When the world is in crisis—it’s important to get connected to your why.

Twice a week, Heather Cox Richardson, closes her Politics Chat by encouraging people to find their purpose and act. Often, she recommends that people make art.

Today, writers are taking to their blogs, YouTube, and many other places to witness to what’s happening politically and protest injustice.

But we’re not the first people to look at the world and think, “We need to do something!”

How Purpose Transformed James Baldwin’s Life

James Baldwin did some of his best writing when he saw how much it mattered. While living in Europe, he learned of the murder of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old boy from Chicago who was visiting Money, Mississippi in August 1955. Baldwin knew he needed to return and bear witness to what was happening to his people. He would eventually write the play Blues for Mr. Charlie about the event.

Baldwin returned home to cover the Civil Rights movement. He defined his purpose as “to bear witness to the truth.” As a result, Baldwin wrote some of his best pieces, including The Fire Next Time. In this book, Baldwin writes a powerful letter to his nephew on the 100^th anniversary of emancipation.

Baldwin had a big why for this collection of essays: Educate white Americans on the experience of being Black in America. He wanted white Americans to see what his life was like. But he also wanted them to understand how Black people saw white Americans. In an interview with the New York Times, novelist and essayist James Baldwin said this about why he wrote:

You write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can’t, but also knowing that literature is indispensable to the world… The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even but a millimeter the way people look at reality, then you can change it.”
(SOURCE)

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. said that Baldwin had ”educated an entire generation of Americans about the civil-rights struggle and the sensibility of Afro-Americans as we faced and conquered the final barriers in our long quest for civil rights.”

Does fear hold you back?

Purpose has a way of upending your life. James Baldwin left a good life in France to return to the United States and join the fight for Civil Rights. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a young minister when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus. King offered his church to organizers, and they elected him the chairperson.

Whenever we set out to do something big, like fight fascism with our art, we may feel fear. Our amygdala freaks out: why would you write a book? Paint a mural? Compose a symphony? What will people think? What if it’s no good?

Rather than push forward, we procrastinate. We feel overwhelmed, so we don’t create anything. Maybe we look for a new project to work on. Or imagine a new computer program or notebook might help us write more easily.

A hearty dose of purpose to the rescue! Studies demonstrate that people who have a strong sense of purpose experience lower levels of anxiety and depression. When we have a strong sense of purpose, like James Baldwin had, we can more easily navigate life’s challenges. We become better able to endure stress. We are more resilient. Audre Lorde put it like this: “When I dare to be powerful—to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”

How do you find your purpose?

Fredrick Buechner wrote, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

If you would like to reflect on your sense of purpose, your big “WHY” in the face of current adversity, think about two things. First, think about the places you experience deep gladness. What creative, physical, or spiritual activities bring you joy? Second, consider the things in the world you care about. What places in the world need you and your gift right now?

TL; DR

• James Baldwin did some of his best writing AFTER he connected to his purpose, including The Fire Next Time.
• People with a strong sense of purpose experience lower levels of anxiety and depression. They more easily navigate challenges and endure stress.
• Use the Fredrick Buechner quote to guide you in finding your purpose, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author and ADHD-trained professional certified coach. She helps wildly creative people get stuff done. From writing and publishing books to finishing that work project–she’s got you covered. If you’re struggling to start or finish a project, connect with Rochelle to create a personalized plan for overcoming procrastination, dealing with distraction, and staying focused. Book a private consultation: https://writenowcoach.com/consultation/

The post How Connecting to Your Purpose Can Transform YOU and Your Writing appeared first on Write Now Coach! Blog.

In the past ten years, I have consulted with many authors on their book proposals and book ideas. I have also written and successfully sold several book proposals of my own. In every single case—mine included—the writers needed to improve their marketing section—the one about their audience—before they could sell their book. Here are three of the most common mistakes I see writers make as they present their book’s audience.

1. Their audience is too big or too general.

This is the biggest mistake I see first time authors make. They think that having a bigger, more general market will make their book proposal more sellable. So they say that their book is for “everyone” or “women” or “people of all ages.” Think about your book in terms of women’s clothing stores. The ones that have succeeded have a clearly defined market inside the general market of women’s clothes:

*Lane Bryant. Fashionable plus size clothes size 14-32.

