by Rochelle Melander Ninety years before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus, Sojourner Truth refused to get off a streetcar in Washington, D.C. In 1865, a conductor dislocated Truth’s arm when he tried to toss her off. Truth sued the District of Columbia and won. The conductor lost his job,...Read More

by Rochelle Melander I’m always looking for something to spark my creativity and help me think differently about writing. When I happened across the 100-day project this past week, I felt that little zing: perhaps this could be it. Perhaps this could be the thing that helps writers get out of a slump. Read on...Read More

by Rochelle Melander “Nothing is a mistake. There’s no win and no fail. There’s only make.” —Corita Kent On NPR’s Morning Edition, A Martínez interviewed members of The Groundlings, a Los Angeles-based improv and sketch comedy troupe. Michael Churven said this about the process, “You bomb so much, and your best teacher is your last...Read More

by Rochelle Melander “Choose less and feel better.” -Barry Schwartz Maybe it’s me. Maybe it’s the challenge of being a freelancer. Maybe it’s modern life. I have too many choices. From what to wear to what to write, I am overwhelmed by possibilities. I often don’t know what to work on now or next. I...Read More

by Rochelle Melander Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. – Vincent VanGogh I’ve got a house full of stuff. Some I collected, some I inherited, some my children left behind. It overwhelms me. When I think about decluttering, and I think about that a lot,...Read More

by Rochelle Melander How do you write when you’re scared? You want to write, but you’re scared it won’t be good enough. Maybe examining your own thoughts seems like too much. Or your project is new and big and feels overwhelming. So you avoid writing. You get busy with other things. A week goes by....Read More

by Rochelle Melander Almost everyone I talk to wants to write more than they did last year. But how? You must do something differently. I’ve been staring at overstocked cupboards for years. Every January, I’m determined to clean them. Sometimes, I dust the cans and put them back. Mostly, I just think about how nice...Read More

January 2, 2024 Note From Rochelle Dear writers, Many of you who filled out my survey mentioned an interest in being part of an accountability group! And I have just the thing for you. The Writing Accountability Group starts meeting in a few weeks—and we have four spots open. CLICK HERE to learn more. Today’s...Read More

by Rochelle Melander It takes courage…to endure the sharp pains of self-discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest of our lives. –Marianne Williamson At the end of a year or when we finish a big project, it can be helpful to look at what we’ve accomplished...Read More

December 12, 2023 Note From Rochelle Dear writers, Most of the groups I belong to have wrapped up for the year, including the Goddess group. I miss them. These groups have helped me to stay focused, write more, and stay encouraged. If you’ve been feeling lonely and discouraged about writing, consider joining the Writing Accountability...Read More