by Rochelle Melander “One of the things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now.” –Annie Dillard Over...Read More
by Rochelle Melander In April 1815, Mount Tambora in India erupted, causing catastrophic weather shifts. The ash directed sunlight away from earth and temperatures dropped. The summer of 1816 brought snow, frost, and ice. During that time, eighteen-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (later Mary Shelly) traveled to Lake Geneva with Percy Shelly, who would become her...Read More
by Rochelle Melander Last weekend, I went to the Milwaukee Marathon to cheer on a friend. As I walked to the race, the family and friends of faster runners made their way to their cars. I overheard them talking about the next best place to see their runner. I found a spot on the sidelines...Read More
by Rochelle Melander Identify a person’s strengths. Define outcomes that play to those strengths. Find a way to count, rate or rank those outcomes. And then let the person run. – Marcus Buckingham One of my teaching mentors gave me this advice about managing a challenging class, “Encourage and reward the positives. Even if they’re...Read More
by Rochelle Melander One hasn’t become a writer until one has distilled writing into a habit, and that habit has been forced into an obsession. Writing has to be an obsession. It has to be something as organic, physiological and psychological as speaking or sleeping or eating. – Niyi Osundare After coaching and teaching people...Read More
July 4, 2023 Note From Rochelle Dear writers, Hello, hello, and happy Fourth to those who celebrate. Today’s tip is an excerpt from my book, Level Up. I tend to be a workhorse—that’s what my thesis advisor called me—push right through. But that’s not the sanest or most productive approach. It helps to take time...Read More
October 11, 2022 Note From Rochelle Dear Writers, What’s stopping you from starting or finishing that writing project? Are you waiting until you: +know more? +have extra time? +feel less anxious? What if you could just jump in and write, no matter what you know or how you feel?...Read More
October 4, 2022 Note From Rochelle Dear Writers, This Saturday, I will be in Kenosha at the beautiful Blue House Books from 11-2 to sign copies of Mightier Than the Sword. If you’re in the area, please stop by. On Monday October 17, we begin the two-session workshop on Overcoming Procrastination...Read More
December 21. 2021 Note From Rochelle Dear Writers, In the New Year, I am offering two groups to help you get work done. The Writing Goddesses group gives you the opportunity to have your work read and commented on every other week by me and your colleagues. Our meetings give...Read More
Greetings! I’ve been talking about it for more than a year. And finally…here it is! I’m delighted to reveal the cover for my brand new book, Mightier Than The Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the World through Writing. ABOUT THE BOOK: Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the...Read More