*Chicos: Clothier for the sophisticated woman with a focus on comfort.

*Toad&Co: Sustainable clothing for eco-conscious travelers and outdoor enthusiasts

Action step: Define your market in one sentence.

2. Their audience is too narrow.

Most of us believe that our book will revolutionize the world. That might be true—or it might be stretching things a bit. Not all ideas have a universal appeal. Maybe you did your graduate work on the eating habits of tree squirrels in North America. While the topic might make a good article for a scientific journal, I doubt that many people would buy a book about it. As a writer, you will need to evaluate your idea for its universal appeal. In addition, you will need to know who in the universe will be interested in your book topic!

Action step: What is the universal appeal of your book idea? How can you quantify your market? For example, if you are proposing a book on ADHD for adults, you might cite this statistic from the Attention Deficit Disorder Association: 5 percent of adults have ADHD.

3. The writer does not know and understand the book’s audience.

Some writers have no idea who will buy their book. They do not know where the people in their market shop, what kinds of resources they are looking for or how to get their book into the hands of those who need it. I’ve heard some writers say that they don’t need to know the market because that’s the job of the publisher’s marketing department. Not any more. Today, agents and editors need writers to research their market and present a good case for the publication of their book.

Action Step: Define your market in detail. Join groups of people in your ideal market (either in person or online) to listen and learn about your market. Connect with colleagues in your market. Then note:

*Who wants your book?

*What do these people do, where do they do it, and how will they find your book in these places?

*How many of these people are out there? Are there statistics that define the size of this market?

*Why do they need this book?

*Write a profile of your ideal reader including age, gender, occupation, income, hobbies, and so forth.

You might be saying, “But I’m self-publishing! This doesn’t matter for me.”

Not true.

It matters for you more than anyone. You won’t have a traditional publisher and their editorial, publicity, and marketing team to support you as you create your book. You’ll need this information to create a book that your ideal audience yearns for. And then, you need to get it into their hands.

If you want to learn more about the whole process, come to next Tuesday’s Ask Me Anything session. You can sign up here: WORKSHOPS

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author and ADHD-trained professional certified coach. She helps wildly creative people get stuff done. From writing and publishing books to finishing that work project–she’s got you covered. If you’re struggling to start or finish a project, connect with Rochelle to create a personalized plan for overcoming procrastination, dealing with distraction, and staying focused. Book a private consultation: https://writenowcoach.com/consultation/

The post Stop Guessing: Why You Need to Know Your Audience appeared first on Write Now Coach! Blog.

I’ve been thinking about game changers: ideas, practices, or products that literally change the game.

Consider the printing press. Before Johanes Gutenberg invented the press in the 1440s, all manuscripts were copied by hand. Imagine the waitlist at the monastery for the Bible. The monks must have tired of saying, “Don’t worry—we’ll have another one copied in a few years!”

Of course, for writers, one of the big game changers has been the computer—allowing us to easily produce, save, and revise our work.

What Are the Top Game Changers for Writers?

For anyone who wants to write and publish, what are the top game changers? Most would say, getting an agent or landing on the bestseller list. If you search online for the answer to this, you’re going to read many articles about AI and how it’s supporting authors in writing and editing books. That’s because AI companies have great marketing departments. I’ll write more on why I don’t think AI will be game changer in a future issue.

For me and many of my clients, I’ve seen the huge difference it makes for a writer to find and stick to a writing routine. (Even if your routine is wildly chaotic.) That time allows you to get your ideas down on paper.

As Clarissa Pinkola Estes says

“The most important thing is to hold on, hold out, for your creative life, for your solitude, for your time to be and do, for your very life.”

Maya Angelou did this by renting a hotel room.

Toni Morrison got up early to write at her kitchen table, before her boys got up. But when she had a baby in her tiny house, she’d escape to a bar to write.

Octavia Butler regularly rose at 2 AM to write before she left for her full time job.

How do you create a writing routine?

Any way that works for you.

Really.

Game Changer One: Establishing a Writing Routine

Here are three tricks I’ve learned to overcome decision fatigue that comes with ADHD and the writing life (Should I write today?) and just get it done.

