Eleanor Hecks joins us to share seven writing fears common among writers and how they may be holding you back.

Writing is a journey filled with challenges, many of which stem from internal fears that can stifle creativity and hinder progress. Recognizing and addressing these fears is crucial for writers and educators aiming to foster a productive writing environment. Here are several common writing fears and strategies to overcome them.

1.   Fear of Failure

Writers worry their work won’t be good enough, that publishers will reject them or that readers will criticize their ideas. This fear often leads to self-doubt and procrastination, making starting or completing projects difficult.

Tip: The key to overcoming this fear is reframing failure as a learning experience rather than a final verdict. Every rejected manuscript, critical review or abandoned draft is an opportunity to refine your skills. Seeking constructive feedback from trusted peers and mentors can help you improve and build resilience.

2.   Fear of Inadequacy

Writers often struggle with imposter syndrome — the nagging fear that they aren’t truly skilled or deserving of success — but this phenomenon isn’t exclusive to writers. Over 80% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point. For writers, this can manifest as hesitancy to submit work, reluctance to call themselves “real” writers or constant comparison to more established authors.

Tip: One of the best ways to counteract this fear is through continuous learning. Attending workshops, reading widely and writing regularly can build confidence and reinforce skill improvement with practice. Every writer — no matter how experienced — starts as a beginner. Acknowledging your progress over time can help shift your mindset from insecurity to self-assurance.

3.   Fear of Judgment

Writing is an intensely personal endeavor, and sharing your thoughts with the world can be intimidating. Whether it’s fear of criticism, misunderstanding or personal exposure, worrying about how others will react can hold writers back from sharing their work.

Tip: One way to counteract this fear is by embracing the reality that no piece of writing will resonate with everyone. Some readers will love your work, while others may not connect with it. The most successful writers focus on their message rather than trying to please everyone.

4.   Fear of Financial Instability

One of the most pressing concerns for writers is whether they can make a living from their craft. The financial pressure to support oneself or a family can be overwhelming. Even just owning a home costs an average of more than $500,000, while raising one child to adulthood costs more than $233,000 on average — numbers which many believe a writing career can’t begin to support. Writers may fear that pursuing their passion won’t provide reliable income to support their families or themselves, leading them to abandon their creative aspirations.

Tip: To mitigate this fear, setting realistic financial goals and budgeting wisely can help manage expenses. Many successful writers balance their craft with other income streams, such as teaching positions, editing jobs or speaking engagements. Establishing a financial cushion can provide peace of mind, allowing you to focus on writing without constant monetary stress.

5.   Fear of the Blank Page

Staring at a blank page can feel like standing at the edge of an abyss. The pressure to produce something meaningful can be paralyzing, leading to writer’s block and avoidance.

Tip: Breaking the task into smaller steps can help. Instead of aiming for a perfect draft, focus on getting words on the page. Freewriting, setting timers and outlining can ease the pressure and make the process more manageable. Developing a daily writing habit — even just a few sentences — can also help overcome the inertia of starting a new project.

6.   Fear of Wasted Time

Many writers worry that the hours spent writing will be for nothing if their work isn’t published or recognized. This fear can make it difficult to invest time in writing, leading to stalled projects and unfulfilled ambitions.

Tip: One strategy to help you overcome this fear is shifting your perspective on what makes writing valuable. Writing is not just about publication — it’s about growth, self-expression and mastery of a craft. Even if a particular piece doesn’t gain external recognition, it contributes to your writing development. Setting achievable goals and celebrating progress — rather than just outcomes — can help maintain motivation.

7.   Fear of Success

Some writers fear what comes after success. The pressure to replicate a well-received work, meet reader expectations or handle increased scrutiny can feel overwhelming. Success often brings new challenges, including higher stakes, deadlines and public attention.

Tip: To navigate this fear, focus on what success means to you personally. Rather than being driven by external markers, define your own creative goals. Surround yourself with a supportive network of fellow writers, mentors and loved ones who help keep you grounded. Accept that growth is a continuous journey, and success is simply another step along the way.

Embracing Courage in Writing

Acknowledging and confronting these fears is a vital part of the writing journey. Remember, courage is not the absence of fear but the determination to forge ahead despite it. Writing is a growth process, and every challenge overcome is a step toward mastering your craft.

Eleanor Hecks is editor-in-chief at Designerly Magazine and a freelance writer passionate about helping other writers of all genres grow their following and community. You can find her work featured in publications such as IndependentPublishing.com and Self-Publishing Review, or connect with her on LinkedIn to keep up with her latest work.

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By Savannah Cordova

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: you’re at your desk, laptop or notebook open, hours stretching out before you… but you can’t seem to get the words down. You feel stuck, hopeless, and incapable of moving forward; in other words, you’ve got writer’s block.

Luckily, there are countless methods out there to combat this condition — and one of the best ways is to use writing prompts. As a judge for Reedsy Prompts, a weekly prompts-based competition, I’ve seen firsthand how our prompts have inspired hundreds of thousands of writers around the world — how they can spark creativity and get you out of even the worst of slumps!

On that note, this post will explore how you can use prompts to push through your slump and help you get back into the flow of writing.

First Off: What Causes Writer’s Block?

Before we dive into the prompt stuff, it may help to identify the root cause of your own writer’s block. That way, you’ll know exactly how to adjust your mindset — and select the right prompts — to defeat it! Here are some reasons why you might be struggling:

You’re obsessed with perfection.

As a perfectionist myself, I understand how the desire to create something flawless can become a huge roadblock. I often fixate on the tiniest details, ending up in an infinite cycle of editing and rewriting. If you also identify as a perfectionist, you’ve probably experienced moments of doubt and creative paralysis — and you’ll need some fun, even silly writing prompts to help you loosen up and move forward!

You can’t focus.

One of the more mundane causes of writer’s block — and another one I’ve experienced myself — is simply the inability to focus. Particularly when you hit a less interesting part of your writing (often called the “muddy middle”), you’ll find it much easier to get distracted. In this situation, you need a prompt that doesn’t take you away from your story, but instead feeds back into it; for example, you could look at some character questions or worldbuilding prompts to reignite your interest and re-focus on your story.

You lack inspiration.

Lastly, if you don’t have clear direction or motivation, you’ll inevitably come to a standstill as you write. Experiencing this kind of creative drought is beyond frustrating, and you might even feel like giving up — in which case you’ll need a Hail-Mary prompt, something so irresistible that it gives you a whole new catalyst to create!

With all that in mind, let’s look at four types of prompts and why these types are so useful for providing inspiration and “unsticking” writer’s block.

1. Conflict prompts

Getting into these key categories, “conflict” prompts are — as one would expect — prompts that introduce a challenge or problem for your characters to navigate. Whether the conflict is internal (“Center your story around someone facing their biggest fear”) or external (“An apologetic letter or email from an old flame suddenly arrives — many years too late”), this can really help you consider how your character(s) would respond and grow when faced with a tricky situation.

Perfect for: Writers who are stuck on “what should happen next?” in their plots.

2. Setting prompts

These prompts focus on a particular environment or place — bonus points if you choose a type of setting you’ve never written about before! Some prompts of this ilk include: “Write a story set in a world of darkness where light is suddenly discovered” or “Set your story in a place where the weather never changes.” As you can gather, setting prompts don’t have to focus on location alone; they can also give you the building blocks of a dystopian world, for example, or a place where a setting’s physical elements are uncontrollable.

Perfect for: Writers who want to start something brand-new, particularly with different genre conventions. (For example, if you’re blocked on a literary fiction project, try a setting prompt — and then challenge yourself to write a sci-fi or fantasy story!)

3. Dialogue prompts

Dialogue prompts give writers a straightforward starting point, yet at the same time, allow them to go in basically any direction they’d like. Prompts like “Start or end your story with a character asking a question” or “Write a story that includes the line, ‘Is nobody going to say it?’” are great conversation starters to show not just characters’ emotions, but also their values, desires, and even their fears.

