by Rochelle Melander Purpose encouraged Martin Luther King, Jr., in his fight against injustice. In 1963, when Black people protested segregation in Birmingham, Alabama, they were often attacked by members of law enforcement. Baptist minister and Civil Rights Activist Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. participated in a Good Friday march, protested this brutal treatment...Read More

by Rochelle Melander I’m teaching art and writing at a local school. When I present an assignment, one of my second-grade students always says, “I can’t.” It doesn’t matter what we’re doing. Draw a circle. “I can’t.” Give that circle a face. “I can’t.” How about drawing hair on that head? “I can’t.” To encourage...Read More

by Rochelle Melander How do you write when you’re scared? You want to write, but you’re scared it won’t be good enough. Maybe examining your own thoughts seems like too much. Or your project is new and big and feels overwhelming. So you avoid writing. You get busy with other things. A week goes by....Read More

April 18, 2023       Note From Rochelle   Dear writers,   Accountability. It’s the best way I know to keep writing forward, especially when I’m working on a project that does not have a contract. If YOU need accountability, I have room for two or three more writers in the Writing Accountability Group....Read More

February 5, 2019   Note From Rochelle   Dear Writers, How are you doing with meeting your writing goals? If you are struggling to find the time and focus to write—don’t worry. I’ve got tools—loads of them. I’ll be presenting my 15 core practices for writing regularly at today’s workshop, Core Practices for Completing Writing...Read More

Welcome, readers! I met Bruce Elkin online (of course!) through a listserv we both belong to. I visited his website and read one of his ebooks, THRIVE! His insightful work on resilience and thriving in the midst of messiness got me thinking: I’d love to hear what Bruce has to say about writing and fear....Read More

Write-A-Thon: Celebrate NaPoWriMo by Rochelle Melander National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo) was founded by Maureen Thorson in 2003 and encourages participants to write a poem a day during the month of April. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate National Poetry Month! I’m a bit afraid of writing poetry. When I try to...Read More

Greetings, writers! I am delighted to welcome my friend and colleague Michelle Bersell. Michelle and I met several years ago at a writing conference. Recently, I heard Michelle speak on overcoming fear. I asked Michelle to share her thoughts with us as we approach the last third of our NaNoWriMo writing marathon! ARE YOUR FEARS...Read More