One of my school visit presentations is titled: The 7 Pieces of the Storytelling Puzzle. In it I talk to students about the seven pieces I think are necessary in putting together a solid story. Do you know what piece #1 is? The element that is more important than any other? Here are the clues I give the students to help them figure it out.

The answer? Time.

Just like any other skill, writing requires and investment of time. Want to be a fast swimmer? Gotta get in the pool. Want to improve your free throw shooting percentage? Better get on the court. Want to be a better writer? Then you need to spend some time getting words on the page.

But it’s more than that.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about the advice, “write what you know”. In it, I shared how I used my real life to create characters, conversations, and setting details. I explained how I was, for the first time in my life, able to use authentic details from my own life to essentially word vomit eight chapters of a new story onto the page. This week I’m going to walk you through an exercise that will step by step, help you to do the same.

I’m not making any promises, but I’ve run this writing workshop twice – once with both my local critique group (a part of the Mississippi Valley Writer’s Guild) and a second time with a group of talented writers at the North of 45 Writing Retreat – and both times participants found it yielded topics ideas and details they hadn’t previously considered fodder for stories. I am hopeful it can do the same for you!

Being an author is one of the biggest blessings in my life. I love that writing stories is my job, one I sometimes even get paid for. :) But I think I’d be kidding myself, and the rest of you, if I said it was easy all the time.

The fact of the matter is that writing can be difficult. Muses can be elusive. The publishing industry can be a cold-hearted, ghost of a boss. At times competitors seem to find the answer, the trend, the right connection, the words sooner and faster than you.

So today’s blog post is one of motivation. A little boost, to you and your writer’s soul. Hang in there. Keep writing. Tell your story. But first, pause, read these words of encouragement and know that you are not alone in your struggle and pursuits. I’m happy to ride the wave alongside you. Sometimes all you need is a little inspiration!

If you are a writer, you have undoubtedly heard the advice, “write what you know”. Honestly, I’ve always kind of dismissed it. My favorite genres to read and write have always been fantasy and adventure. My middle-class, Midwestern life didn’t’ really seem to match up with the stories I wanted to make up and tell. I could occasionally pull from a vacation location for setting details and mimic my students’ preteen language in my characters’ dialogue, but that didn’t really seem to truly encompass the advice to “write what you know”.

Last week when I started writing scene snippets for a story idea I had involving the relationship of four cousins living in La Crosse, Wisconsin, I think I finally understood. All of a sudden, a lifetime of experiences came rushing out of my head and onto the page. Summers at the cabin, phrases from text message threads, personalities of people I know, motherhood experiences, doctors’ office visits, even a stinky fish tank. I couldn’t get one scene fully fleshed out before another would come hurtling out of nowhere with blinding speed.

For the past two years writers, book lovers, fangirls, academics and general literature enthusiasts have gathered in Green Bay  for a wonderful event called UntitledTown. The fact that the festival name is wordplay itself (hinting to its shared roots as the home of famed hometown of the Green Bay Packers) will tell you just how much fun this event and the crowd of people it pulls really are.

This year was no exception. Below you will find a recap of ten takeaways from two author friends who hit the road with a trunk full of books and Diet Pepsi on Friday, and emerged on Sunday cheeks sore from smiling, hearts full of friendship and minds whirring with ideas and inspiration to put into practice.

Here are… Amanda and Christy’s Ten Take-Aways from UntitledTown 2019.

As a word nerd, I consume a LOT of paper. I prefer paperbacks to eBooks. I prefer bookstores to the library. I prefer to write longhand and then type my work, only to print it out, edit on paper and then repeat. I used to say that I WASTE a lot of paper, but in the past few years I’ve amended that mindset to confess that I USE a lot of paper. But this doesn’t change the fact that two loves of my life are in conflict. Books and our planet.

To celebrate Earth Day (week) I’ve gathered several facts (the good, the bad and the ugly) about the publishing and printing industry and paper. Hopefully, armed with these facts, we can make a can make environmentally conscious decisions when it comes to our work creation, book production and overall paper consumption.

For the last few weeks one of the largest fan bases in literature has been gearing up for a big event. The premier episode of the final season of Game of Thrones aired Sunday night. Pop culture hasn’t seen hype like this since Harry Potter. Perhaps this fantasy world’s success is propelled by Potter fans who have grown up and were looking for a new world to love? 7 books… 7 kingdoms? I’m sure that are many parallels one could draw between the two imaginary realms. Either way, the world of Westeros is a phenomenon of exceptional fame.

Even my husband, who neither reads fiction, nor watches actual TV shows outside of sports know of this series. I got a text of genuine awe from him last week sharing that his co-worker’s sister is a hairdresser on the HBO set and he got to see pictures of the queen. “Which queen?” I asked. But I’d already lost him.