Perfect for: Writers who need to reveal something about their characters, but aren’t sure how to do it organically.

4. Genre-specific prompts

Lastly, genre prompts are incredibly useful for anyone who wants to explore the signature themes, tropes, and styles of a given genre. Mystery, thriller, dark fantasy, romance… there are so many out there! Trying out a prompt like “Write a story where the laws of time and space begin to dissolve” or “Write a story about two characters who like each other, but don’t get a happily ever after” might even lead you to discover a love for a genre you never knew before.

Perfect for: Writers looking to sharpen their skills in a specific genre, whether that’s their “typical” genre or not!

If none of these speak to you, you can always browse our full archive of 2,000+ prompts — with plenty more filters — from past Reedsy Prompts contests.

3 More Tips for Using Prompts Effectively

There aren’t any set rules when it comes to incorporating writing prompts into your routine; indeed, if you’re trying to tackle writer’s block, you should do whatever it takes! However, if you’d like some final bits of advice — particularly if you haven’t worked much with prompts before, and feel apprehensive about it — read on.

Start small.

When trying something new, it’s almost always best to ease into it; this helps reduce the pressure and bolster your motivation to continue. In that vein, start by dedicating just a few minutes each day to writing prompts, writing on 1-2 simple prompts at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Over time, you’ll be able to take on more complex prompts and extend your writing sessions without breaking a sweat.

Set a timer.

Additionally, to ensure you don’t spend more time on writing prompts than the actual writing you need to do, grab your phone and give yourself only 5-15 minutes per prompt. This is also a great way to stay motivated — instead of wasting precious seconds looking out your window or staring at your ceiling, you’ll feel more compelled to write something — anything!

Keep it free-form.

Remember, no one needs to see what you’ve written besides you, so don’t feel the need to adhere to a certain structure or style. Instead, take this opportunity to experiment with new perspectives, hybrid forms (such as prose poems), punctuation, generic conventions… whatever floats your boat! Just let it all out — this is all about having fun, trying new things, and seeing where your writing takes you.

Finally, don’t forget that writer’s block happens to everyone; the good news is that it’s only temporary. With so many different tools and strategies to defeat writer’s block, you can push past any slow or rough periods and come out feeling even more invigorated than before. You’ve got this — wishing you the best of luck.

Savannah Cordova is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace that connects authors and publishers with the world’s best editors, designers, and marketers. In her spare time, Savannah enjoys reading contemporary fiction and writing short stories. You can read more of her professional work on Litreactor and the Reedsy blog.

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If only there was a magic formula, a secret trick that would improve your chances of getting published. Well, there is—but it isn’t magic or secret, and in the end, it can’t guarantee publication. But it’s still the best formula I know of for getting a shot at a contract. Some of this might not sound like good news, but I think it is, because in my opinion, talent is not the deciding factor in getting published. Instead, it’s hard work, patience, and an openness to feedback—things that are accessible to everyone.

Beginner’s Mind

This is a term that comes from Buddhism. What it means is to approach things with the attitude that you might not know everything, which allows for a willingness to learn new ways of seeing and doing. That’s what creativity is all about—seeing and doing things differently.

One of the best ways to keep an open mind is by reading. Studying novels. Taking them apart. Applying what you learn to your own work and practicing it. Another way is to take classes and workshops, go to conferences, listen to podcasts. Find out how others have done things. What works for them might not work for you, but there are many ways to approach the act of writing a novel. Try them on. See what fits.

Beginner’s mind also means being open to feedback. Honest critique. While feel-good feedback is nice, it won’t land you a publisher. You need to be resilient enough to hear that maybe this thing you’ve created could be better. Maybe there’s a kernel of a good idea there, but the rest of it is, well, compost, and you need to start over.

Does that sound harsh? It’s definitely unpleasant. But I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to start a novel over from scratch with only the shred of the idea left on the page. Two of my published novels were created that way, and I’m just putting the finishing touches on another that also came into being by way of the garbage can.

Bestselling YA author John Green talks about how 90% of his first drafts end up in the round file. Another bestselling author, Barbara Kingsolver, throws out hundreds of pages in the process of finding a novel’s voice. I used to think it was just beginners who threw out work (well, beginners, and me). But now I know this is the process.

Writing is rewriting. It was probably the first thing our novel-writing instructor said to us in the MFA program, and it’s the truest thing I know about writing. The great lines, the poetry, the character development—most of that gets created in revision. 

Steep Grade Ahead

Writing plays a nasty trick on us. Because we learn how to write essays in school—and maybe the odd short story—we assume we know how to write a novel. Writing is writing, after all. It’s words on a page. But that’s like saying that because a person knows how to play the piano, they will automatically be proficient at the saxophone. True, they’ll know how to read music—but that’s the only advantage they’ll have.

The learning curve for writing a novel is steep. I’m talking years. Maybe ten years. That was how long it took me, and I’d been writing for years before I tackled my first novel. And I’m still learning. Every novel I read or edit or write has something to teach me. There will never come a time where I’ll feel I know all I need to know about writing a novel. That shouldn’t depress you. I think it’s exciting, a testament to the genre’s potential.

The Querying Process

All right. You’ve put in the years, you’ve gotten the tough feedback and revised until you’re cross-eyed. It’s time for the rubber to meet the road.

When it comes to querying, improving your chances of landing a publisher is both simpler and more complicated than you might think. Follow the submission guidelines. Widen your scope to include small publishers. Write a decent query letter. Easy.

Your letter won’t make or break your submission. But there are a few things that will: your synopsis and your opening pages.

Your synopsis shows a publisher that you understand structure and can execute the great idea you described in the pitch of your query letter. If the structure is broken, the novel will be broken. They won’t want to read it. That’s why synopses are so hard to write. And it’s why publishers and agents ask for one.

Then come your opening pages, the true showcase of your novel’s awesomeness. You can write the best query letter in the world, but if your opening pages don’t land, if they don’t grip the reader by the throat and insist that they turn the page, the publisher won’t ask for more.

How do you understand structure and write fabulous opening pages? By working hard. By taking apart the structure of novels you’ve read and trying to understand how the author created their magic. By writing and revising and writing and revising. This is what Steven Pressfield meant by turning pro: taking your craft seriously, developing the necessary discipline to see a project through to the end, not being crushed by feedback but instead using it as a learning tool. There will be setbacks and rejections, but a pro keeps showing up day after day and putting in the work. A pro doesn’t give up.

That’s the magic formula. That’s what will give you the best chance of getting there.

Writers Helping Writers holds a monthly critique contest that can help make your opening gleam. Come back to our blog Thursday, February 20 for a chance to win a 1st page critique from Becca Puglisi!

MICHELLE BARKER - Resident Writing Coach

Michelle Barker is an award-winning author and editor who lives in Vancouver, BC. Her newest book, coauthored with David Griffin Brown, is Story Skeleton: The Classics. They are also the authors of Immersion and Emotion: The Two Pillars of Storytelling. Her novel My Long List of Impossible Things, came out in 2020 with Annick Press. The House of One Thousand Eyes was named a Kirkus Best Book of the Year and won numerous awards including the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award. Her fiction, non-fiction and poetry have appeared in literary reviews world-wide.

Michelle holds an MFA in creative writing from UBC and is a senior editor at The Darling Axe. Find out more about our RWC team here and connect with Michelle below. Michelle’s books

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The rise of AI-generated books is sparking concern among many. We all know the book market is huge, yet the speed at which new works are being added prompted Amazon to place a ‘3 books per day’ upload limit. I think we all agree that’s more than a little worrying.

It’s frustrating, too. Vying for a reader’s attention has always been challenging, but this new competition has some authors fearing it will soon become too hard (and expensive) to grab the reader’s attention. Dread rises in the form of a question: in this widening sea of books, what are my chances of being found and read?

It’s easy to give over to anger and depression when things change, especially when it feels unfair and unjust. But as authors have always done, we must use our emotions to fuel transformation.

