How do you start your memoir?
Some people just start telling stories from their life.
That’s one way. But it’s shortsighted.
A memoir, like all books, requires a strong idea—a thesis—that governs the book. It also requires idea development before you even begin writing....
“Is my idea any good?” “Is this idea good enough for a book?”
At the heart of the creative journey is a good idea. And we all want to know if our idea is good enough for a book. But we have a fear that our idea might not be. That our idea is unpublishable. So, how do you...
“Should I find a writing coach? Do I need a coach?”
It depends. Are you stuck on your thesis? Do you struggle with structuring your book? Do your thoughts lack clarity or depth?
If you’re struggling in your writing journey—and haven’t found the answers online or in...
You may never have considered how curiosity makes your writing memorable. If you haven't, are you curious to know how?
Recently, Dave and I chatted about curiosity. We both self-identify as curious people. And we both have thoughts about how we developed the ability to ask meaningful questions....
Mornings and I mix as well as homework and the weekend. The two are simply incompatible.
That's why I rarely write in the morning (though, ironically, it's morning, and I'm writing this before the hustle of the day distracts me!). Thankfully, there's no one perfect time to...
There are a thousand clichés about how to take the first step of a long journey.
But they all have one thing in common: you have to start. In this episode, we offer up a series of tips on how to start writing a book, including fighting through and overcoming the so-called imposter...
By Dave Goetz and Melissa Parks
Who am I to write a book? If you've ever asked yourself that question, then this episode is for you! Dave and I offer practical ways to overcome your writing self doubt.
1. Recognize you'll likely always struggle with credibility.
...
By Dave Goetz and Melissa Parks
We want to pivot a bit and discuss how to spot and eliminate clichés as you write your book. Whoops, we need to eliminate "pivot" from this blog post!
A cliché is simply a word or phrase that has lost it power because of overuse. It's tired....
By Melissa Parks and Dave Goetz
There's the book idea. But first there is the hard work of book proposals. To grab the attention of the editorial committee and the pub board, the proposal needs to stand out.
It's a craft.
Professional writer Caryn Rivadeneira learned the book proposal...
By Melissa Parks and Dave Goetz
What is the starting point for writing a book? Do you just sit down one day and start to write?
That's not a bad idea. At least you create a bit of momentum.
But there are some strategic activities to help you make more progress more quickly.
Here...
By Melissa Parks and Dave Goetz
When Amy Davies dedicated herself to writing A Spark in the Dark: Illuminating Your Path to a Brilliant Career in a Reorg World, she carved out and honored writing time every day for three months. Yet, she couldn't figure out why her ideas...
By Melissa Parks and Dave Goetz
Making progress in any significant endeavor demands time, persistence, discipline, and even failure. Failure (or at least feeling like one) is often what leads to discouragement.
Just because you feel discouraged as a writer, however, does not mean you...
