always make is my Grandma Vogel’s Pecan Pie.

My father requested it one year early in our time as hosts. It was something he remembered her making for Thanksgiving each year when he was a kid and he hadn’t had a good pecan pie in a long time, he said. This wasn’t something my mom made when we were growing up, so I called an aunt to track down my late grandmother’s recipe. Luckily we found the sister who had it and each year, I tweaked it a tiny bit until finally my father proclaimed it better than his mother’s.

It might be one of my proudest moments.

One summer, when I was a teenager, before the pecan pie was ever on my radar, we were visiting my grandmother’s house. My mom was praising Grandma’s pie crusts and asked for her secret. My grandmother looked at me and winked:

“I use the store bought ones. Who has time to make pie crust?”

The woman had seven kids, so I know she appreciated a good short cut.

Now, even though I make the whipped cream from scratch and brine the turkey overnight and spend two days on the dressing, I use a store bought crust for my pecan pie.

If it was good enough for Grandma!

And let me tell you, that pie is still absolutely delicious without the blind baking and post roll-out counter clean-up.

But here is the lesson for your writing (you knew there would be one, right?):

There is no one right way to write.

Just like there is no one right way to make a pie. Sure, Martha Stewart might disagree, but you know what? Even now that my father has passed, my kids insist that the pecan pie always be on the menu. There is no negotiating. It’s that good. And it’s wrapped up in memories of their grandfather and my grandmother.

The best part? No one is giving me demerits for not making a homemade pie crust.

Do what works for you. Focus on the filling. Make your writing delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving!

PS – This week, don’t stress about the writing. Some of you may have loads of extra time to write while others can’t find a spare moment to sneeze. It’s all good.

PS2 – I know this is where I’ve got you thinking about pecan pie, but I just can’t bear to part with this recipe. It’s too personal. But take a look at this cauliflower gratin. Seriously – there were NO leftovers last year. And no reason you have to save this recipe for Turkey Day!

Your Story is Important

Since the election, I’ve been wondering a lot about what the next four years will look like in the writing space and publishing industry.

And while I initially felt anxiety while talking to some writer friends–many of whom write diverse books who are already worried about book bans and how that type of rhetoric may affect book sellers and library purchases–I have taken some time to sit with where we are, why I write, and chat with a larger swath of creatives I know to balance my initial panic.

And here is where I landed:

Studies have shown that readers of fiction are more empathetic.

Indeed, there is evidence suggesting that seeing or reading about another person experiencing specific emotions and events activates the same neural structures as if one was experiencing them oneself, consequently influencing empathy.

From: How Does Fiction Reading Influence Empathy? An Experimental Investigation on the Role of Emotional Transportation

We are a complex society driven by division in recent years, meaning empathy will be imperative to finding a way forward. Now, I don’t mean we need to give oppression a pass or empathize with racist, misogynist, bigoted ideas.

Far from it.

Instead, I think those unjust ideals will need to be combated with radical empathy. The marginalized and silenced will need to be handed a megaphone.

Which means we need to hear as many voices as possible from those whose experiences have been previously unheard.

We need more stories.

So if you are someone who has….

Always wanted to write a book, but felt you *should* be doing something practical/productive instead
A story that won’t let you go
Something to say

You are a perfect fit for book coaching.

Your stories deserve to be told.

All your stories.

While we need serious stories right now, we need your silly, your escapist, your on the surface frivolous stories, too.

Take one of my favorite shows, Schitt’s Creek.

While this is on the surface a fall from grace story filled with fish-out-of-water comedy tropes, it’s so much more than that. It’s a utopian society folded in (I couldn’t resist, IYKYK) the familiar silliness of a sitcom.

Talk about teaching empathy and collaboration. This show is a masterclass by simply modeling the type of society we could all be living in if we simply focused on kindness, acceptance, and caring for our neighbors.

So if you are suddenly worried that now is not the time for your story, I beg you to reconsider.

Now very much might be the very BEST time for your story.

It’s hard to predict the market, but that’s not why we write anyway, is it? I mean, yes, publishing is a goal for many of us, but the real why, the thing that brings you to the page, that wakes you in the middle of the night, that keeps you pounding away at keyboards when there are so many other things you could be doing, is so much bigger than that.

Find your why and tell your story.

The world needs your words. Now more than ever.

Because reading is what will bring us together.

I would love to help you tell your story.