The board has changed. It’s time to change with it.

We’ve weathered disruptions in the book industry before, and while AI is reshaping all industries, as people, one of our biggest strengths is our ability to adapt. Marketing will become more challenging for authors, but we can use our human edge to come out on top. It’s time for us to push ourselves and leverage our strengths, showing readers we have much more to offer them than machines.

Let’s talk about how we do it.

1. Write an amazing book.

Seems sort of obvious, right? Sure, but the real message here is that AI books will only get better in time, so we must continue widening the gap. Readers will have many choices on what to read so our books should be exceptional. To date, many authors have focused on volume to make a living, but moving forward, writing better books will become as important (if not more).

Amazing books in the age of AI should contain something else, too: emotion, insight, and depth rooted in human experience. This is something that machines can’t replicate (although they will try). As humans, we understand how isolating life can be when we experience certain things that stir deep emotions, struggles, insecurities, and vulnerabilities. Who better than us to create authentic characters that our readers can truly relate to and connect with? (Read: How to Leverage Humanity in Stories to Outshine AI.)

2. Embrace authenticity, building trust and connection.

AI isn’t only impacting the book industry–it’s everywhere, with readers being as exposed to it as us. AI curates searches at Google, chatbots claim the bottom right corner of every website. Meta AI bots piss everyone off with their uncanny ability to ignore hate speech but flag that cute picture of someone’s cat as harmful and inappropriate.

Fake social profiles. AI-generated images everywhere.
Every third ad is a new AI tool or service.

It’s the gold rush of AI, but guess what follows? Saturation. People get sick of all things manufactured, simulated, and fake. It’s early still, but a looming saturation is coming. Authors should be ready because, in an increasingly artificial world, people will crave one thing above all else: Authenticity. They will be drawn to human presences, voices, and interactions.

This is an incredible opportunity for authors. By recognizing the universal need for authenticity and connection, they can draw their potential readers in by being someone who shares their human side!

Go deeper with your interactions with readers. Think about points of common ground: What experiences do you and your readers share? Which of your thoughts and perceptions will resonate, making them feel seen and heard? How can you share anecdotes, ideas, sparks of humor, and bits of your personal life alongside discussions about your creative work? What topics and themes in your book suggest areas of common interest? Start some conversations.

It might take practice, but being open and authentic can turn readers into lifelong fans…of you. These relationships are incredible–knowing people are in our corner sustains us when life gets hard. Too, not only will devout readers look forward to the next book, but they’ll want others to discover your books, too.

3. Create a “clubhouse” for your readers.

Adding to the point above, I have always believed marketing is about relationships, not sales. We build strong relationships by caring about others, making them feel valued, and giving them something they need. When this is done right, sales follow naturally.

It’s great to use social media as a way to find potential readers and connect with them, but trying to be everywhere at once is overwhelming. People can become fatigued by social media too. This is why thinking about creating a meeting spot away from the noise of the online world can be a great way to forge meaningful bonds with readers.

Your “clubhouse” can be anything that works for you: an online community or group, a personal newsletter or Substack, a private forum attached to your site, etc. Whatever your clubhouse looks like, don’t bombard folks with promotion. These people aren’t dollar signs and trust me, AI will be targeting them everywhere, trying to sell, sell, sell. So be different. Focus on the relationship: share content they’ll like, ask and answer questions. If you’re communicating through a newsletter, be the person they are always happy to hear from! Your clubhouse should make people feel seen, cared about, and valued.

4. Think we, not me.

As the fight over a reader’s attention heats up even further, we may think we need to isolate ourselves from other authors because they are our competition. Not so. Human authors are our allies.

No matter how well you write or how big your audience is, you only have a sliver of the potential reading audience. Authors with similar books also have loyal readers, and many are different from your own. Collaborating with authors who write similar, high-quality books can be a win for you both as you’ll each reach new people.

Collaboration is about more than sharing audiences—it’s about creating a sense of camaraderie. Readers will notice and appreciate authors who prioritize relationships over sales pitches. Too, every author has unique experiences, ideas, knowledge, and connections. Joining forces with other authors and sharing what you each know means less trial and error.

5. Educate yourself and watch for scams.

Whenever there’s a disruption, people look for opportunities to monetize whatever has changed. Part of thriving as an author will be staying informed and watching for profiteers selling “easy solutions.”

Self-publishing created a ramp-up in vanity presses, predatory promotional and editing services, and low-skill freelancers looking to bleed authors of their cash. This era of AI will be the same.

If you need AI solutions for marketing, research before investing in courses, ad services, or tools. Look to trusted industry leaders like Jane Friedman, David Gaughran, or the Alliance of Independent Authors for guidance. Don’t fall for pressure tactics, FOMO, or fear-based marketing. And remember, if someone is selling something that seems too good to be true, it probably is.

One area to be especially cautious of is Ads. As the book market becomes increasingly huge, pay-to-play platforms (Meta, Amazon, etc.) are the real winners as people run ads (or more ads) to gain visibility. Likely we’ll see a rise in ‘Ad experts’ pitching their company to run your ads or use their AI tools and platform solutions. Some may be a good investment. Others will drain your pockets. Investigate and talk to other authors. Make sure the ROI is clear.

6. Decide how (and if) you’ll use AI as an author.

AI is a threat and a tool. Creatives (and folks in other industries who had their content scraped without content) are rightfully upset about AI. But it’s here to stay so we will all need to eventually decide if (and how) we’ll use it. This is a moral question and a practical one.

You may decide that while you’re morally opposed to using it to write, you use AI solutions to help you with other tasks–researching, marketing, time management, whatever. Or you are a firm no. But whether you use it or not, it’s important to understand how others are incorporating it, and the impacts this may have on our business.

The Key to Thriving:
Using Your Humanity

AI may be here to stay, but so are authors. We can’t control AI’s disruption over our industry, only how we respond. By focusing on what makes us uniquely human, we can create stories that resonate far more deeply than AI-generated books. Best of all, by simply being ourselves, we can forge genuine connections with readers and fulfill a universal longing for authenticity—an ironic consequence of the rise of AI.

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

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By Eleanor Hecks

Many writers are all too familiar with rejection. You pour your heart and soul into a piece, imagining how it might sound to readers, only to face the crushing reality of a “no” in response.

For writers, the publishing world can feel like an endless uphill battle paved with setbacks and self-doubt. It is enough to make even the most steadfast question whether it is all worth it.

The truth is that hope is what keeps you going. While rejection is part of the process, so is resilience, and learning how to maintain that resilience is key to flourishing as a writer.

1. Develop Resilience Through Practice

Resilience takes time to build. Yet, you can cultivate the grit needed to prosper as a writer through consistent practice and willingness to push your boundaries.

Set Small, Achievable Goals

One effective way to develop resilience is by setting goals. These could be as simple as writing 500 words daily, completing one short story a month or submitting to a handful of publications each quarter. Small goals create a feeling of accomplishment, helping you maintain momentum even when larger milestones feel far away.

Over time, these efforts build perseverance and teach you to push forward in the face of setbacks. By celebrating these small victories, you remind yourself that progress is happening.

Experiment With New Styles or Genres

Consider stepping outside your creative comfort zone. Experimenting with a new genre, style or format can be a powerful way to reignite your passion for writing. Try your hand at screenwriting or explore creative nonfiction — these experiments make the process of writing feel fresh and exciting again. Even if the results are far from perfect, trying something new can help you develop confidence in your ability to adapt.

2. Gain Peace and Mental Clarity

With constant noise and rejection in the publishing world, finding moments of peace and clarity can feel like a lifeline. They are essential because they quiet doubts, clear mental clutter and create space for creativity. Whether through mindfulness or age-old traditions, these strategies can restore balance and keep optimism alive.

