Tag: writing is life
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Am I taking too long?
When writers are struggling through their proposals, outlines, and manuscripts, they often ask me, “Am I taking too long?” or “How long should this take?” I’ve learned to not give the pat response “it depends,” but it really does depend on a number of factors. Try plotting out how your book will fit into your…
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What will it feel like to finish your first draft?
In publishing, we often create work-back schedules. Based on the day we want the book to be in the world, we map out how many months we’ll need for writing, editing, designing, printing. The writer knows when their manuscript is due, and they’re writing toward that date. But what if you don’t have a set…
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Line-of-Sight
Author author author, this is editor editor editor. In a recent maritime radio course, I learned about how radio waves travel from source to receiver. Before then I’d thought of radio waves just “existing in the air” but they do need to transmit from one point to another. Hills, cliffs, large trees, etc can impede…
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Four ways to boost your writing skills when you don’t have time (or willingness) to write
I don’t like going to the gym, but I love being active. At this time of year, my main “arms” exercise is carrying logs for my wood stove. You’d be surprised how even a focused burst of activity every two days can build muscle. Similarly, I don’t love sitting down to write for long stretches,…
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Is it better to write an outline first, or just write and figure out the structure later?
It’s often said there are two types of writers: plotters and pantsers. Plotters are those who write from an outline. Pantsers are those who write without an outline—they write by the seat of their pants. So, is one approach better than another? Nope. And can you use a mixture of both styles? You bet. I’m…
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How to find your writing mojo
Wuh-oh. You’ve fallen out of love with your writing. Call it boredom or block, it happens to every writer, regardless of experience. Here are 5 practical ways to find your writing mojo (again and again).
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Testimonial from a happy coaching client
“Amanda was highly recommended to me by one of her authors as the editor/book coach to hire to help me complete a book project I’d been working on for far too long and was starting to think I may never complete. Her enthusiasm, warmth, encouragement, and sense of humour are beyond inspiring. After only two sessions I…
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Sustainable writing practice
I spoke with a coaching client who wants to rebuild his writing practice. He’s in his early forties and hasn’t written much since his university days. His memory of writing in his twenties was that he tended to go to “dark places” and that it was hard to come back from them. His exploration of…