This franchise boasts…

My writing friends and I have a problem and it might surprise you.

A lot of people think, that because we Midwesterners live in flyover country, far from the publishing headquarters and hot spots located on each coast… that there isn’t a lot for our home state for us to offer in the way of writing opportunities. But this spring, that simply isn’t true. In fact, my friends and I have so many great events we can be a part of in the upcoming months, that we are torn to choose between them.

Today I’m going to give you a peek at my calendar. All of the events I’ll be attending, and the ones I can’t, but wish I could. I hope that you’ll join me. Even if you are brand new to writing, take a serious look. Nothing rivals spending time with people who are interested in a shared hobby/passion/goal. One of these might be the event that catapults your writing journey in the right direction.

Sometimes you see something or read something and an idea just grabs ahold of you. It’s a wonderful experience, but it’s not always explainable. Just what is it about a concept or a story that makes it so appealing? For me, it is an experience I am starting to associate with the very beginnings of a story idea.

It is happening to me right now as I read the book The Lost City of the Monkey God, by Douglas Preston.

I purchased this book months ago at Barnes and Noble and it has patiently sat on my shelf since then. When I simultaneously finished reading Girl, Stop Apologizing and listening to Lost for Words I was left itching for something to read. 

The Lost City was in the rolling tote I drag around campus because I had used an excerpt from the first few pages as an example of excellent descriptive language. Last week on a whim I pulled it out and started reading. It didn’t take me long to become hooked.

A lot of people think that once a book is written, the work is done. Often times, especially if you are a self-published author, the work is just beginning. After the brainstorming and drafting, writing and revising, editing and publishing comes…

the selling.

There are only so many times you can say, buy my book! Even if you say it with batting eyelashes, “pretty please buy my book!?” gets old. But the fact of the matter is, you need to continue to get your book in front of your audience if you have any prayer of selling copies.

Don’t stress. I’m here to help.

I’ve come up with a list of 10 ways you can blog about your book. 10 ways you can talk about your book without appearing desperate to push your merchandise. Not only that, but 10 ways you can genuinely share solid content about your story, your process and your product that will engage, educate and entice your readers to care about you, your book and ultimately do what you were hoping they would do all along. BUY THE BOOK. Attached to each possible post I have linked an example. Some of the posts you may recognize from my site, while others come from a few of my author friends. If you see something you like, reach out the author and let them know! Offer a compliment, share a connection and maybe, if the spirit moves you, buy their book. Let’s start at the beginning of the process.

Last week at Target (@ 9am on a Tuesday – still one of my favorite parts about my new flexible-work lifestyle!) I bought this book. If you don’t live near a Target, or have the luxury of visiting it at 9 am on a Tuesday, it is also available on Amazon: HERE.

I didn’t think I needed it. After all, I am a pretty confident human being, a confident woman. I do not feel shame for chasing my dreams and choosing an unconventional working lifestyle. I have achieved my dream – leaving the practical and stable day job to pursue a career of my dreams. I set goals, both failing and achieving in equal measure, and (here’s the important part) I keep going.

I believe that my children, who are tugged along through a chaotic life filled with calendar items placed there by both of their parents’ dreams, will be better for it. I believe that seeing their parents hustle and dream and work and care deeply (not only for them, but also for ourselves and our dreams) will teach them more about life than if my husband and I were to fully devote ourselves only to their care and well-being.

So, I’ll say it again. I didn’t think I needed this book. But I kinda wanted it. It was early in the month and I still had fun money accessible, and so, like Ariana Grande says, “I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it.”  

And I was right. I didn’t need the book the way some people might…

February was an insane month for me. I presented and sold books at the Wisconsin State Reading Association Convention.  I launched a new book – a process that included a party, a public reading event,  a plethora of social media posts, a month of book launch dedicated blog entries, dozens of emails, an interview with the local newspaper and lots of thought, heart and energy. Both my son and husband had birthdays and the college baseball season started up again which impacts my household in a big way. I submitted an application to teach an online writing class this summer and visited Arcadia to lead the Mississippi Valley Gifted and Talented Network Young Author Day. Oh yeah, and I worked two part time jobs and helped keep two human children dressed appropriately, fed, bathed and otherwise alive.

A bored writer is a broke writer, but needless to say, I was silently looking forward to March, a decidedly slower month for me… at least according to my calendar. Now that I am here, solidly in the month of March, my head is still swiveling. Instead of bouncing from task to task, my gaze is casting about for the next thing to work on. What needs and deserves my attention?