Finding Solace in Nature

Sometimes, the best way to clear your mind is to step away from the page and into the great outdoors. Take it from Al Roker — the beloved journalist and Today Show weatherman — who finds peace by walking along the lake. On his walks, he prays, meditates and allows the rhythmic sounds of nature to help him process life’s challenges.

This simple but profound activity of reconnecting with the natural world can offer renewal, helping you return to writing with fresh eyes and a calmer spirit.

Cultivate a Positive Mindset

Rejection can cloud your vision, making it hard to focus on the progress you have made. However, building and maintaining a positive mindset enables you to reframe those feelings.

Instead of seeing rejection as a stop sign, consider it a detour leading you to refine your craft and find the right audience. Practicing gratitude journaling helps you reflect on the wins and reminds you of the joy that writing brings.

Engaging in Labyrinth Prayer

Labyrinth prayer is an ancient practice that promotes peace and introspection. Walking a labyrinth’s purposeful, winding path mirrors life’s journey, offering a chance to reflect and release burdens. As you walk, you can focus on a word or phrase to center your thoughts and open yourself to creativity.

3. Build a Support System

Writing may feel like a solitary pursuit, but surrounding yourself with a community of fellow writers can make all the difference.

Online or local writing groups offer a space to share struggles, celebrate wins and exchange constructive feedback. Hearing others’ stories of persistence can inspire you to keep going, even when the odds feel stacked against you.

4. Reframe Rejection with Growth

Rejection is an inevitable part of any writer’s journey that can feel like a dead end. Rather than viewing it as a failure, consider it an opportunity to grow.

Every “no” you receive can share some insight. Many of the world’s most successful authors — including Stephen King — faced repeated rejections before finding the right publisher. Therefore, persistence is key.

Use rejection as a stepping stone by implementing the following:

• Extract the lesson: If feedback is available, read it carefully and objectively. Identify areas where you can improve and incorporate that into your next draft.
• Celebrate the effort: A rejection means you dared to put yourself out there — a feat in itself. Celebrate the progress you have made by submitting your work.
• Diversify your submission: Avoid pinning all your hopes on one opportunity. Submit to multiple outlets or publishers to increase your chances of success.
• Keep a rejection journal: Track your submissions and rejections. Over time, this can help you see patterns, measure growth, and remind yourself how far you have come.

Holding Onto Hope and Moving On

The publishing world may feel overwhelming, but hope keeps writers going. To keep that optimism flowing through you, use practices to help you get through the ups and downs with grace and determination.

Every rejection, challenge, and moment of doubt is a step toward honing your craft and finding your place in the literary world. So, keep creating and trust that your voice will find its audience.

Eleanor Hecks is editor-in-chief at Designerly Magazine and a freelance writer passionate about helping other writers of all genres grow their following and community. You can find her work featured in publications such as IndependentPublishing.com and Self-Publishing Review, or connect with her on LinkedIn to keep up with her latest work.

Guest Contributor

Interested in posting at Writers Helping Writers? Review our content guidelines to see what we’re looking for and how to pitch us your ideas.

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I feel so fortunate to be working in this industry. Running my own business, despite the headaches it brings—say, around tax time *twitch*—gives me so much freedom. I also get personal satisfaction from knowing I’m doing something really hard and am stretching myself to learn new things all the time.

But one of the best things about being a writer is all the ways I get to give back. Angela and I are fairly intentional about this, and one of things we decided early on was we wanted to donate some of our proceeds to deserving charities and nonprofits. You can see a list of past recipients here.

This year, we were excited to watch the professional evolution of one of our writer friends. Talk about doing hard stuff and stretching! After 13 years in publishing, Shayla Hale (formerly Shayla Raquel) put away her pen to start Crime & Compassion Inc., a nonprofit that advocates for the incarcerated. She runs a podcast now, as well as teaching fiction writing at a women’s prison in Oklahoma.

Her story, and what she’s doing now, is so interesting and inspiring that we wanted to share some of it with you. Read on to learn more about how Shayla parlayed a love of literature into a ministry to the incarcerated.

Shayla, tell us more about your work with the women at the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center.

Crime & Compassion Inc. offers an advanced fiction writing class called the Writers Guild, aptly named by the MBCC students themselves. There are 15 students in the class, and we meet twice a month in the chapel to learn all about novel writing.

To complete the class, the student must write, rewrite, and publish a full-length novel. And let me tell you: these women are working nonstop on their books. They are super dedicated, always grateful, and ridiculously talented. One student, who is a co-facilitator for our class, will be publishing her novel soon, as she just finished it and is going through the rewriting process.

The novels will be self-published under their names, and the students will own the rights to their books, as they should. These women encourage each other and give feedback too. It’s a community they have built, and I cannot wait to offer more classes (as we have a waiting list). 

What prompted you to shift from writing and publishing fiction to creating and running a nonprofit?

I’ve been saying for a while now, “I left the publishing industry so I could come back in a whole different light.”

I’ve known since 2020 that I wanted to launch Crime & Compassion—a podcast that tells the stories of those who were written off. I enjoyed two years (2018–2020) as a volunteer chaplain at Oklahoma County Jail, which played a big role in my heart’s desire to work with the incarcerated. But when I worked on author Shari Bower’s memoir, Before They Executed Him: A Wife’s Story of Death Row, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that the only thing I wanted to do with my life was reach the incarcerated.

My lifelong dream was to become an author, an editor, a speaker. I wanted nothing but the publishing world—and I had it. I loved my company, which I ran for 14 years. But a dream job is not the same as a life scripture. I’m so grateful that I got to enjoy my dream job, but my life scripture of working with and for the incarcerated is more important to me than anything else.

So . . . I sold off my assets and launched C&C this year. Though it did launch as a podcast, I’ve often reminded supporters that C&C is an umbrella with many facets beneath it. The podcast was just one element to the mission of C&C—I knew things would fall in place and make sense if I just started. It took no time at all for a class to be dropped in my lap in the best way possible, and boy am I a sucker for baptism by fire! It worked out beautifully.

I recently hired Oklahoma Nonprofit Solutions to handle my 501(c)3 filing with the IRS. The C&C board of directors includes Shari Bower’s daughter, a former Texas death row chaplain, a formerly incarcerated soldier who wrote a memoir about his time in Fort Leavenworth, a therapist with a big heart for these women, and my closest friend. Go team!

What’s one thing you wish people knew about the women you work with?

There are a hundred things I wish people knew about the incredible women I work with; it’s very difficult to choose just one thing because I want everyone to know how talented, generous, and kind these women are. But . . . I wish people could truly comprehend the unbelievable role that trauma plays in someone’s life before they commit a crime.

The minute you try to discuss trauma and incarceration, you’re often met with, “It’s not an excuse to do what they did!” I want to see people soften their hearts and grasp that no one is excusing the crime by discussing the trauma—they’re educating you on why the person made the choice they did. With that education comes more compassion, more understanding. And isn’t that really all they’re asking—to show compassion when no one else does? You can either be the person who turns your nose up at the incarcerated, who forgets about them, or you can be someone different, someone who sees the need and reaches out to offer hope.

From this short interview, I’m sure you can see why we chose Crime & Compassion, Inc. as our 2024 charity. It’s so important to find our purpose and be able to pass along the blessings we’ve received, and Shayla is doing that in a big way.

So if you’re seeking for purpose, I’d encourage you to keep looking. Keep trying new things—especially the hard stuff. If you know what you need to do but haven’t pulled the trigger, ask yourself Why Not? What roadblocks are in your way? Consider making 2025 the year you make a plan and start moving toward that finish line.

If you’d like to learn more about Crime & Compassion (including donation information, if you feel inclined), the following links are a good starting point.

• Substack
• Substack subscription/donation 
• TikTok
• Instagram
• Threads
• Pinterest
• YouTube
• Facebook

BECCA PUGLISI

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Pursuing Your Passion and Paying It Forward appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Try this: Think about your writing or writing business as a partner.

Start by giving it a name. What would you call your writing (if you haven’t started selling yet) or writing business (if you are selling books)?