Stack it. Habit stacking allows you to skip deciding by stacking a new habit on top of an existing one. Put your writing time right after something you do every day, like eating breakfast or lunch or having an afternoon cup of tea.

Bundle it. If you can’t habit stack, then bundle your writing time with something you find delicious and tempting, like a latte or a trip to the library. This is called temptation bundling and depends on you only allowing yourself to have the tempting treat when you write.

Body-double it. Stop trying to do this alone. Find a friend or colleague—or join Show Up and Write—and write with others. Honestly, it’s so much easier to get writing done when it’s a like a class you’re taking and all you have to do is show up.

Show Up and Write meets every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 11:00 AM CT. It doesn’t matter WHAT you write, just that you have a project to work on. (Some of our members paint!) SIGN UP HERE.

What has been a gamechanger for you?

You have your own game changers, things you’ve done or stopped doing that absolutely changed the course of your life.

Over the next few months, I’ll be writing about what I think are game changers for writers—and how to make them work.

If you have a game changer to share, leave a comment.

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author and ADHD-trained professional certified coach. She helps wildly creative people get stuff done. From writing and publishing books to finishing that work project–she’s got you covered. If you’re struggling to start or finish a project, connect with Rochelle to create a personalized plan for overcoming procrastination, dealing with distraction, and staying focused. Book a private consultation: https://writenowcoach.com/consultation/

The post The Top Game Changers for Writers appeared first on Write Now Coach! Blog.

As a coach, I work with people who want to overcome obstacles to write. Usually we work together to find a way around or through the obstacle. Makes sense, right? We can’t achieve our goal with that huge obstacle in the way.

But I had a new view on obstacles this week.

We visited The Art Institute of Chicago and saw, Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color, the 1947 limited-edition artist’s book.

When the painter Matisse was in his early 70s, he had abdominal surgery that left him wheelchair bound. He could no longer stand at the easel to paint.

But this obstacle became an opportunity for him when he stopped fighting it or trying to get around it and instead worked with it.

Matisse re-discovered painting with scissors. He took paper painted with gouache and cut it into lively shapes. He’d used the technique before, mainly to “block out” or design larger compositions.

But now, the cut-outs were no longer just the means to the art, the cut-outs became the art itself.

He wrote

“The paper cut-outs allow me to draw with color. For me, it is a simplification. Instead of drawing an outline and then filling in with color—with one modifying the other—I draw directly in color . . . It is not a starting point, it is a completion.”

As Matisse experimented with this new technique, he had his assistants pin cutouts on the wall. That led him to create larger wall-sized pieces.

After seeing the exhibit, I wondered: what would happen for my clients if they worked with the obstacles to achieve their goals?

Maybe you’re a writer living in a season with little time to write. What if you played with creating shorter pieces?

Maybe you’re a burned-out academic who wants to write a book for fun but you need tenure. How could you “play” while working on your tenure-tract project?

Take a look at your life and consider:

+How could this obstacle lead you in a new direction?

+How could the obstacle support you?

+How could you work with the obstacle?

Reach out to me if you need support imagining how this obstacle might become your path to enormous growth!

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author and ADHD-trained professional certified coach. She helps wildly creative people get stuff done. From writing and publishing books to finishing that work project–she’s got you covered. If you’re struggling to start or finish a project, connect with Rochelle to create a personalized plan for overcoming procrastination, dealing with distraction, and staying focused. Book a private consultation: https://writenowcoach.com/consultation/

The post Turn Obstacles into Opportunities appeared first on Write Now Coach! Blog.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes has something important to say.

Did you know … that eccentricity is the first sign of giftedness?

What if the thing that people criticize you for, the thing people find irritating about you, is also your biggest gift, your superpower?

Author and Jungian psychoanalyst Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes says that we can find our giftedness inside our eccentricities. Often people criticize us for the very thing that makes us unique and exceptional. She encourages people to list everything they’ve been ridiculed or criticized for—and then look for the gift hiding under the criticisms.

When I did the exercise, I remembered a graduate school colleague telling me, “It’s not that you lack intelligence. It’s just that you’re not serious enough.”