In addition to the final story readers see on the page, there is often one that remains behind the scenes. The research, the muses, the deleted scenes. Today, I’m going to let you in on a few secrets, a few fun facts about my most recent book, Champion Chocolatier: Reality Bites.

I love awards shows, especially the movie shows. Sure, it’s fun to see the fashion, but really, for me, and probably many other creatives out there, it is the Super Bowl of the arts. I tear up at the dreams and goals achieved, am inspired by the passion with which the award winners speak and am hungry for the words they choose to share while standing in the light of their 60 second platform.

So today, for my blog post, I’ve gathered a few of my favorite quotes spoken during this year’s award season. I hope that these words inspire you to reach for your own dreams, to keep fighting the good fight and to know that your work, and your words, matter.

Happy dreaming. Happy writing.

Last week, with the help of many family members and friends (both online and in real life) I launched my book, Champion Chocolatier: Reality Bites. It was a week full of exciting surprises (my sister drove all the way from Marshfield for the launch party and the La Crosse Tribune wrote and article about me!) and a plethora of well wishes and affirmations. Overall, I’m happy to say it was a big success. (I’ve sold __ copies so far!) Here are a few of my favorite moments from the launch party.

Today I’m going to return the favor to some of my online writer friends (that I hope to meet in person one day!).

Visiting schools is one of my favorite parts of being an author. I love being able to share my passion for words with students as well as seeing their sparks of curiosity and imagination catch fire.

Last week at the Wisconsin State Reading Association Convention I had the privilege to meet and listen to Newbery Award winning Kwame Alexander talk about his experience with author visits, of which he’s done more than TWO THOUSAND. He even managed to squeak one in on his way to the convention.

A friend asked, “would you just ‘stop by’ on your way to the convention?” He landed in Milwaukee at 11:30 in the morning and was scheduled to present at the Wisconsin Center at 3:00 pm. He said he doesn’t do anything for free anymore but couldn’t resist. So, he did “just stop by” and in the process inspired 800 kids.

At the end of the presentation a student asked him, “How do you do it?”

“Do what?” Kwame asked.

“Act like you belong here. How do you do it?”

I am typically a visually-inspired writer. An Imax movie stimulated questions and ideas for my underwater novel Breaking the Surface. An image prompted an 80,000 word YA Fantasy manuscript that is still trying to find its way into the world. I use photos from Pinterest to help me describe everything from widow displays to character apparel to dessert. But my newest novella was inspired by something entirely different. Something I hadn’t sued as muse before…

REAL LIFE.

I met Jen Barney in the summer of 2017…

“Well written.”

 It’s a phrase that gets tossed around at critique sessions, book clubs and literature reviews, but as a friend at our writing club’s retreat last weekend asked…

What does “well written” actually mean?

She asked with some trepidation, like it was an insider secret she had yet to learn. And I don’t blame her. Often times the phrase “well written” comes with imagery of exclusivity and prestige as if only some people in the literary world are allowed to decide what qualifies.

Those of us at the retreat who had been in the writing (and reading) game for a bit longer knew exactly the type of writing she was talking about, but when it came time explain it, we paused, stumbled, started over again and then stopped.

For real. What does “well-written” truly mean?

A writer’s ultimate goal is to connect.

… with the reader

… with a topic

… with a place, era or event.

Many writers accomplish this goal of connecting, through the lives of their characters. The words on the page are ink made flesh and suddenly, through the characters’ actions, quirks, mannerisms, dreams, appearances and dialogue readers can connect. As the writers of this book state in the introduction: “We read to connect with characters who provide entertainment and whole trials may at meaning to our own life journeys.” But creating this connection is no easy feat.

The single best took I have found to help me in this endeavor is The Emotional Thesaurus, created by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi, the two brainiacs behind the website Writers Helping Writers. This book (as well as the others in the series) have been my number one recommended writing book for the past five years. I bring them to every writing retreat and my students can tell you they show up in class at least once a semester.

I recently had the honor of reviewing Angela and Becca’s newest release, The 2nd Edition of the The Emotional Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression. This edition even is bigger and better than the original. While reading, I experienced a full range of emotions myself. Let me recall them for you here and now.

Today on my blog I am going to give you a run down of my favorite books from the past year as well as a list of books I can’t wait to read in the year ahead. This is my second post of recommendations for the year. You can check out a few other titles I shared in my Summer Reading Round Up, here.

**Note, not all of the titles mentioned for 2018 were published in 2018. The same goes for my 2019 list. These books are listed because they are GREAT (or I anticipate them to be) and organized in this fashion based on when I discovered them.**

If you are a close friend or even someone I just happened to bump into at the Y, I apologize if you’ve already heard me profess my love for these books. If you’d like a quick recap of my favorites or are looking to add to your own list of books to read, read on…