Mine is “Dolores,” because she’s demanding. (If your name is Dolores, my apologies!) During all my waking hours, she’s babbling on about what I need to do for my next book, my author platform, my website, and more. She’s a slave driver and never lets up enough to give me a break.

Once you have a name, it’s time to see what sort of partnership the two of you have.

Do that, and you can better understand what the problems are and what you might need to change so you feel more energized, motivated, and successful.

Let me give you some examples. I based them on well-known movies just for fun.

Five Writer/Writing Business Relationship Types

1. Pride and Prejudice: Too Sweetly Perfect!

You are like Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, perfectly suited for one another. You have your strengths and your writing business has its strengths, and together you are the perfect combination. You feel motivated, excited, and eager for tomorrow, and if problems arise, you have faith that you’ll solve them together.

Key Characteristics:

• Strong partnership that regularly produces great products (books and related writing business items).
• Thriving relationship that gives both partners energy, motivating each to be at their best.
• Both sides give back—you to your writing business, and the writing business back to you (via positive feedback, reviews, income, and growth).

Couples Counseling: Keep doing what you’re doing and enjoy the ride! It may also be wise to establish some checkpoints to make sure you both continue to thrive.

2. Titanic: Sweet but Doomed Because One of You Is Dying for the Other

If you have a Titanic relationship, you know it, because one of you is dying. Maybe it’s the writer. Her books are doing well, but she is exhausted, burned out, and ready to quit. Or perhaps it’s the writing business. Subscribers are down, reviews aren’t good, money is near nonexistent, and it feels like a deep dark hole. The iceberg is looming, and the ship is headed right for it.

Key Characteristics:

• The partnership is unbalanced—one of you is giving too much and the other is taking too much without giving back.
• One of you is exhausted and running on fumes while the other keeps demanding: give give give!
• A sense of doom surrounds you, and you wonder if you are cut out for this writing thing.

Couples Counseling: Step back and assess. Which of you is giving too much? Usually, it’s the writer. You’re slaving away to the point of exhaustion, but your business isn’t giving back. You’re not getting the rewards you hoped for, whether that be money, positive feedback, recognition, or an expanding readership.

If you’d like to earn more money, stop doing anything that is not earning money and regroup. Educate yourself on how to earn money as a writer, then restart your efforts incorporating that learning.

If you’d like to grow your readership, stop everything you’re doing that’s not working. Educate yourself on how to do that, then start again.

The point is to clearly identify the issue so you can direct more of your time and energy toward those things that will bring you the rewards you crave.

3. Alien: You Started Out Curious but Now You Want to Run and Hide

Things were great in the beginning. You were writing and building your business and feeling wonderful. But then you submitted your book and were rejected, or you published your book to poor sales or lackluster reviews. You thought this partnership was going to be great, but now you’re having a hard time looking (Dolores) in the eye.

Key Characteristics:

• The partnership is on a tenuous footing. Things haven’t gone like you wanted them to and you’re thinking of getting out.
• You feel overwhelmed at the prospect of trying to figure out how to kill the monster that’s tearing everything up.
• You’ve read books and taken workshops, but self-doubt is consuming you. You’re not sure you’ll get out of this alive.

Couples Counseling: Take a deep breath and realize that every partnership goes through dark times. Failure is part of the deal. Try to relax, take a break, then try again. Few succeed their first time out—be compassionate with yourself, reconnect with “why” you’re writing, and believe in your talent and ability to improve.

4. Harry Potter: You Can Do Magic but There’s an Unknown Problem That Will Not Be Named

You love the writing, and people love your writing! Those who read your stories have nothing but wonderful things to say, and you know this is where you’re meant to be. Why then, aren’t your stories selling? Why can’t you grow your subscriber list? What demon is in the shadows obstructing your hero’s journey?

Key Characteristics:

• Some parts of the partnership feel magical—they keep you motivated and excited.
• But something is still not working right and you’re not sure what.
• Because you’re lacking some true markers of success (lots of readers, high sales numbers), you question whether you’re just deluding yourself that writing can create a viable future for you.

Couples Counseling: If you’re doing everything you should be doing—updating your website, creating an attractive freebie for your subscribers, getting yourself out there on social media and podcast interviews—and you’re still not reaching the goals you’ve set for yourself, reach out to a mentor. A fresh set of eyes can often see more clearly what needs to change to root out this unnamed demon!

5. ET: Everything Was Exciting but Then the Alien Went Home and Now You’re Bored

You got that three-book deal, or your series of romance novels are selling well. The reader feedback is good, the money is coming in, and the two of you are on your way! But there’s one big problem: you’re bored. What you’re doing no longer excites you. Your creativity waddled onto the spaceship and left. Your writing business partner wants you to keep it up because, um, success! But you don’t know if you can muster the motivation.

Key Characteristics:

• By all indications, the business is going well, but the writer is not excited about it anymore.
• The writer may feel guilt or remorse for her feelings—she should be happy for the success she’s experiencing.
• The writer is starting to see writing and everything related to it as a chore.

Couples Counseling: It’s time to go looking for another alien—or at least a way to make writing fun again. If you’re locked into a publishing contract, maybe you can work on something new on the side. If the business tasks are dragging you down, perhaps you could hire an assistant. No matter what, you have to find a way to infuse excitement back into this partnership or it’s likely to eventually dissolve.

What Story Describes Your Relationship?

I hope these examples gave you some ideas for how you might describe your writing business relationship. I’ve found that using your imagination to look at it creatively can often reveal new insights about how to do things better. The more fun you can have with it, the more ideas will come to mind.

Note: Colleen offers coaching on breaking through stuck spots and balancing writing with life. Get your FREE report: The Secret to Powerful Writing: Embracing Your Shadows.

COLLEEN M. STORY - Resident Writing Coach

Colleen M. Story is a novelist, freelance writer, writing coach, and speaker with over 20 years in the creative writing industry. In addition to writing several award-winning novels, Colleen’s series of popular success guides, Your Writing Matters, Writer Get Noticed! and Overwhelmed Writer Rescue, have all been recognized for their distinction.

Colleen offers personalized coaching plans tailored to meet your needs, and frequently serves as a workshop leader and motivational speaker, where she helps attendees remove mental and emotional blocks and tap into their unique creative powers. Find out more about our RWC team here and connect with Colleen below. Free chapters | Master Writer Mindset

The post How to Identify Your Writing Business Relationship Type appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Every author starts out as a hobbyist. We write as kids, for fun. As we get older, we write when we have free time or the fit takes us. For many, that’s as far as it goes, and there’s value in that.

But for others, over time, our writing passion grows. Chances are, if you’re reading this blog, you’re looking to take the next step and become a professional author. Here are 8 changes you should make, in no certain order, to level up your writing to pro status.

1. Make Writing a Priority

This one is kind of a no-brainer, but it’s hard to do because we have other responsibilities and activities that are important. Paying the bills (working a day job). Parenting. Developing friendships. Bingeing Stranger Things for the third (fourth?) time.

Life is busy, full of non-negotiable duties and fun stuff that steal our time. But the truth is, we make time for what’s important to us.

Pros prioritize writing. This requires a reshuffling of our To Do list. It may mean jettisoning some things completely. Because only when writing is a priority will it get the time and attention needed to take you to the next level.

2. Practice Patience

The fact that you’re reading this post shows that you recognize the importance of honing your craft and acquiring new skills. Research, learning, application…these all take time.

But once you decide to pursue writing as a career, there’s a natural temptation to escalate the process. After all, this isn’t like other jobs; no one’s monitoring your progress and deciding when you can take the next step. There’s no hierarchical ladder that must be climbed. It’s just you, your computer, and the Publish button.

Patience is a defining characteristic of professionals because they recognize that becoming really good at something doesn’t happen over night. They know that positioning themselves for success takes time. So don’t just focus on the end result of publishing the book or hitting a certain sales milestone. Dedicate yourself to growth and improvement. Respect the journey, and resist the urge to skip steps along the way.