Whether you’re planning your next novel, stuck in the middle, or revising, I invite you to book a free discovery call with me to see how I can best support you in reaching your story goals.

Image above by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography on Unsplash

Feeling Stuck in Your Writing? Try this…

Last week, I got a text from a friend:

“Would you like to come over tomorrow, have coffee/wine, and put together the LEGO flowers?”

My response:

YES PLEASE!

For a little context, my friend’s mom passed away in October. I’d delivered the LEGO flower kit as an alternative to the real deal knowing that when my dad died, I often needed a distraction but one that didn’t require me to make decisions or interact with anyone. Plus, the real things require a vase and water and clean up when they start to shed their petals and all of that can suddenly feel like too much work when you’re just trying to keep your sh*t together at work and for when your kids get home from school.

The invitation to build the kit with my friend was a total bonus.

Our afternoon chatting over coffee while building the LEGO flower set was joyful and soul affirming. We talked about everything and nothing. I was forced to use my brain in a different way. And in the end, we created something beautiful.

It was so freeing to just play for a few hours. To do something completely frivolous and fun for no other purpose than just that: Fun.

I started to think of all the times I’ve felt stuck. Stuck in my manuscript or my business or simply my mindset.

I’d felt stuck last week.

It was my first week where my schedule was once again my own. And yet, the act of sitting down with the freedom to finally work on my manuscript revision didn’t result in the instant flow state I had been hoping for.

Anyone else hunger for that moment when you can finally focus on the projects you want to and then you sit down and the muse and all your motivation have left the building? Just me?

In the past, I may have taken a break from the project with a different one or gone for a walk or even forced myself to keep working. Butt in chair mentality and all that.

It’s advice I’ve taken and given in the past. Advice that often works.

But my LEGO play date showed me the benefits of taking a break with fun.

To have fun doing something just for the sake of doing it.

It reminded me how I love puzzles and watching the picture take shape. And messing around with water colors despite being no good at it. And the nearly finished cross-stitch project I was working on earlier this summer I abandoned when I couldn’t see straight during COVID.

All of these pursuits allow me to explore color and shape. To physically touch a thing and create something visible.

As writers, we’re often unable to clearly show off what we’ve done that day.

Sure, you could share that paragraph you wrestled into submission or the place where you unlocked your plot hole to your partner, but it’s not as tangible and universally understood as witnessing the 1,000 piece puzzle on the dining room table coming together.

Sometimes we need the satisfaction of seeing something done. Having it be three dimensional and tactile. Why do you think we’re so moved by opening that first box of printed copies of our books (or watching others open those boxes on Instagram)? Our words are finally “real” when they become an object.

So the next time you are feeling stuck, perhaps you need to get out of your head and into something real.

Create something that is tangible.

Knit, paint, plant, build, color, bake, or assemble a LEGO kit.

While your fingers are occupied with the making of something, your creative brain will be engaged in a problem that isn’t your manuscript. Allowing your story mind time to rest.

It’s tough being an adult in general and the current state of our world can feel extra heavy. Allow yourself time to have a little fun.

Have a playdate with yourself or with a friend. Maybe have a day where your writer’s group goes to a paint-your-own-pottery place instead of trading pages or you create collage poems with cut up magazines or bake a cake that represents your book.

Or add this beauty to your holiday wish list.

Tell me in the comments below, what are your favorite ways to have a little creative fun that aren’t writing?

Need more help getting unstuck than a play date? Check out my services page–maybe I can help.

As I Grow in Craft Knowledge, I Worry I’m Ruining Stories for Others

Writers: have you noticed that as you grow your craft, you often start to recognize how the sausage of the story is made when reading or watching stories for pleasure?

For me, that means I inadvertently ruin the plots of movies for my family. Several years ago, my curious 12-year-old asked about the story structure beats taped to my office wall and I explained inciting incidents and false defeats/victories. A couple of weeks later, he heard me mumble, “false victory” at the midpoint of a superhero movie. He whipped his head around to gasp, “You mean [character redacted to avoid spoilers] is actually a bad guy?!”

Oops.

It also means I figure out the twist before the end sometimes or I identify where the clue is hidden, like in the thriller we recently read for book club. The ladies in attendance all seemed surprised by it then asked if I had figured it out. I mean, why would the writer include a flashback scene of receiving this gift if it weren’t where the giver (who had since gone missing) had hidden a secret message for the protagonist? Chekhov’s gift, right? If it is on the page, it’s important.