Perhaps that classmate was offering constructive criticism, but now I hear it as a sign: You are playful. You are funny. Keep that at the heart of your work. When I’m stuck with writing, I can always write forward by using my secret superpower: my sense of humor.

I see this all the time with my clients who are neurodivergent. Their teachers, bosses, and sometimes even their parents criticize them for certain behaviors. For example, being hyperfocused on a particular subject or problem can be frustrating for you and others. But it also allows you to understand, solve, and write about complex problems.

Take a second look at the criticisms you have received. Make a list of those eccentricities that your friends and family complain about. Then dig a bit deeper to find your genius or secret superpower—lurking inside those eccentricities. Once you know your secret superpowers, you can use them to succeed!

If you need help, sign up for a consultation: https://writenowcoach.com/consultation/

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author and ADHD-trained professional certified coach. She helps wildly creative people get stuff done. From writing and publishing books to finishing that work project–she’s got you covered. If you’re struggling to start or finish a project, connect with Rochelle to create a personalized plan for overcoming procrastination, dealing with distraction, and staying focused.

The post What If Your Quirks Reveal Your Superpowers? appeared first on Write Now Coach! Blog.

by Rochelle Melander

Welcome, Kimberly. Tell Us About Your New Book.

Small Steps: Blessings to Lift Your Soul on the Pilgrimage of Life is a collection of blessings, poetry, and essays that meet the reader in their everyday life: the nitty gritty, down-in-the-dirt, dishes-piled-in-the-sink, carpool-waiting, caring-for-family-and-friends-life. Your life as it is. In all the joys and challenges. In the moments when you’d rather stay inside, block out the news, and retreat with only your family. In the hours you spend putting one tired foot in front of the other.

Small Steps is divided into seven sections, based on the stages of pilgrimage. I am an avid walker, and one summer I spent a month hiking the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain. The Camino is an ancient pilgrimage route that traverses France and Spain, with the destination of the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. The way leads through large cities, small hamlets, vineyards, and open fields. Over the course of 33 days and 480 miles, I encountered rain and fog, mud and pain, sunshine and beauty. I was met by the kindness of strangers as well as hours of solitude and stories from fellow pilgrims. 

Pilgrimage is a lens through which I view the world, a lens that teaches me to keep going, in any circumstance. To move through the world paying attention and trusting that each step is an act of hope. Small Steps uses this lens—attention, hope, and faithful movement—and encourages readers to see the life before them as holy ground.

Blessings aren’t meant to be kept to ourselves, and in reading this collection the reader is invited to see their whole life with the reminder that God is always with them, wherever they go. 

What was the writing and publishing process like for you?

I’ve been writing prayers and blessings for a long time now and have found that this type of writing gets the most reader engagement. There’s always been an energy around my faith writing and I finally listened to that external call and kept going deeper with my blessings. I wrote the opening and closing blessing for the collaborative book You’re In Good Company, and when I read one of the blessings out loud to the other writers they encouraged me to keep writing blessings. It was with their support that I decided to compile all my blessings from over the years and see what shape they could take in a book. 

I sent a few samples to my agent at The Bindery and had a positive response, so then I got to work on a proposal. Once the proposal was finalized, my agent shopped it around and I had one yes from Church Publishing, Inc. I worked with them on The Beauty of Motherhood. 

As a parent of young children, what tools did you use to write the book?

On a whim I decided to do the 100 Day Project (the day it started) writing a blessing a day. I set the parameters low in that I didn’t have to write a full blessing, but at least some words or phrases of a blessing. I’m proud to say that I completed the 100 days and didn’t miss a day! I’m not one to be very disciplined so this was an accomplishment. Many of those blessings did end up in Small Steps. I would write them at the end of the day. Between putting the kids to bed and reading with one kid, I’d slip into my room and write a blessing by hand. This practice really helped me see my day and focus on particular events and sensory images. 

My kids are in school during the day, so I’m able to write in a quiet house. But that doesn’t mean I’m not distracted or have a list of other things that need to be done. We all need food and clean clothes. I looked at how many blessings I needed to write and divided that by how many weeks I had to finish the manuscript, so at least I had a goal each week for how many blessings to write. 

I write in Google Docs or by hand. I wish I was more organized but I’m not! As I was in the editing phase I printed the whole manuscript and read the blessings outloud. 

