Oohs and Aahs for 5.31.24

Overwhelmed and scattered? Me too.

Do you ever get so distracted by all the the things that could go wrong that you never start writing?

And when you finally decide to get serious and sit down to write, the blank page is way too overwhelming?

You can’t focus and have no idea how to create a character from scratch?

You get tired of staring at your screen and feel lost?

Then when you actually write something, you’re too scared to read what you’ve written?

Me too, friend. Me too.

Here’s what helps me:

• Starting small

• Having a plan

• Giving myself permission to make mistakes

• Letting the process feel unproductive

• Talking to friends who get it

• Building in gentle nudges and deadlines

Start Small Includes:

• A 32-page workbook with mini assignments designed to help you take action

• Access to a private Voxer room, so you can get to know other writers and cheer each other on all summer long (Starts 6/14.)

• Personal email checks-ins when you can ask me anything

• Gentle accountability and encouragement

• A juicy discount code for a manuscript critique in the fall, so we can get whatever you wrote over the summer submission ready! (If for some reason, I’m not the right editor for your book, I’ll recommend a few editors instead.)

Start Small is less about craft and mindset and more about taking action in tiny, sneaky ways, so writing a whole book doesn’t feel so overwhelming. It’s designed to help you make progress and get words down on the page. Treat the workbook like a checklist and you’ll have a solid draft done in three months. Then we can polish it together.

This is for anyone who says, “I want to write a book, but how do I get started?” or “I have an idea, but I can’t get myself to write anything down.” Totally new writers, illustrators who want to be writers, and experienced writers who want to experiment with a new genre are all welcome. A couple mini assignments might be more relevant to picture-book writers, but most will be a good fit for anyone. The workbook is designed to help anyone move from thinking about writing to actually writing.

I’ll be your personal writing cheerleader. Throughout the summer, I’ll email you to see how your writing is going. You can share where you’re at, and we’ll celebrate any small wins you’ve had along the way. If you’re struggling, I’ll also answer any questions you have and help you make a plan, so you can keep going. I won’t be reading any pages, but I will offer a juicy discount for a full manuscript critique in the fall.

When you’re done, you’ll have a draft completed, and you’ll be ready for a manuscript critique. You’ll also be part of a warm community of kindred spirits. You’ll be a writer!

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This Week I’m…

Sharing the childcare menu of my dreams on Coffee + Crumbs (It’s my first humor piece! Thanks for the inspo

Julie Vick

. ) ☕️

I’m also…

• Reading about this shopping travesty 🙄

• Playing around with this vibey Pinterest alternative (No ads yet!)🤩

• Watching these comedy queens’ refreshingly honest and relatable conversation 👑

• Editing a book of creative activities designed to help kids grieve💔

• Listening in on Elizabeth’s conversation about writing and caretaking ✏️

• Wishing I could go to this exhibit (When I was in college I wrote a paper on multiples in art, and I still think I should have made that my thesis instead of what I actually wrote about!)👩‍🎤

• Feeling certain there is good in the world 🪕

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If you enjoyed this post, please 💛 it so others can find it or share it with your favorite creative mothers.

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 find ease and joy in the creative process, so they can keep going when life gets hard.