I started out my professional life as a parish pastor, but even then I knew that my vocation was writing. While earning two masters degrees, an MDiv and a Master of Sacred Theology in New Testament and Greek, I wrote and published academic articles. In my ten years of parish ministry, I published many articles...Read More

Today I am delighted to welcome author and fellow ASJA member, Kelly James-Enger, as my guest blogger. Kelly is the author of several books on writing including the brand new resource on freelance success, Writer For Hire. Comment on this blog or tweet about this post (include my Twitter handle @WriteNowCoach) by Sunday at midnight...Read More

In honor of National Picture Book Writing Week, today’s prompt uses a favorite picture book of mine: Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne. Several years ago, I attended the summer writing institute, sponsored by the Milwaukee Writing Project. Our teachers used this book to teach us about the use of voice and point of...Read More

Happy May Day! And congratulations to the winners of the latest Write Now! Coach contest. Valorie Grace Hallinan won a signed copy of Wild by Cheryl Strayed and Todd from Hell’s Kitchen won Fearless Confessions by Sue William Silverman. Congrats! Today begins the week-long celebration of National Picture Book Writing Week, when participants write 7...Read More

I met Boone Dryden several years ago at a National Novel Writing Workshop. Boone introduced me to WriteCamp Milwaukee, and I have been a fan ever since. This year, WriteCamp will be held on Saturday, May 19 at Mercy Hill Church (at The Hide House) from 9 AM to 6 PM. I’ll be there—and can’t...Read More

At 3, my son would shout Cinnamon Toast! whenever something went wrong. Cinnamon Toast was the perfect expletive—lots of syllables plus a hard consonant in the middle and end. For years, our family has worked on coming up with creative ways to express frustration and anger. Instead of relying on the traditional expletives, we’ve created...Read More

Six Ways to Make Your Memoir Memorable By Rochelle Melander I’m trying to tell you something about my life/Maybe give me insight between black and white —Emily Saliers, Closer to Fine I admit it: I’m a book junkie. I seek out books hoping for a fix—something that will help me face challenge, overcome crisis, and...Read More

Yesterday, while sitting in the chair at the hairdressers, I had plenty of time to contemplate the warning labels on her hair dryer and curling irons. Warning: Do not immerse in water. Warning: Do not leave plugged in. Warning: This product can burn you. Several years ago, I had the privilege to teach writing with...Read More

Have you ever dreamed of writing your life story? Maybe you have had a difficult experience you long to share with others. Or perhaps, you’ve done something remarkable that could help readers connect with their inner courage. This month, the Write Now! Mastermind class welcomes memoirist Sue William Silverman to talk about, How to Write...Read More

Loyal Mehnert, founder of The Everyday Journeyman, is cosponsoring tonight’s Boswell Book Company event at 7:00 PM with Cheryl Strayed, author of the bestselling new memoir, Wild. If you’re interested in having your own wild adventure to write about, you need to know about Loyal Mehnert and the work that he does. Here’s my interview...Read More