(For more on the 100-day project: https://writenowcoach.com/how-to-spark-creative-play/)

What are you reading now?

I always have a few books going at the same time. In the morning I’m reading Laura Fanucci’s Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection. I also have Sue Monk Kidd’s latest book of nonfiction which I am loving: Writing Creativity and Soul. 

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page. This is my book club’s pick for this month and it’s a book-lover’s dream of a book with so many literary references and delightful characters and such heart.

And with my kids we just finished Jasmine Warga’s A Rover’s Story which was so great to be reading while the Artemis II rocket was traveling around the moon! 

Is there a blessing that writers can use before they write?

A Blessing for Facing the Blank Page

by Kimberly Knowle-Zeller

When you come to the blank page

or blinking cursor

when the canvas before you 

is waiting to be brought to life,

may you think in possibility

dreaming of what will come.

You may doubt what you have to offer,

start writing anyway. 

You may think you’re not qualified enough,

put your stories down on paper.

You may worry about others 

having already said what you want to say

or having said it better.

But don’t hold back on releasing your creativity

for your words are the ones we need to hear. 

Look in front of you at the page

and bring your whole self,

your memories 

the secrets you’ve never shared

the prayers you release in the dark of night

and take this first step

one word at a time. 

Start small with where you are

with what you love

and how you feel

what you see

how the light shines through the windows

the sound of the leaves rustling

the pitter-patter of footsteps down the hall.

Be only with the page

don’t worry about others

and what they’ve written before

or what they’d say or think

just trust yourself

and God’s Word dwelling in you. 

About the author: Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is a writer, ELCA pastor, wife, mother of two, and the author of Small Steps: Blessings to Lift Your Soul on the Pilgrimage of Life as well as co-author of The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early Years. She lives with her family in Cole Camp, Missouri.

Substack: https://substack.com/@kimberlyknowlezeller

The post Writers@Work: How use the 100-Day Project to Write a Book appeared first on Write Now Coach! Blog.

by Rochelle Melander

Congratulations on your new book, LIMELIGHT. Can you tell us about it?

Thanks so much for having me, Rochelle!

Limelight: Curtain Up on Poetry Comics! is a genre-blending collection of mask poems about theater, presented in a graphic novel format. Most of the poems are written in the voice of some part of the theater, so we get a front-row view of the feelings, thoughts, concerns, and joys of the stage, the curtain, the rehearsal piano, the dressing room mirror, and so on.

From Rochelle: A mask poem is written from the point of view of an inanimate object, animal, or another person (not you).

What inspired you to write LIMELIGHT?

I have a decades-long background in theater in some form, from performing, directing, and producing to teaching both high school and adult theater classes. And in between, I did just about everything else you can do in a theater, from sweeping the stage to designing lights, painting scenery, sewing costumes, and running a box office. I’ve always believed that anyone who does theater needs to wear all the hats at least once to gain a full understanding of what it takes to put on a show. The fact that I loved wearing ALL the hats certainly informed the writing of LIMELIGHT!

I also love writing mask poems, so it was fun to walk in the shoes of all these theatrical elements and give them a voice. Each of the poems is like a monologue, ready to be performed! 

I know you run Lyrical Language Lab. Can you talk about that and why it’s important for writers, especially children’s writers, to receive training in writing with musicality?

I developed the Lyrical Language Lab in 2014 because I saw a gap in the study of creative writing. There are a gazillion classes on how to develop characters and plot, but nothing laser-focused on language and how to use it most effectively. In short, it’s about nitty-gritty craft.

The course helps writers train their ear for rhythm, rhyme, and lyrical language, and to use poetic techniques to convey story, emotion, and meaning through lyrical language, whether it’s in verse or prose.

That’s important particularly for kidlit writers because we need to create books and poetry with musical, read-aloud language that will transport children (and their parents) into a world of imagination—and we have to do it in as few words as possible!

I think all writers can benefit from playing with poetry. What tips do you have for writers who want to add some musicality to their writing?

Read a lot of free verse poetry. Free verse poems are great models for conciseness since they must convey big concepts in tiny spaces. They also help train your ear for non-rhyming rhythm and sound.

