When we recognize and appreciate our assets, we transform our thinking. Instead of seeing needs and deficiencies, we see gifts and strengths. We transform negatives into positives. We see our cup as half-full. —Luther Snow (The Power of Asset Mapping by Luther Snow, p. 46)  Ten years ago, I had the privilege of editing Luther...Read More

Dear Writers, How did the reckoning go? I hope you were able to discern what brought you joy! (If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can read about it here. ) Today we continue our journey toward the New Year by paying attention to our curiosity. If you want even more help...Read More

Dear Writers, Over the next weeks, we’re going to dream, plan and prepare for next year. We’ll consider what we’ve been up to in 2013, imagine what might be fun to create in 2014, and then make plans for the year. We’ll also review and update our social media profiles so that we can be...Read More

Note From Rochelle Dear Writers, I have a favor to ask of you: if these tips have been helpful to you, please take a moment to nominate the blog (https://writenowcoach.com) for the Write to Done Top 10 Blogs contest. Thank you! Happy writing, Rochelle, the Write Now! Coach   Are You Stifling Your Creativity? By Rochelle Melander...Read More

The past is never dead. It’s not even past. —William Faulkner Before you freak out and say—“What, I’m doing National Novel Writing Month! I have thousands of words to write, why would I rewrite any one of them!”—notice that I did not say revise. Do not review a scene and revise what you have written...Read More

I’m not talking about running or practicing yoga, though exercise and other repetitive tasks (folding towels or knitting) can help you overcome writer’s block. I’m talking about using one of those books of writing exercises you bought for a class or at a writing conference and never looked at. As a nearly full-time professional writer,...Read More

Every November thousands of otherwise normal people give up their spare time and write a 50,000-word novel in a month. The challenge is called National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo for short. Some participants are published writers who do this every day on their own but appreciate the camaraderie. Others are new writers who hope their...Read More

Dear Writers, It’s time to plan for National Novel Writing Month, and I can help! Tomorrow at the Write Now! Mastermind class, I’ll be talking to Angela Ackerman about building great characters. If you’re not signed up yet, you can do so here. If you need even more help, check out Angela Ackerman’s post Building...Read More

How does a novelist remember all those details about character and plot? I’ve been working with a teenaged client who’s writing an epic tale. He predicts the story will take seven books to tell. And, of course, with that much story, he’s also got a complicated plot, multiple characters, and a variety of settings. At...Read More

Note From Rochelle Dear Writers, I just looked at the calendar and realized that National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) starts three weeks from Friday. Yikes! That means, it’s time to start planning! If you’re thinking about joining the NaNoWriMo mayhem, then keep reading these tips. Every Tuesday from now until November, I’ll be sharing writing exercises...Read More