3. Seek Out Criticism (and Be Able to Take It)

I’ve got an eighth-grade son who loves music. He plays multiple instruments but is focused mostly now on the bass clarinet. Recently, he entered a Solo and Ensemble competition, where students perform a piece of music for a professional adjudicator and are given a grade of Superior, Excellent, Good, etc.

I sat in on his performance and was able to listen to the judge’s feedback. I thought Dominic had done very well, so I was surprised to hear the judge offer so much criticism. I kind of wanted to punch her.

Walking out, I said to D that he’d unfortunately pulled a tough judge, and we would just hope for the best. I got my second surprise of the day when my son said he was happy to have gotten this adjudicator because her helpful feedback was going to make him a better player.

Sure, the score mattered (he got a Superior, by the way), but D recognized that if he wanted to become a premier player, he needed to improve his areas of weakness. And he couldn’t see what those weaknesses were. None of us really can. It takes other people to point them out.

If you want to become better as an author, you have to get helpful feedback. Critique partners and beta readers, writing coaches and editors—there are so many knowledgeable people in the industry who can help with this. But they won’t come to you. To become a superior writer, you’ve got to seek them out and be willing to take their feedback.

4. Become a Perpetual Learner

Becoming a pro takes time because there’s always more to learn. New writing methods and techniques, emerging technologies and software (A.I., anyone?). Marketing, bookkeeping, business strategies . . . Pros know that writing, as a career, is always in flux. If you go into it with the mindset of a lifelong learner, you’ll be able to adjust and won’t get steamrolled when things change.

5. Approach Writing as a Business

This is one of the toughest mindset shifts to make because we love the writing so much. We have this image of ourselves as successful authors, sitting in our office typing or scribbling away day after day. And while I would argue that writing is the most important thing, there’s so much more to becoming a pro.

To get there, we have to view writing as a business. Yes, success requires researching and drafting and revising. But it’s also setting up a bank account and ordering checks, filing annual taxes, building a brand, marketing our products, hiring people to do the things we can’t or don’t want to do, creating and maintaining a website, figuring out which distributors to use to sell your books and familiarizing yourself with their platforms…

Oi.

It can be overwhelming because we don’t want to do all that stuff. We. Just. Want. To. Write. Can’t we just write?

Well . . . no. Professional writers do plenty of writing, but they’re also building a business. And all the other stuff is part of that.

This goes back to #4. Broaden your mind and accept this fact: to be a professional, you will have to learn all the things. You don’t have to become an expert; just look at me doing Angela’s and my finances (/shrieks). It’s not easy. It’s definitely not natural, and sometimes it’s not pretty, but I do it because it has to be done. Embrace the lifelong journey of learning these tasks (or learning to outsource them), and you’re on your way to being a pro.

6. Learn to Set (and Meet) Deadlines

Have you heard the (very uplifting) saying that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions? Well, so is the road to becoming a professional author. Intentions won’t get you there. Once we prioritize our writing, we have to set goals. And goals need deadlines because without them, it’s easy to get sidetracked. Setting reasonable timelines for your objectives (and sticking to them) will increase your efficiency and help you get more done in less time.

This tip may seem obvious, because many writers are used to setting goals and deadlines for their writing (1,000 words per day, 3 day per week, complete the first draft in 6 months, etc.). But deadlines can also streamline other parts of the process to keep you on a professional track.

Continuing Development

• Read 2 craft books this year
• Attend a conference next spring
• Take a course on story structure

Planning a Novel

• Limit planning and researching to 3 months
• Schedule an interview with XYZ expert before January 10th

Publishing

• Query 2 agents each week in the month of August
• Research formatters and hire one (3 weeks total)

Business

• Set up a corporation or other business by the end of Q2
• Find software or a service to track book sales (February)
• Create a storefront at your site for direct sales (2024)

Marketing

• Draft the back cover copy this week
• Decide on a launch event for the next book (summer of 2024)
• Experiment with Amazon keywords in April and July
• Approach 4 podcasters about being a guest on their show (3 months prior to launch)

Setting deadlines for our objectives is crucial. Need help with the goals themselves? We’ve got some posts for you on Writing a Business Plan and Creating a Publication Deadline for Your Next Book.

7. Value Collaboration Over Competition

I don’t know why this is, but we tend to view other people in our space as rivals. We have to be better than them, outdo them, and—Heaven forbid—don’t help them because they’re our competition!

But professional writers realize they don’t corner the market on talent and savvy. The people in their industry who are killing it? Pros want to work with them instead of against them. So pros seek to share knowledge, funnel customers to other writers’ helpful resources, offer to help with someone else’s book launch, promote their course, etc.

Why? Well, because it’s nice to help our fellow humans, and kindness has a pretty good ROI.

But pros also know they have a lot to learn (again, with Point #4—I’m seeing a pattern here). Partnering with the people who have done all the things and are doing them well can shorten their own learning curve. They also know that while they could do the job alone, it’s easier, more efficient, and typically more enjoyable to do it with others.

8. Build Resiliency

Look, those of us who’ve been writing any amount of time know it’s a tough gig. Feedback from critique partners and editors is never what we want it to be. Rejections are more common than acceptances. We get stuck creatively. Other people are writing up a storm or improving by leaps and bounds, and we feel like we’ll never be any good . . .

Sometimes professional writing feels like a middle-school dodgeball game. You’re just getting hammered.

When you get knocked down—by discouragement, industry changes, the jerky internal editor, whatever—keep getting up. Call a writing buddy to commiserate, then get back to work. Take your dog for a walk, then get back to work. Get some coffee, a pink drink, or a jumbo-sized bag of chocolate, then get back to work.

Because even though you haven’t achieved your goals yet, you’re a pro now. And pros are in it for the long haul.

BECCA PUGLISI

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post 8 Steps from Amateur to Pro Writer appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Valentine’s Day is coming, and people have big feelings about it. On one hand, it’s nice to have a set day to celebrate loved ones, but on the other, pressure to buy overpriced chocolates and flowers to ‘show’ love can cast a shadow on things.

Me? I think gifts are nice to give and receive, but pressure shouldn’t be part of it. But on the subject of Valentine’s Day, I have a question for you:

When you’re showing others you care on V-Day, are you giving yourself some of that love, too?

Because you should. You deserve it. Think about how you put a ton of effort into others each day, being the best employee, partner, parent, dog walker, dinner-maker, errand-runner, etc. that you can. It’s who you are, and how you provide for others.

But doing so means there’s not much time for you, is there? And that’s my point, especially for writers.

Our reality is that we need to squeeze writing in around everything else, and after a long day, there’s not always a lot of gas left in the ‘ol mental tank. But we roll up our sleeves because we have books to write and careers to build.

It can be a heavy load.
We need to be kind to ourselves.

So, this Valentine’s Day, think about what you need. And be sure to give yourself these three important gifts:

1) The Gift of Grace

Are you becoming self-critical because you think your writing progress is too slow, you find it hard to manage all the things that come with this career, or right now, certain things are beyond your skill? Let that go. You aren’t a machine, just someone doing their best. Silence your internal critic who is saddling you with unreasonable expectations. Everything takes time to learn. You’re doing great and you’ve got this!

2) The Gift of Time

Because you usually put everyone else first, this Valentine’s Day, carve time out for you. Reflect on what is important to you, and what makes you happy. Put those things on the front burner, prioritizing them. Put your needs first.

If you want to be able to write guilt-free, take that time. If you need a break from duty and responsibility so you can do something for yourself, ask someone to step in and help. And while you’re investing in your mental health, consider what small changes will ensure there’s always time for you and what you need moving forward!

3) The Gift of Patience

Because life zips along at a breezy clip, we assume our writing career will too, but it doesn’t work that way. Learning to craft strong novels, understand the industry, build a platform, and become proficient at the business end of things all take time to accomplish.