Pay attention to word choice. Every word must have a purpose and be the strongest and best word for the job. This is where both connotation and synonyms come into play.

Pay attention to the soundscape you’re creating. While picking and choosing your best words, make sure the sounds are cohesive with the content.

And of course, check out my free teaching on the subject on my Peek & Critique channel on YouTube!

What are you reading now?

I usually read one book at a time, but I currently have several going, including Identical by Ellen Hopkins, Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson, and Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Giuffre.

About the Author: Renée M. LaTulippe is the author of Limelight: Curtain Up on Poetry Comics!, The Crab Ballet, and a forthcoming free verse picture book with Creative Editions, and has poems published in many anthologies. She is the founder of The Lyrical Language Lab and the Peek & Critique YouTube channel. She lives by the sea in Italy with her husband and three children. Visit her online: https://www.reneelatulippe.com/

(Photo credit: Lorenzo David Masini)

The post Writers@Work: Writing Poetry appeared first on Write Now Coach! Blog.

by Rochelle Melander

Last Monday, I took a walk during my lunch hour. Between Show Up and Write and several meetings, I had a busy day. I was walking fast, thinking about where I was going, when CrAsH! I faceplanted on the sidewalk, blood spurting from my split lip. My watch rang and flashed a message, “It looks like you’ve had a hard fall. Shall we call emergency services?”

After I told my watch, “No;” checked for broken teeth (none); and stood up, I had a strange feeling. Did the world just stop? I wondered: Why am I always in such a hurry?

Then I went home, cleaned up, and hopped on my next call. Because I still hadn’t learned my lesson.

Slow Down to Speed Up

When I worked as a coach at a local college, my colleague and I wrote a presentation to help students finish strong. We brainstormed a list of tools. My colleague tried to convince me of this point, “You need to slow down to speed up.”

What? How does that work? I asked.

She explained. I got it.

But did I? After I fell, I did go to the emergency room for stitches. But then I kept a week of back-to-back appointments.

It took until the weekend for me to finally clear my calendar.

What happens when we slow down?

I’m still learning what it means to slow down. And how it benefits us.

When we slow down:

• We make better plans.
• We work at a consistent pace and take breaks instead of working at maximum capacity.
• We’re able to stay more focused.
• We can go deeper with our work.
• We’re less likely to make mistakes.
• We communicate better (because we have time to share information).
• We have more time to reflect on what’s working and what’s not.
• We feel less stressed.

We’re not the first to take the slow path

Looking around at my writing mentors, I can see that many of them didn’t chase a deadline-driven life, like we do today. Instead, they worked steadily over years to produce their work.

Charles Darwin was sick most of his life with stomach distress. In fact, it was so bad, he worked for only a few hours a day. Before and after his three hours of work, he’d rest, listen to his wife read to him, and take a walk. He tried many interventions—the water cure, dietary restrictions, and medicine—but nothing healed him. Still, Darwin didn’t stop being a productive scientist. Perhaps the rest time, combined with deliberate work, gave Darwin time to think about what he was discovering as he dissected barnacles or did experiments in his home.

Georgia O’Keefe didn’t become productive by doing more. She became more productive when she stepped away from the busyness of New York and settled in New Mexico. There she developed her distinctive style as a painter. And here’s something interesting: During her career, O’Keefe took breaks from painting to deeply focus on drawing.

Toni Morrison worked on her own writing in the quiet hours before work. She didn’t wait for when she had a whole day or week to write. She also didn’t rush to write every day. She respected when she experienced writer’s block, taking time off so that the work could emerge when it was ready.

These writers didn’t succeed because they pushed harder and faster. They thrived because they created conditions—quiet, space, limits, or retreat—that allowed their minds to work the way they needed to.

What’s the takeaway?

Not many of us have the kind of writing career that requires we produce something substantial every twenty-four hours.

But some of us work as if we do.

And why not? The world feels like it’s on fire, and we must respond!

Here’s my advice to me this week. Maybe it will help you, too:

Slow down.

Let go of anything that’s not necessary.

Choose the most important thing right now and focus on that.

Pause frequently. Think like Darwin and take breaks.

If you’d like to join us at our slow, deliberate writing sessions, try Show Up and Write. You’ll love the focused writing time.

