By Rochelle Melander In my first grown-up job, I regularly worked 70 hours a week. But no matter how many hours I put in, it was never enough. My employers always wanted me to work more. I didn’t have time to cook, wash clothes, or clean the house let alone take care of myself. As...Read More

by Rochelle Melander When Charles Darwin published On the Origin of the Species in 1859, the library at Trinity College, Cambridge—where Darwin had attended college—banned his book immediately. In 2019, On the Origin of the Species was named the most influential banned book of all time. That’s an amazing legacy, considering Darwin came close to...Read More

by Rochelle Melander When I meet a new client, I ask them to tell me about their project and why it matters to them. When I know why they want to write a book or workshop, I know what motivates them to move forward. This helps us work together to figure out how they can...Read More

by Rochelle Melander Almost everyone I talk to wants to write more than they did last year. But how? You must do something differently. I’ve been staring at overstocked cupboards for years. Every January, I’m determined to clean them. Sometimes, I dust the cans and put them back. Mostly, I just think about how nice...Read More

September 26, 2023 Note From Rochelle Dear writers, You’ve got just a day or so to sign up for the writing accountability group. It’s a small group dedicated to helping you set writing goals and overcome the obstacles that typically get in the way. Previous members have credited the group with helping them develop the...Read More

by Rochelle Melander You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine. – John C. Maxwell At a conference, I heard a speaker instruct the audience to list their habitual tasks on their to-do lists so that they could experience...Read More

August 22, 2023 Note From Rochelle Dear writers, Have you purchased MockUp Shots yet? The tool puts my book in fun shots: on someone’s desk, in their hands, and more, making it look like my book is in the hands of real readers before it even came out. I have used it to create memes...Read More

August 1, 2023 Note From Rochelle Dear writers, I have a brand new class for you! In Write a Book, Change Your Life, we’ll examine how writing a book can change your life. From making you healthier (that’s true!) to helping you build and promote a business, writing a book can support you in many...Read More

The marathon lifestyle promotes doing rather than watching…by adopting the marathon lifestyle you can confront your own lions, be your own hero, fight your own battles, challenge yourself. —Richard Benyo When I got out of bed Monday morning, I felt like I’d run a marathon or something. My leg muscles were sore, and I could...Read More

June 27, 2023 Note From Rochelle Dear writers, Hello, hello and happy summer! I’ve just finished an editing project early (woot!) which means I have room for an editing project or two in July. Reply to this email if you need help sorting out your draft (developmental editing) or polishing your prose (copy editing).We’ll find...Read More