I often wonder if my book club is over me and just too lovely to tell me to keep my writerly input to myself. (In my defense, I never deliver it with that level of Elle Woods sass)

We are currently reading a historical fiction written by a well-respected name in the genre. I am, however, having a devil of a time getting into it because I do not have a clue what the two main protagonists (it’s a dual POV) want.

Oh, it’s well-written and full of historical detail and I can see the research that went into it because that’s blatantly on the page, but the story? The why? I can’t find it yet.

Granted, I’m not that far in, but I’m far enough in that because I don’t know it, I’d normally put the book down and move on to something else.

In other words, I should know something that they want by now to keep me curious.

Because it’s for book club, I’ll keep reading to give it a chance and participate in the conversation. Which I know will be great because our discussion leader for this book loves delving into the history of the real life people the characters are based on and does a brilliant job of sharing historical context. The conversation should be riveting.

As your writing skills improve, are you noticing your craft knowledge bleeds into your reading/watching habits?

Reading and watching shows is a great way to test your skills. You will start to notice in books that you previously might have put down because they just weren’t doing it for you for some reason, now you know why. You might recognize unique story structure devices or better decode formula dramas like “Law & Order.”

And don’t worry. It doesn’t mean you will stop enjoying these stories.

Often, my enjoyment is enhanced when a story is told well and I can see the choices a writer made to create it. Or I’m surprised by something. Or the writer held me so spellbound I wasn’t paying attention to the mechanics, I was simply lost in the story.

Identifying what you love and don’t in the stories you’re consuming can be super helpful to honing your craft.

I enjoyed rewatching Ted Lasso for this reason. Because there are three seasons, you can watch each as its own arc but also analyze the arc over the entire season. It’s a fascinating study of three-act structure.

I’m excited to rewatch The Bear for different reasons. It’s taking some risks in its story structure and I’m super curious to not only see where it goes but to also go back and see what the writers are doing creatively to tell the story. All I know is I’m captivated and I’d love to figure out why!

So, dear writers, keep reading and watching and learning.

And maybe keep your mid-movie whispers and honest book structure feedback to yourself.

At least until you read the room.

Featured image above is my actual book club at our January 2024 annual Winter PJ Party. We always read a book with a cold setting (this year was Winterland by Rae Meadows about female Soviet gymnasts, which is why we’re all wearing gold medals in the picture with our PJs!).

That time I coached my kid…

I am no athlete, so any coaching support for our children’s athletic endeavors was left to my husband who is an equal opportunity sports fanatic.

So the opportunity to coach my kids has so far passed me by.

Until this year.

The year of the college application essay.

The oldest insisted he was fine. He didn’t need help.

I was ITCHING to get involved. It’s the one thing I know how to do. Let. Me. Help!!!

But, this is his process and so I made the offer and stepped back to let him work.

At some point a few weeks ago, I could tell he was struggling in that way that the cranky teenager thing wasn’t appeased by the usual hamburger and a good night’s sleep. The poor child was stressing.

Which had me stressing…#momlife

I reminded him that as a book coach, I don’t write the books for the writers I work with, I simply help them find the clarity and tools to write the story they want to write. I could maybe help him do the same.

He finally agreed.

And so we headed to a coffee shop for the afternoon. I caffeinated him, grabbed him a banana loaf, and started asking him questions. The same kind of questions I ask my writers.

Why this topic?

What’s the emotional layer under the plot?

Why does this matter?

What’s your point?

We brainstormed (something I don’t think they teach enough in high school) and word mapped and ping ponged ideas until finally he came up with a hook that was way more engaging than the rote essay he’d started. The essay that wasn’t at all bad but didn’t shine the way he does when he’s talking about the topic.

And this is the time you want to shine.

Since then, we’ve had a few sessions where I’ve been able to help him finesse a few other essays (why so many different topics, colleges? I thought the Common App was supposed to make this easier?)

Coaching your kids is no easy task. It would be super easy for me to just tell him what I think he needs to say or explain what I think is wrong.

But it’s not about me.

It’s about him.

And so I dig deeper, instead.

I ask questions. I teach why these filter words are unnecessary or how to make the essay more active, and point out the excellent ways he is already showing in the essay so he doesn’t need that tell sentence to introduce it.

