Write Now Coach! Blog by Rochelle Melander

Several times a year, this post goes around Facebook: It’s National Book Week. The rules are: Grab the closest book to you. Go to page 56. Copy the 5th sentence as your status. Post these rules as part of your status. Over the years, I have interviewed many writers who... Read More

09 Aug 2011

Book Reviews, Writers Read, Writing Books

#WritersRead: Walking on Water by Rochelle Melander

In my late twenties, I discovered Madeleine L’Engle’s book, Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art. I’d been a fan of her Newbery Award-winning book A Wrinkle in Time since I was seven. In Walking on Water, I discovered the writer behind the book I had loved for so... Read More

08 Aug 2011

Book Reviews, Fiction Books

Book Event: Shame the Devil

Late last month I spoke with Debra Brenegan about writing historical fiction. Here is some of what she had to say about the process of writing and submitting her novel about Fanny Fern, Shame the Devil: Write Now! Coach: How did you escape the research-for-the-rest-of-my-life trap? Debra Brenegan: I think... Read More

04 Aug 2011

Book Reviews, Fiction Books, Writers Read

#WritersRead: Mysteries by Rochelle Melander

For years I pooh-poohed mystery novels, considering them inferior to literary fiction. Then I met my favorite writer, Madeleine L’Engle, who admitted to not only reading but loving mystery novels. She touted the genre for its ability to teach plot to the would-be fiction writer. Like a good student, I... Read More

03 Aug 2011

Journaling, Wednesday Writing Prompt

Wednesday Writing Prompt: Lost and Found by Rochelle Melander

In my neighborhood, folks put their unwanted stuff out by the curb. Because this is a college neighborhood, with students moving in and out, this happens pretty regularly in the summer. Last week, I came across this little Santa while walking the dog. Living in Wisconsin, I am not used... Read More

02 Aug 2011

Book Reviews, Writers Read, Writing Books

#WritersRead: On What I Talk About … by Rochelle Melander

For years, I imagined that authors were blessed with a humongous dose of inspiration that drove them to work hard and achieve great things. Now I know differently. Haruki Murakami is a Japanese novelist and runner. In his book, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Murakami says:... Read More

27 Jul 2011

Wednesday Writing Prompt

Wednesday Writing Prompt: Time Travel By Rochelle Melander

Choose an old object from your home. If you don’t have any, find a picture of an antique online. Imagine that when you touch the object, you are transported to its original time and place. *Where are you? *What happens? *How do you interact with the object? Write about it!... Read More

26 Jul 2011

Book Reviews, Writing Books

#WritersRead: On A Writer’s Notebook by Rochelle Melander

In college, I dreamed of becoming a professor. In the midst of doing an intensive semester-long independent study, one of my professors told me that scholars must possess a large capacity for boredom. For years, I’ve thought the same thing about writing. Often, the research for a particular article or... Read More