It’s easy to forget this, especially when others are releasing books and furthering their goals. We feel a sense of urgency to keep up, and falsely believe that if we can’t, something’s wrong with us. Not true. This journey will look different for each of us. And, it’s not a race, so be patient with your progress. Remind yourself that when you rush, bad things can happen.

Remember, it’s okay to put yourself first!

This isn’t said enough, and it needs to be!

Many of us feel near-constant pressure to do ‘all the things’ and we try, but it comes at a cost. Neglecting our well-being for too long saps our energy and creativity, and we need both to further our writing goals. And if we start to feel we’re not making headway because we never have time or we’re too tired, doubt creeps in. We may start to worry we don’t have what it takes (and we do!)

This is why self-care is essential. When you invest in yourself, it reminds you that you have WORTH, that those goals of yours are valid and deserve your time and focus.

When you take care of your personal well-being, you feel confident and capable. You have energy for the road ahead. And that’s a win-win-win.

So, as we inch closer to February 14th, think about how you’ll celebrate yourself. Read a book, take yourself on a long walk, and treat yourself to guilt-free indulgence. You deserve it!

Speaking of Valentine’s Gifts…

Becca and I like to put something together for writers this time of year because we love this community and feel so lucky to be part of it. So if you have been eyeing a One Stop for Writers subscription, please use this 25% off code to save a bit.

SHOW-DON’T-TELL THESAURUS DATABASE
CHARACTER BUILDER
CHARACTER ARC BLUEPRINT
TIMELINE TOOL
STORY & SCENE MAPS
WORLDBUILDING SURVEYS
IDEA GENERATOR
WORKSHEETS & TEMPLATES
THE STORYTELLER’S ROADMAP
All the story support you need to write fantastic fiction, in one place.

To redeem this one-time 25% discount:

1) sign up or sign in
2) Go to Account >> My Subscription and choose any plan
3) Add & activate the VALENTINE code in the box provided
4) Enter your payment details, click the terms box, & hit subscribe

And that’s it. Our storyteller’s toolkit is now your storyteller’s toolkit!

If you are a current subscriber, add/activate this code on the My Subscription page. It will discount your next invoice. Offer ends February 17th, 2024.

What is your favorite type of self-care? Let us know in the comments!

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Why Writers Should Be Their Own Valentine This Year appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

I want to write a book.

You remember when this big idea first hit, right?

Maybe you were browsing for books, waiting for an author’s autograph, or sitting in awe after finishing a great novel. The idea took hold of you, and soon you found yourself buying notebooks, pens, and sticky notes. You browse online for writerly things—a cute laptop sticker or a mug that says, “Writer at Work.” And then when it arrives, you fill it with your favorite drink, sit down at your computer, and open up a new document. Because it’s SHOWTIME!

You place your hands on the keyboard, grinning like a clown-obsessed maniac. This is it—the magic is about to happen.

Onscreen, the cursor blinks. And blinks.

Boy, the page is so white. How did you not notice before? And that infernal flickering cursor… is it just you, or does it seem kind of judge-y?

And that’s when you realize your big idea has a second part to it:

I want to write a book…but I have no idea where to start.

Thankfully, this truth, while inconvenient, doesn’t have to stop any of us from writing. It may seem daunting at first, and doubts might try to sway us (What was I thinking? I can’t do this!), but I’m here to tell you that, yes, you can write a book.

7 Tips for How to Write a Book When You Have No Idea What You’re Doing

Not knowing where to start is a problem countless writers before us have faced and figured out. So, if you are feeling a bit lost when it comes to your big dream, these seven things can help you move forward and even better, jump start your writing career.

1. Write

Sure, this seems obvious, but starting can be paralyzing. We worry about committing our ideas to the page because what if they resemble some four-year-old’s Cheerios-and-glue “masterpiece”? Well, guess what? They might, and that’s okay. Great storytelling takes time, and if that didn’t put off Stephen King, Susanne Collins, or Nora Roberts, it shouldn’t stop us, either.

To begin, think about your Big Story Idea. Jot down your ideas, or try outlining the story you envision using one of these methods or this outlining software. Or start with something small, like one scene. At the beginning of a writing journey our goal should be getting comfortable with putting words on the page and having fun, not pressuring ourselves into penning the next Game of Thrones.

2. Read Widely

Reading is so enjoyable we tend to forget how each story is a treasure trove of education on what makes a book good, bad, or off-the-charts great. So read widely, thinking about what makes each story compelling. Look for characters that stand out, story worlds that seem so real you feel part of them, and plots that keep you flipping pages long into the night. Ask yourself questions:

• What made certain characters larger than life?
• Did their personalities, complex motives, or a truth they live by pull you to them?
• What scenes and situations seemed the most real to you?

Studying where you fell under the storyteller’s spell can help you see how you can do the same for your readers.

3. Join a Writing Group

One of the best things you can do at the start of this journey is find others on the writer’s path. A community of writers puts you in touch with those who have the same goal, meaning you can learn from and support one another. Plus, having creatives in your circle helps to keep you accountable, meaning your butt stays in the chair and words get written.

4. Collect a War Chest of Knowledge

We all start with some talent and skill, but to write well we need to train up. Visit Amazon to find writing books with high reviews so you can judge which might be most helpful for your development. Make note of the title or ISBN and order them at your favorite bookstore.

Another way to build your knowledge is by subscribing to helpful writing blogs. Bite-sized learning can be perfect for a time-crunched writer. I recommend exploring all the resources on this page, studying up on character building, story structure, worldbuilding, and everything in between.

Getting to know who the people in our stories are and what makes them tick helps us understand what’s motivating them, and that makes writing their actions and behavior easier. To dive deep into who a character is so you can write them with authority, this tool will help.

5. Take a Course or Workshop

Investing in guided or self-guided learning can also kickstart your progress. The community is packed with great teachers. Below are some good options, but first, if you belong to a writing organization, check to see if they offer members classes for free or at a discount.

• Reedsy Learning Center
• Bang2Write Courses
• Lawson Writer’s Academy
• Jami Gold Workshops
• Jerry Jenkins
• Writing for Life Workshops
• Michael Hauge (Hero’s Two Journeys)

6. Look For Step-by-Step Help

As any writer will tell you, the road from an idea to a publish-ready novel is a long one, and it’s easy to get lost along the way. It’s no fun when we don’t know what to write next, or we don’t know how to solve a problem in the story. And, if we get too frustrated or our writing stalls for too long, we might end up quitting. Having an expert offer guidance as you write can keep you on track.

Some writers like to partner with a writing coach so they get personal feedback and support as they go. If this is something you might like, here’s a list to start with. A benefit is that you’ll learn a lot about writing as you go, but depending on how long you need coaching for it can get a bit costly. So another option might be the Storyteller’s Roadmap at One Stop for Writers. This roadmap breaks the novel-writing process into three parts: planning, writing, and revising. It has step-by-step instructions on what to do as you go, and points you to tools, resources, and articles that will make the job easier.

The Storyteller’s Roadmap also has built-in solutions for the most common writing problems, so whether you need to overcome Writer’s Block, Impostor’s Syndrome, or stop new ideas from derailing your story, the Code Red section keeps you on track.

7.  Above All Else, Be Fearless

Starting a book can seem like a monumental undertaking, and sometimes with big dreams, we have the tendency to try and talk ourselves out of them. We fear failing, because we think that’s worse than never trying at all. If you feel the passion to write, don’t let fear stop you. The world needs great stories!

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post How to Write Your First Book appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Is it just me or did the month of January fly by? Seems like I was just putting away Christmas decorations and gearing up for the new year.

January’s always a busy time for Angela and me because it’s when we do our annual planning—figuring out what our goals should be and how we should allocate our time. Staying organized is more important than ever because we’re closing in on 16 years of blogging (crazy!), and things are a little busier and more complex at Writers Helping Writers than they were in 2008. So carefully planning our time is key to us staying sane.