He still has a ways to go in the next few weeks as he finalizes his applications, but being able to help him through this process in a productive way has been amazing.

And he’s learning that accepting help actually gives him more ownership of the process.

I may not be able to teach my boys how to shoot a free throw, but I can teach them how to find their stories and support them when they share those ideas in their unique voice.

Or at least I can try.

It’s an opportunity I don’t take lightly.

And one, as with many things during my son’s senior year, that I treasure.

You may be wondering…

….how can I work with Monica?

Let me answer your question with a question: are you just starting a new story or in the midst of revision?

Either way, I’ve got you covered!

Start Your Novel with Confidence

Consider this your quick start to drafting with a safety net.

We will work together to answer some key story questions BEFORE you start writing.

With these answers and our brainstorming session, you will come away with the tools and direction you need to draft with purpose while still giving you plenty of room to be creative and free during your writing process. Perfect for pantsers and plotters.

Hint: If you are planning on doing NaNoWriMo, now is the perfect time for the Start Your Novel with Confidence option. Plus, it’s coaching support under $100!

Revision

There is nothing worse than looking at a rough draft and not knowing where to start.

With revision coaching, we will first discuss your story goals. I will then walk you through an outlining process so we can analyze what you have written already. I will then coach you through revising your outline to represent the strengthened story you set out to tell. Together, we will devise a plan for executing the revision.

This high touch process typically takes about eight weeks. You will come away with an understanding of your manuscript’s strengths and areas to focus improvement as well as a clear plan for moving through your revision.

With my system and individual support, you will no longer sit at the keyboard with no idea where to begin or get lost in the middle of your revision.

Hint: Not sure you’re ready for an eight week commitment? Check out my Revision Road Map mini-course.

Feedback

You’ve revised and revised and while you think it’s mostly ready, something still isn’t quite right.

Ugh. Been there. Done that.

A Manuscript Evaluations, similar to a developmental edit, may be the solution. I will read your manuscript and offer detailed feedback in an editorial letter coupled with in-line comments and actionable next step suggestions for addressing the feedback.

A Manuscript Evaluation will help you identify that “not quite right” thing in your manuscript and set you up with a plan for addressing it in your next revision pass. There is nothing better than the feeling of knowing where you are going and how you want to get there!

2025 is only 12 weeks away!

If you had a 2024 goal to draft a new story or tackle a revision, you still have time to honor your dreams!

Your stories are ready for you and I can’t wait to help you make them a reality.

Schedule a call or email me to get on my calendar!

PS – Still want to work together but aren’t sure these packages are right for you? Email me or schedule a call and let’s talk through what you need. I am happy to discuss possibly adjusting a package to fit your specific story needs.

When You Have to Take a Step Back

Some weeks are just hard.

This week I am pulled in several different directions for volunteer projects I’m involved with. All beautiful, wonderful things, but things that require a lot of busy work and last minute fire extinguishing.

It’s the anniversary week of my dad’s death followed seven days later by his birthday. Never a fun week as the grief that’s always there makes itself uniquely present.

A dear friend’s mother passed unexpectedly and I so desperately want to just sit next to her and hold her hand for days on end (see above).

The western part of my beloved North Carolina has been devastated by Hurricane Helene and it’s heartbreaking to watch while we’re finding ways to help from afar.

And of course there are the regular demands on our daily life that don’t just evaporate when the rest of the world gets hard.

It’s just a lot.

And so I don’t have writing tips or mindset advice or inspirational quotes this week.

I only have this: sometimes it’s hard.

Sometimes you have to put the writing down.

Sometimes you have to grieve or scream or nap or do other things.

Sometimes the rest of the world is more important.

And that’s okay.

Let’s all take a deep breath together and get through this morning.

This afternoon will be different.

Or it won’t.

Either way, we will rest tonight and start tomorrow with another deep breath.

We’ll get through the morning. And then the afternoon.

And if the words come, they come.

And if they don’t, they don’t.

And if we can’t even conceive of being in a place where words are even a possibility, we go somewhere else–for a walk, to talk to a friend, to read a book, to stare at a tree–and we remind ourselves it’s hard.

But it’s not forever.

This week is hard.

Hugs to you.

Monica

PS – If you want to help in NC, you can donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate.

Our family is also supporting Operation Air Drop, a vital resource in this recovery and relief effort due to the difficulty reaching affected areas after mountain roads were simply washed away. You can find info here on ways to help them.

