by Rochelle Melander You need novelty. Novelty activates the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine and boosting learning, memory and motivation. Most of us turn to social media to get our dopamine fix. But that’s not the best thing—as we now know, social media’s addictive. But new stuff—that’s gold for your brain. Novelty helps you adapt...Read More

by Rochelle Melander There’s no such thing as writer’s block. That was invented by people in California who couldn’t write.” -Terry Pratchett I don’t have time for writer’s block. Nearly every book I’ve written has been completed in less than six weeks thanks to publishing contracts with tight deadlines. Writing books fast with children and...Read More

by Rochelle Melander It’s St. Patrick’s Day, and many of us are celebrating by wearing green. (Although St. Patrick’s color was actually blue. The feast day became associated with green in the 18th century, when it was linked to Irish independence.) When Patrick was a teenager in Britain, he was captured by Irish Pirates and...Read More

by Rochelle Melander On our return trip from New Orleans, we spent five hours in Chicago. Not in the city. Not in the airport. On a plane. After the initial flight plan was canceled, we had to return to the gate for fuel. A passenger demanded to get off the plane, convinced she’d get a...Read More

by Rochelle Melander Though we’d love to think we can take a book from conception to publication all on our own, it actually takes a village to raise a book. An editor can be a helpful partner at many stages of the writing and publication process. Hire an editor when you get stuck. Many writers...Read More

by Rochelle Melander ”If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.” —Stephen King Writers read. Here’s why: +To understand the market. What are readers reading right now? Get connected to the books readers love and crave so that you can provide something readers will adore. +To...Read More

The 100-Day Project by Rochelle Melander With everything going on in the world, I’m struggling to focus and stay productive. For the last two years, I’ve written about the 100-day project. Last year I tried it—and wowza! For 100 days, I wrote poetry every morning. Sometimes the poetry became pieces of larger projects. Sometimes I...Read More

By Rochelle Melander In my first grown-up job, I regularly worked 70 hours a week. But no matter how many hours I put in, it was never enough. My employers always wanted me to work more. I didn’t have time to cook, wash clothes, or clean the house let alone take care of myself. As...Read More

by Rochelle Melander We all know about doom scrolling. Despite setting the intention to take time away from Facebook, I found ways to doomscroll. When I heard about hope questing, I liked the idea. Instead of scrolling to get updates on what’s falling apart, scroll with purpose. Connect online with friends. Check in with people...Read More

by Rochelle Melander Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go. —Hermann Hesse Multiple friends have told me it’s the year of the Fire Horse, an energetic and transformative year occurring once every 60 years. Really? Because my energy is stuck back with last year’s snake, soaking in...Read More