I got to ring the bell at my physical therapy office last week for completing my therapy. I started PT in May for a lower back issue. Around the same time I had also developed a shoulder injury, so once the back was under control, we added shoulder, then moved to exclusively shoulder. I wentContinue reading “Can You Diagnose Your Story Problem Alone?”
Category Archives: book coaching
How Long Does it Take to Write a Book?
It Depends on Your Process I was at a writing event once where a relatively new writer was sharing how he had woken from a dream with a new idea, went to the keyboard, and in a month had “finished” his 100,000+ word book. 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩 That is a blistering pace in a month for aContinue reading “How Long Does it Take to Write a Book?”
Looking for a Quick Fix for Your Writing?
Stop looking. Focus on process instead. I am the first one to preach that writing a novel is a marathon and not a sprint. And yet, I am also constantly keeping my eyes open for a short cut. A quick fix. A faster process. Sound familiar? Whether it’s in my writing or creating a newContinue reading “Looking for a Quick Fix for Your Writing?”
My 2026 Word of the Year
January 1 is as arbitrary a day as any for new starts, because let’s be real. You can start a novel any day. Start working out any day. Resolve to stop getting take out lunch any day. Start a new hobby any day. But, a year is also a container–and I’m all about containers (hello,Continue reading “My 2026 Word of the Year”
What Do You Need to Learn in 2026?
As an oldest daughter who found herself in gifted programs, on the AP track, lauded for her essay writing skills without feeling like I was trying too hard, and told math just wasn’t my subject when I struggled a little more in those classes, imagine my surprise when I got to college and things gotContinue reading “What Do You Need to Learn in 2026?”
You Finished Novel November…Now What? Create a revision plan that keeps your momentum moving in the right direction
To all my tired writers out there who just slogged through Novel November: CONGRATS!! You wrote a whole bunch of words you should be proud of. Not because they are particularly special yet, but because you did the hard work of getting the bones of your story down. This is no small feat! At the sameContinue reading “You Finished Novel November…Now What? Create a revision plan that keeps your momentum moving in the right direction”
Is Something Holding You Back In Your Writing Career?
Give yourself permission to dream big this year! I have been holding back on something. I think it’s a big something. It’s no secret I am a woman of a certain age (the kind of age with a big 0 coming after it in January) and all the fun challenges that come with it. IContinue reading “Is Something Holding You Back In Your Writing Career?”
Is it Time to Hire a Book Coach?
If you’ve been following along in this space, hopefully you’ve found some tips to help with your writing project. You may even have purchased the Revision Road Map, the self-paced mini-course to help you triage and organize your revision. But what if you find yourself still struggling with your story? Something is not working, you justContinue reading “Is it Time to Hire a Book Coach?”
Stop Chasing Perfection in Your Writing Career
Stop chasing perfection in your writing career. Seriously. Perfection is elusive and subjective and f*ing impossible to grasp. I’m at my annual writer’s retreat with a couple of friends at the beach this week. The weather? Not perfect. We’ve been battling the wind every time we go for a walk, which we have to slotContinue reading “Stop Chasing Perfection in Your Writing Career”
3 Tips for Finding Spots to Layer in Revision
Overwriting, or writing long, is an annoying problem but with an easy to identify fix—cut unnecessary scenes, edit out filter words, tighten your writing. But what happens if you’re a lean writer? That can be a harder problem to solve. I often find myself working with lean writers, probably because I am one, too. LeanContinue reading “3 Tips for Finding Spots to Layer in Revision”