What My Literary Heroes Taught Me about Writing

By Rochelle Melander, @WriteNowCoach

Part of The Writer's Life Series

JH: We can learn a lot from other writers. Rochelle Melander shares things that have made a difference in her writing, as well as her writing life.

Rochelle Melander is a speaker, certified professional coach, and the bestselling author of twelve books, including Level Up: Quests to Master Mindset, Overcome Procrastination and Increase Productivity and the forthcoming children’s book, Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the World through Writing. Through her writing and coaching, she helps writers, creatives, and entrepreneurs overcome distractions and procrastination, design a writing life, turn their ideas into books, navigate the publishing world, and connect with readers through social media. She is the founder of Dream Keepers, a writing workshop that supports teens in finding their voice and sharing their stories. 

Blog | Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Take it away Rochelle…

Writing Resources to Help Jump Start Your Writing

By Sherry Howard, @SherLHoward

Part of The Writer's Life Series

JH: On days when you can't write, it can help to read the how-to books you've always loved and found helpful. Sherry Howard shares her favorites.

Sherry Howard lives with her children and silly dogs in Middletown, Kentucky. Sherry is the author of the picture book ROCK AND ROLL WOODS, with a starred Kirkus review. Her poems and stories have appeared in multiple journals and anthologies. She also writes for the educational market, with about a dozen books.

Sherry Howard | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Take it away Sherry...

5 Ways to Put the Fun Back into Writing

By Jodi Turchin, @jlturchin

Part of The Writer's Life Series

JH: We can all use a little pick me up in our writing from time to fun. Jodi Turchin shares five of her favorite "writing toys" that put the fun back into writing.

Jodi Turchin is a Young Adult novelist represented by Dawn Frederick at Red Sofa Literary. She’s also a photographer, a high school English teacher, an adjunct college professor, and a former actress and director.

Website | Twitter

Take it away Jodi…

Writing Takes Work, Even When You're a Pro

By Joyce Sweeney

Part of The Writer’s Life Series 

JH: Writers are always learning, and sometimes, we need reminding of the basics like everyone else. Joyce Sweeney shares thoughts on facing the things you stink at, even when you know how to do it.

Joyce Sweeney is the author of fourteen novels for young adults and two chapbooks of poetry. Her books have won many awards and honors. Joyce has recently switched to writing adult fiction and is represented by Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour agency.

Joyce has also been a writing teacher and coach for 25 years and offers online classes. In 2019, she, Jamie Morris and Tia Levings released Plotting Your Novel with The Plot Clock (Giantess Press). At this writing, 62 of Joyce’s students have successfully obtained traditional publishing contracts.

Joyce lives in Coral Springs with her husband, Jay and caffeine-addicted cat, Nitro.

Take it away Joyce…

How to Persevere When the Mountain Seems Unconquerable

By Jodi Turchin, @jlturchin

Part of The Writer's Life Series

JH: Being an author is a rough job, particularly if you haven't quite made the last step between writer and author. Jodi Turchin shares tips on hanging in there when the writing times get tough.

Jodi Turchin is a Young Adult novelist represented by Dawn Frederick at Red Sofa Literary. She’s also a photographer, a high school English teacher, a former actress and director, an Independent Scentsy Consultant, and a Younique presenter.

Website | Twitter

Take it away Jodi…

Six Snarky Strategies to Turn Small Town BS Into Fiction Brilliance

By Bonnie Randall 

Part of the How They Do It Series 

JH: Write what you know is a staple of fiction. Bonnie Randall takes her monthly place at the podium today to share tips on what she knows about a small town--and how you can turn it into story gold.

*Caution: this article does not look fondly—ala’ John Cougar Mellencamp—at ‘small towns’*

Yesterday, a reader halfway through my debut novel, Divinity & The Python, messaged me to say she’d met someone from the small town where I used to live. “I know Bonnie Randall,” this person confided. “And what’s more, I know that book of hers is about real people.”

Now, if I force myself to be completely gracious (and that’s a stretch), then perhaps I can accept that non-writers sincerely cannot fathom an imagination that is capable of constructing entire worlds—including people—wholly drawn from the pixie dust we writers call Inspiration and Creativity.

Then again, being thoroughly ungracious, I took that comment and came up with these:

How Writing a Novel Is Like a Romance

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

A writer’s love affair with the story is often a bumpy road—but worth the trip.