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author and ADHD-trained professional certified coach. She helps wildly creative people get stuff done. From writing and publishing books to finishing that work project–she’s got you covered. If you’re struggling to start or finish a project, connect with Rochelle to create a personalized plan for overcoming procrastination, dealing with distraction, and staying focused. Book a private consultation: https://writenowcoach.com/consultation/

The post You Don’t Need More Discipline. appeared first on Write Now Coach! Blog.

Writing can be like folding a banquet-sized tablecloth; you can do it yourself, but it’s a lot easier when you can find somebody to help. —Ted Kooser and Steve Cox

What stands between you and a finished product—a book, article, blog post or podcast?

When I speak to people who have a deep desire to finish a project and can’t seem to do it, they cite many reasons:

+I don’t have enough time.

+I don’t know how.

+I’m not sure I’m a good enough writer.

+I’m confused on how to get it published.

+I don’t have anyone to hold me accountable.

As a writing coach, I can help people overcome most of these challenges in just one session. But one of these hurdles requires ongoing support: accountability. When it comes to starting and finishing projects that are new or difficult, it helps to have someone to hold you accountable.

If you’re struggling to keep writing with all of life’s other demands, here are five ways you can find accountability:

1. Make a deadline pact. Years ago, Chris Baty started National Novel Writing Month to give writers a deadline, the one element he believed writers needed to succeed. Create a deadline pact with another writer. Promise that by a certain date you will each write 50,000 words, finish a project, or complete a portion of a manuscript. To make it more fun and easier to succeed, make a bet. Maybe the loser must write a check to the winner’s favorite charity.

2. Create a critique partnership. Professional writers study great writing to learn how to best tell a story. When we invite others to read and critique our writing, we expand our understanding of good writing. We also learn where our blind spots are. From complex comments on structure and voice to technical lessons on commas and run-on sentences, a good critique will strengthen our writing. Find a colleague who is at about the same writing level as you are, exchange manuscripts, and give each other feedback.

3. Challenge a friend! A few years ago, a friend and I were talking about how tough it was to write while all that fun social media kept popping up on our screens. So we made a deal: for one month we’d abstain from social media and online surfing until noon each day. That friend and I remain accountability buddies, emailing each other every Monday about our progress.

4. Sprint! I first heard about writing sprints at a library write-in. In a writing sprint, the writer races against the clock (and often another writer) to amass as many words as possible in a short amount of time. Find a friend online or meet in person and compete to see who can write the most words in ten to twenty minutes.

5. Find a Mastermind Partner. For years, I’ve met with small mastermind groups and individuals for accountability in both my business and my writing. These connections helped me to leap forward when all I really wanted to do was crawl. During these meetings, we would ask each other the same questions:

+How did you do on last week’s goals?

+What do you want to accomplish for next week?

+What support do you need to make that happen?

Because of these regular meetings, I stay focused on my goals and complete more of my projects.

Your turn: How has connecting with others helped you to write more? Share your ideas below!

Try it! Many of my clients use my individual and group coaching to help them stay accountable. The Writing Accountability Group has room for a few new members (2-3). If you’re interested in joining us, ign up here: WORKSHOP.

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author and ADHD-trained professional certified coach. She helps wildly creative people get stuff done. From writing and publishing books to finishing that work project–she’s got you covered. If you’re struggling to start or finish a project, connect with Rochelle to create a personalized plan for overcoming procrastination, dealing with distraction, and staying focused. Book a private consultation: https://writenowcoach.com/consultation/

The post Are You Getting It Done? Five Accountability Strategies That Work appeared first on Write Now Coach! Blog.

by Rochelle Melander

The scams hit my inbox at a rapid rate. Publishers wanting to put my ideas into print. Book groups and libraries asking to host me. Promoters promising they can get my book in top spots on Amazon.

Promotional Scams

When I got a message asking to promote my work, I was flattered. The first message asked to feature me in a post—for a small fee. The second asked me to speak to a book group. The third invited me to speak at a library—two days before the holidays. Each pitch was for a different book, some 25 years old. One was for the periodical I edit, The Word in Season, a quarterly devotional published by Augsburg Fortress. The letter invited me to participate in a “book talk” for this marvelous and inspiring book.