But we still find ourselves looking back sometimes at the things we did when we were first starting out—fun launch events and opportunities that had to be set aside as our responsibilities grew and our time got squeezed.

One thing we miss is being able to answer your questions about writing and the business side of things. Angela and I have been studying writing craft and managing the business end for some time now, so if we have knowledge that can help you, we want to share it. To this end…

We’re bringing back our Q&A!

For now, we’ll include the Q & A in our Master Storytelling newsletter (see the latest edition here), and this means we need your questions!

So, is there something you’re struggling with and need help understanding? Or do you have a question about us personally? If so, let us know. To get your brain churning, here are some topics and questions:

Writing Craft and Various Aspects of Storytelling

How do I figure out my character’s wounding event?
What’s the difference between a change arc and a failed arc?
What tips do you have for showing instead of telling?
How do I identify my story’s theme?
How much description should I include when I’m describing my setting?
What nonfiction writing craft books would you recommend?
What story structure model do you like to use, and why?

The Business of Writing

I have a full-time job; how do I make time for writing?
Should I create a business plan, and how do I do it?
I’m attending a conference this summer. Any tips on maximizing that experience?
What are some ways I can use my writing skills to make money on the side?
How can I use A.I. to save time and maximize my efficiency as a writer?
What’s a mistake you and Angela made on the business side of things, and what would you do differently?

Publishing

Should I self-publish or go with a traditional publisher? What are the differences?
Do I need an agent?
How do I know my book is ready for submission?
How do I find a critique group?
How do I know what feedback to incorporate into my story and what to ignore?
How do I tell a legitimate publisher from a vanity press?
Do I have to hire an editor?
When should I copyright my work?
Can you recommend a formatter/cover designer/proofreader/etc.?
Why did you and Angela decide to self-publish your books?

Book Marketing

How do I gain visibility for my books?
Should I go wide or narrow?
How do I find my ideal reading audience?
What should I write about in my reader-focused newsletter?
What marketing strategies have worked the best for you and Angela?

Our Books, Resources, and Services

What’s the difference between your books and One Stop for Writers?
Which of your books should I buy for a friend who’s a beginning writer?
How do I use the Reverse Backstory Tool in Appendix A of The Negative Trait Thesaurus?
I just found your Goal, Motivation, Conflict, & Stakes tracking resource. How do I figure out why they want to achieve their goal?
Will you be turning the Fear Thesaurus into a book?
What was your favorite book to write?

Getting to Know Becca and Angela…

(because all work and no play turns you into this guy).

How do you collaborate on books – what does that look like?
What are your biggest struggles as authors?
Do you have a pet, and can you share a picture of them?
When was the last time you were embarrassed?
How did the two of you meet?
What have you learned about yourselves from writing your series?
Pineapple on pizza: yes or no?

This is just a sampling of the kinds of questions you could ask. Basically, we’re happy to answer anything writing- and career-related that you need help with and share a bit about our personal side, too. (If you have a question about your specific story, we won’t be able to answer those as we’d require a lot of specific knowledge about your project.)

If you’d like to submit a question, please use this form. You can enter up to 3 questions at a time; if you have more than that, just click the link and start a new submission. The more questions the better!

We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

BECCA PUGLISI

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post What Are Your Questions about Writing & the Business Side of Being an Author? appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Ah, the euphoria of holding one’s own book. Nothing compares, does it? In that moment, the months (or years) of writing, revising, editing, polishing, and finally publishing are in the rear view mirror. All we know is the joy of seeing our hard work compressed into pages and fitted with a stunning cover.
We dream of happy readers, bestseller lists, and maybe even awards. And we can have these things…if we haven’t broken the cardinal rule of publishing.

As someone who studies storytelling from all angles, I can spot quickly when the cardinal rule has been broken, and every time, it guts me. Each book starts with untapped potential, ripe with the imagination of its creator, ready to bring something new and fresh to readers. But this one rule, when it’s broken, limits a book’s potential, keeping it from being all it can be.

So, what is this cardinal rule that stands above all others?

Don’t Rush

Stories take time to write, and even longer to refine, especially as we’re all developing writers. We each have strengths and weaknesses and are building our skills as we go. Sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know, and so may not be the best judge as to whether a story is ready to move forward.

And yet, I see writers rush toward publication, skipping some of the necessary steps to ensure their book is as strong as it can be. And unfortunately, it ends the same way – a book that wasn’t ready, and the author feeling disappointment and disillusionment when their novel fails to gain traction with readers.

Rushing Burns Bridges

With more books than people on the planet, readers have endless choices. So, the very best thing we can do is give them an amazing experience when they pick up our book, because when we do, they’ll be back for more. But if we rush and the quality isn’t there, readers notice. Not only is it unlikely they’ll stick with us as an author, but they may also leave poor reviews that dissuade others from taking a chance on our book, too.

Rushing also hurts if we’re on the hunt for an agent or publisher. If we submit something that’s clearly not ready, that’s the end of the road with that agent or editor. And what if they remember us and our rushed manuscript if we submit to them down the road…will they be less inclined to ask for sample pages?

Rushing Can Be Expensive

When we rush, we seek out editing before a story is ready for it, meaning costs go up as there’s more to fix. A reputable editor should let the writer know if the project is not ready before they get in too deep, but this is an ethical line that you can’t count on everyone to follow. And if a writer doesn’t carefully vet their editor, they might end up with someone who isn’t skilled enough to offer the level of help needed yet is happy to keep billing round after editing round.

Most of us must budget carefully when it comes to our writing, and editing costs that balloon can fill us with frustration and guilt and may cause us to question our choice of pursuing this path.

Rushing Can Open Us to Scams

All careers require time, effort, and training to become great at them. But unfortunately, we can forget this when it comes to writing. Maybe we think having an abundance of imagination and our creativity will carry us through, or a past career where we wrote a lot on the job makes us believe we can zip through the learning curve. Here’s the thing – imagination requires craft to apply it well, and writing and storytelling are two different skill sets. Believing there’s an easy route to publishing opens us to scams.

There are plenty of vanity publishers and other “assisted publishing” businesses that make big promises to do all the work the writer doesn’t want to do. Because their business model is to make money from writers, not the sale of books, they don’t care about the product. Writers end up shelling out huge dollars for something subpar and are often locked into contracts where they are required to also purchase a large quantity of their books themselves.

Rushing Can Damage Self-Esteem

When we query or self-publish before we’re ready, the results won’t be what we hoped for, and this can cause us to feel inadequate. When our self-belief plummets, it can steal our energy and make it harder for us to pivot or rebound from mistakes and failures. And even when we write great books, mistakes and failures come with the territory, so we need to learn how to process these moments and learn from them.

If we’re always beating ourselves up for every misstep, we’ll eventually decide we aren’t cut out for this career. And we are! Each of us is capable of learning what we need to know to write amazing stories and steer ourselves toward a fulfilling career.

Bottom line: there is no easy button when it comes to a quality book and successful career. Prepare to work hard and open yourself to learning all you can.

Pressure to rush is something we all understand
but must resist.

When other writers are pounding out stories and getting them out into the world, we think we need to be doing the same, forgetting that we’re all in different stages of development, and each journey to publication will be unique.

When we give ourselves the space and time to write the strongest story we can, it may take longer, but our chances of pleasing readers will go way up. And we grow through the process, gaining new knowledge and refining our abilities, which will help us become masterful storytellers.

So, embrace the learning curve and enjoy the journey! It’s there to help, not stand in your way.

Help for Anti-Rushers:

How to Write a Book From Start to Finish in 13 Steps
Self-Editing Your Own Writing
Story Feedback: Free and Paid Options
Critique Etiquette: The Ultimate Guide for Giving and Receiving Feedback
When Am I Ready for Professional Editing?
Best Practices for Working with a Professional Editor
How to Navigate Editorial Feedback and Revise Your WIP

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post The One Rule No Writer Should Break appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.