PS 2 – I wrote this earlier in the week and in the last few days, not much has changed. I write these kinds of posts for you when you find yourself in similar situations, but I also write them for me. I’m usually the one who needs to hear it the most. For example, I showed up at my husband’s home office door a hot mess of guilt and shame yesterday afternoon for not being able to push through and be productive and he looked at me and said, “Did you read your own newsletter this week?”

Touché.

Be kind to yourselves when these moments/days/weeks/months of hard pop up. It’s easy to talk the talk (my writing of the post earlier in the week) but not always easy to walk the walk (hence this addendum to let you know that I struggle, too, even when I think I’ve got my you-know-what together).

Adding hugs to the previous ones because I think we can’t get enough of those this week, or really ever. – M

Favorite Investment: A Writer’s Retreat

Last week I went on a writer’s retreat with three writing friends.

I packed up my suitcase, my laptop, my manuscript notes, my highlighters, my sticky notes, and my good attitude and headed for Pine Knoll Shores, NC. I turned on an out of office message, cleared the decks of coaching work, and prepared to spend four and a half days on my manuscript in progress.

Best money I ever spent.

There is something about removing yourself from the day-to-day distractions and allowing yourself the room to focus on just your writing.

The beach walks don’t hurt either…

What makes writing retreats so special?

The time to explore.

(And not just the coastline)

On day one, I found myself approaching the work the way I do at home.

Goal-oriented. Time blocking engaged. Single-focused.

I had set a priority that day to dig into one of my POV characters more deeply.

But a different character called to me, which led me down a research rabbit hole. Then a secondary character had things to say which resulted in me spending time sketching out her subplot. Pretty soon, I was scribbling notes about everyone and everything but this POV character I needed to get to know.

Se every time I found my mind wandering, I tried to reign it in. Refocus. Back to character A.

But by lunch, I found it was futile and I decided to give in to the mind wandering. I let my scattered brain lead the way.

I am so glad I did.

The other characters, the subplot revelation, the random brain meandering somehow cracked open my main character as I watched him react to this new information I was presenting him.

At home, on a regular work day, I don’t always have time for that level of mind wandering. I may only have an hour or less to write and the pressure to be “productive” keeps me from staring out windows and waiting to see what my subconscious offers up.

At the beach, I let my random thoughts free and by the end of the week I had a more fleshed out POV character, a newly revised chapter in his newly found voice, a fun new subplot that created a secondary arc of change I’m super excited about, and a researched and roughed out itinerary and timeline for the trip these characters are on.

Success!

This week, I’m back at my regular desk.

No ocean views or beach walks as motivation. Just two hours to focus on writing between meetings and having to pick up the car from its service appointment.

Investing time and money in my writing in this way is so important to me. I know it works and I will spend it happily (within reason–I do have a kid to send to college next year!). But I never regret it. Honoring myself and my creativity in this way is worth every penny.

I know these kinds of retreats aren’t in everyone’s budget (although, if you can find a place off-season with a few friends to share the cost, it might be more affordable than you think!), but the outcomes don’t have to be out of reach.

Create an At Home Retreat. Designate a day where you clear the decks of your to-do list, your day job, your dinner making responsibility, send the kids out with your partner or to a relative/friend’s house, and let your mind wander through your manuscript’s big problems.

Fly High with an Airplane Retreat. Got a flight somewhere for a work commitment or family trip? The airplane can be a great place to eliminate distractions and keep you working in a new way.

Work at a Friend’s. Grab that local writing friend and do one day at her house and one day at yours. Set up space at your kitchen table together, order in lunch, grab an afternoon walk, and celebrate over dinner. Having someone else with you can keep you accountable when the temptation to vacuum instead of figuring out that thorny plot point arises.

Find a Pretty Locale. When we lived in Atlanta and I got stumped, I’d often bring my journal or laptop to the Botanical Gardens and sit in the swing overlooking the main courtyard. It was a beautiful spot and there is something to be said for looking up at a wider vista filled with color and texture and new scents when your mind is stuck.

Whatever method works for you to create a little retreat magic at home, don’t forget the chocolate.

What is the best investment you’ve made in your writing? Was it a retreat or conference? A craft book? A class? An editor?

PS – I highly recommend investing in your writing friends, too. These relationships are beyond priceless.