Then I got an invitation from a company to promote The Word in Season through a trailer. Here’s the opening:

Dear Rochelle Melander,

I recently came across The Word in Season, and I was immediately drawn to its thoughtful and meaningful approach to daily devotion. The way it weaves scripture, reflection, and prayer into everyday life creates a quiet yet powerful experience for readers seeking guidance and connection. …

As a Cinematic Book Strategist, I specialize in transforming meaningful works into short visual narratives that connect emotionally with viewers. While reflecting on your devotional, a 60 second trailer concept began to take shape. It captures the calm, reflective, and uplifting spirit of The Word in Season.

The sender then sketches out the trailer. And, honestly, it does sound inspiring.

But this, like the other invitations to share your book on social media or to have you speak to a book group: They’re all scams.

Writing Scams

Two years ago, I received a request to write an article about social media. The payment would be $6000. I was elated. I asked all sorts of questions about the topic and the audience, but the person hiring me focused on three things: getting me to sign a contract, receiving access to my cell phone number, and having me deposit a check in my bank account.

With every question I asked, she returned one: Did you receive the check? Can you deposit it today?

I’m grateful I did some research. The whole thing is a scam designed to get access to your bank account.

Publishing Scams

These hit hardest for those of us yearning to get our work published. They promise big results with a small investment. Sometimes they borrow the names of famous editors or writers to add legitimacy. Always, they’re asking you for money. The Author’s Guild has reported on people being scammed out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most of the time, the scammers impersonate a big publisher and ask for money to edit, design, print, and distribute the book.

How to Detect a Scam

Is the offer from a famous author, agent, or press?

As a rule, publishers and agents do not reach out to writers. They’re swamped. Neither do famous writers like Margaret Atwood. When you get a pitch from a big publisher, do your research. Know that even hybrid publishers only send global marketing messages to writers. Some marketing agencies do reach out to advertise their work, but they’re usually not sending high pressure personalized messages. Instead, they send marketing messages to large groups of followers.

Are there fees?

A traditional publisher or agent will never ask for money to read or publish your book. A hybrid publisher will ask for money, but that’s the subject of a whole different article. And you rarely have to pay for a blog post or article in a traditional magazine.

Does it sound too good to be true?

Publishing is hard, especially now. Getting noticed is also challenging. If the offer sounds too good to be true, approach with caution. Review the company online. Examine the email address as well as the website. Can you find the name of the contact person on the real company’s website? When I got an invitation to speak at a library, I looked for the real library online. The URL was different from the phishing email, and the person who sent the email didn’t work at the library.

Do they want you to act immediately?

After working in publishing for 25 years, I know that publishers rarely work fast. Oh, sometimes there will be a quick turnaround for a contract or a revision. But for the most part, they move like a horse-drawn carriage—slow and steady. Scammers, on the other hand, benefit by grabbing your cash before you can figure out the scam. If they’re in a hurry, the answer is always no.

Get help

Sometimes you won’t know if the message you received is real. Ask a colleague, critique partner, or me to look at it. This is especially true if you receive an offer from a hybrid publisher or are exploring indy publishers for your book. As a coach with 25 years of experience in the publishing industry, I can support you in navigating the publishing journey. You don’t have to go it alone!

More Resources

I’m following these scams very closely. Here are a couple of good articles to help you.

+Over at Writers Beware, a blog you need to bookmark, there’s a helpful article about publishing scams: https://writerbeware.blog/2026/02/28/not-simon-schuster-deconstructing-an-impersonation-scam/

+My colleague Sandra Beckwith at Build Book Buzz has written a helpful blog post on promotion scams. Check it out: https://buildbookbuzz.com/author-marketing-scams-v-2026/

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author and ADHD-trained professional certified coach. She helps wildly creative people get stuff done. From writing and publishing books to finishing that work project–she’s got you covered. If you’re struggling to start or finish a project, connect with Rochelle to create a personalized plan for overcoming procrastination, dealing with distraction, and staying focused. Book a private consultation: https://writenowcoach.com/consultation/

The post Avoid Publishing Scams appeared first on Write Now Coach! Blog.