It has been a long time since I’ve written new words. Back in the winter, I was revising my previous manuscript to get it in shape for submission. Then there was the great pneumonia infection of 2025 (0 out of 5 stars, do not recommend). Then we merged straight into spring senior activities, graduation, collegeContinue reading “How to Create Your Own Beach Retreat Magic”
Category Archives: creative life
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”
A Book Coach is a Light Switch: You Don’t Have to Write in the Dark!
What is it like to work with a book coach on your project? Let’s take a look at some feedback I received from a writer I worked with to get the real feel. “First, the whole process was very professional and thoughtful. Then there was the feedback. It was organized in a way that wasContinue reading “A Book Coach is a Light Switch: You Don’t Have to Write in the Dark!”
Back to School = Back to Work…sort of
It’s back to school week here. Routines are filling the calendar. Our alarms are set way earlier. I can feel myself easing back into “real life.” To put a cherry on top, the weather this week is what we like to call around these parts ‘false fall.’ Just under 80, dry, cool mornings. Right now,Continue reading “Back to School = Back to Work…sort of”
What Monica needs right now…
I received a marketing email with that subject line. While the service described inside that email was not bad, it was definitely NOT what I need right now. What do I need? It’s not a comprehensive list, but a decent sampling of what I need right now. And I know that a service from aContinue reading “What Monica needs right now…”
Using character development questions to understand our creative whys
We are the protagonists of our own writing life. So if you’re struggling with your creative goals or sticking to a writing routine, let’s dig into your wants, needs, and writing obstacles to better understand your creative why. Much like our protagonists have an external want and an internal need, so do we as authors.Continue reading “Using character development questions to understand our creative whys”
Writer Confession
Can I be really honest for a second? I haven’t been writing lately. Other than here anyway. And that terrifies me. I am out on submission which is an exciting, stressful, boring, soul-baring, doubt monster awakening time. When I signed with my agent in December, I was at the start of my first revision passContinue reading “Writer Confession”
Writer Reset
2025 has been a lot so far. January I was underwater editing my book to go out on submission. February (and let’s be real, March, too) I had pneumonia. January, February and March are my kids’ busy months with their indoor percussion group with practices, competitions, and more. My oldest also played pit in hisContinue reading “Writer Reset”
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 weekContinue reading “Carving out time to say thanks🍁🥧”
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 whenContinue reading “Feeling Stuck in Your Writing? Try this…”