Oohs and Aahs for 10.5.24
The order-of-operations call plus links
When you’re doing something wildly creative, sometimes it helps to have an order of operations. Because here’s a thing that happens with writers…
You write a few different manuscripts, sometimes in wildly different genres.
You tinker.
You take classes.
You grow.
You revise.
Finally you feel ready to share them with an agent or an editor.
Then you freeze.
Suddenly it feels like the experimental phase is over and there’s only one right way to move forward.
(I would argue there’s always more than one way to do something, but you probably don’t care about that right now.)
This is when many of my coaching clients book a session. Sometimes it’s an hour over Zoom and we talk through the options together. Other times it’s a month-long series of emails, where I read through a bunch of manuscripts, ask questions, answer questions, and help you turn a pile of manuscripts into a plan. We figure out which agents to query, what manuscript to send out first, what genre to showcase on your website, how to position the rest of your work in your query letter, and how to find someone who is open to representing all the kinds of work you do.
Basically these writers are asking “What’s the best order of operations here?” (If anyone thinks of a more poetic way to say this, let me know!) I help them strategize and choose a path (not the path, but a path that feels good right now). We talk through what to do first, second, and third, and how you’ll know when to take each step. When our time together is over, my clients walk away with clarity and confidence.
Is this what you need right now?
This Week I’m…
Wishing I could just take walks and listen to this funny podcast all day 😂
Hoping I’ll see you at the Mental Health and Motherhood Conference on October 11th (There’s a replay if you can’t make it live!) 💛
Appreciating the thoughtful comments on this thread about why Substack is such a good fit for moms 👯♀️ (I think I might turn this into a full post!)
Sharing PlaySpark’s Go Fund Me in case you’re looking for a specific way to support Helene victims in North Carolina 💔
Wondering if you know when, how, and where you will vote? (Here’s how to make a plan!) 🗳
Nebula Notebook is a place to meet kindred spirits, get inspired, and learn how to find ease and joy in the creative process—even when life is bananas. 🍌🍌🍌
✏️ PS—The fastest way to grow as a writer is to book a manuscript critique or a creative coaching session with an expert. My clients get agents, sell books, and win awards. They also learn how to enjoy the creative process, so they can keep going when life gets hard. 👏
