Last week, I had the honor of being featured on Author Accelerator’s YouTube Channel in a their series called Book Coach Chats: Success Stories with Jennie Nash. During the interview, I talked about how I got derailed from my dream career in my twenties, my 35-year career as a paralegal, and my long and winding … Read More
Why You Have to Keep Going
Something happened to me this week that drove home to me how subjective the publishing industry is. I want to share it with you, writers, because I want to remind you that, when you know your work is ready, but it is rejected, it doesn’t mean it isn’t good enough. It often means nothing more … Read More
A Podcast for Every Writer
You get a podcast, and you get a podcast, and you get a podcast! Are you an emerging writer just learning your craft? A writer ready to query agents with your completed novel? A voracious reader who loves a deep craft dive into books? A screenwriter? A would-be full-time novelist who’s currently doing whatever it … Read More
What I’ve Been up to & Special Offers
Photo: Leanne in a remote book coaching session. Dear Writers, I can hardly believe it, but I’ve been blogging here for 18 months, and this is my 70th post. Today, I want to do something a little different. I want to talk to you about why I love being a book coach and editor. I … Read More
Introducing Juliet McDaniel
Photograph of Juliet McDaniel by Dianna Gonzalez. I recently shared the news my fiction manuscript was selected as the Book Winner in Launch Pad’s 6th Annual Prose Writing Competition. But, as if that wasn’t so much more than enough, I was also picked as one of three Mentorship Prize Winners. What does that mean? It … Read More
6 Things Tom Petty Taught Me about the Writing Life
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have more than one tune on the soundtrack to my life and probably yours, too. Their songs have motivated me to be stronger and tougher, not to take any guff, and to go after the things I want in life. Here are some of the things Tom Petty taught me … Read More
We’re on This Journey Alone Together
I sometimes see writers post on social media congratulating another writer’s success but then pivoting to compare their own progress—usually self-deprecatingly, often from a place of despair. They do so as if there is suddenly less space for them. They are sincerely happy for the other writer but seem to feel as if their own … Read More
Rejection Rituals
Last week I wrote about Celebration Rituals. Writing wins are unquestionably something to celebrate. But guess what? Rejections are something to celebrate, too. Rejections are progress. I know it doesn’t feel like it in the moment, but they are. They mean you’re out there trying. You can’t get a rejection unless you submit something or … Read More
Celebration Rituals
Do you have a special way to celebrate your writing victories? I tend to gloss over mine and keep going. I often intend to celebrate the big wins, but I usually don’t get around to it. And the smaller wins I don’t celebrate at all, except by doing a little happy dance at my computer … Read More
Why You Should Write By Hand
Last summer, I wrote about The Benefits of Typing. A writer can get those same benefits from writing by hand, using a pen or pencil and paper or a notebook. But writing by hand offers something more, too. One of the biggest benefits to a writer of getting away from a computer keyboard or laptop, … Read More