A good novel is a well-blended mix of questions and reveals, tease and reward, love and hate—especially during a first draft. If we’re lucky, that first spark results in a long and rewarding relationship, but we shouldn’t mourn if it fizzles out. Not all pairings are meant to be.

When a story works, it’s magical. It makes us feel invincible and capable of moving readers with our words and imagination.

When it doesn’t, it can crush our souls and leave us unwilling to ever try again.

But no matter how many times our storyteller’s heart is broken, we keep going back, because we believe in the power of story. We know that all it takes is the right story and the right time and all our dreams can come true.

6 Rules to Pump Up Your Writing

By Laurence MacNaughton, @LMacNaughton

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: Being an author is a difficult job at times, and some days are harder than others. Rejections, self doubt, fear, and countless frustrations can make a writer wonder, "Why the heck am I doing this?" Laurence MacNaughton returns to the lecture hall today to share tips on getting through the hard days of being a writer.

When considering who gives out the best writing advice in the world, the first name that pops up might not be Arnold Schwarzenegger. But a decade ago, Schwarzenegger presented his “6 Rules of Success” in a now-famous commencement speech at the University of Southern California. And these rules just might hold the key to your success as a writer.

Instilling Wonder in Your Fiction

By Julie E. Czerneda, @julieczerneda

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: Stories have a way of sweeping readers into another world, and this is particularly true in genre fiction. Creating a sense of wonder helps pull readers into our stories. Julie E. Czerneda visits the lecture hall to day to share tips on how to put the wonder in our fiction.

For twenty years, Canadian author/former biologist Julie E. Czerneda has shared her curiosity about living things through her science fiction and fantasy. The first installments of her Night’s Edge series (DAW) A Turn of Light and A Play of Shadow, won consecutive Aurora Awards (Canada’s Hugo) for Best English Novel. Julie’s edited/co-edited sixteen anthologies of SF/F, two Aurora winners. The Gossamer Mage is Julie’s twentieth novel published by DAW Books, and she couldn’t be more proud to belong to this esteemed publishing family.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter |

Take it away Julie…

3 Unexpected Principles for Optimal Creativity

By Jennifer Blanchard

Part of The Writer’s Life Series

JH: Staying creative over the long haul is something every writer needs to figure out how to maintain. Jennifer Blanchard returns to the lecture hall today with tips on reaching your optimal creativity.

Jennifer Blanchard is a best-selling author, a screenwriter, a Developmental Book Editor and the Writing Industry's Mindset Coach. It's her mission in life to change the way people think and challenge what they believe is possible. Her screenplay, "The Rules," placed as a Semi-Finalist in the Stage32 Rom-Com Script Contest in 2019. Grab her FREE Story Secrets audio series here.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook |

Take it away Jennifer...

25 Ideas for Your Author Blog

By Bryn Donovan

Part of The Writer’s Life Series

JH: Writers hear it all the time—“Oh, you should start a blog.” Not a bad idea, but the hard part is knowing what to blog about. Bryn Donovan visits the lecture hall today to share some ideas on just what to do with our authors’ blog.

Bryn Donovan earned her MFA in creative writing from the University of Arizona, and in her day job, she’s the acquiring editor for Hallmark Publishing. She’s published novels both as Bryn Donovan and as Stacey Donovan, and she’s also the author of 5,000 Writing Prompts and Master Lists for Writers. She blogs about writing and positivity at bryndonovan.com.

Take it away Bryn…

An Author’s Journey: What’s important?

By Ray Flynt

Part of The Writer's Life Series

JH: Before we dive in today, a heads up that I'm over at Writers Helping Writers talking about show, don't tell. 

Whether they take the traditional path or the indie path to publication, writers face similar challenges to achieve their dreams. 

Two decades ago, I had the opportunity to hear Maya Angelou speak. She told the story of another presentation she’d given to inspire writers and artists, after which a teenaged girl approached and said, “Listening to you, I’ve decided what to do with my life. I want to be a star.” Our audience, comprised of adults, appreciated the irony.

Just as billions of galaxies comprise the universe, millions of writers fill an authors’ cosmos—all struggling to let their work shine through and find an audience. Stardom is for an elite (and lucky) few. There is no such thing as an overnight success. Whomever might be billed as such, has toiled mightily to hone their skills to perfection and—at last—earned recognition for their talent. Anyone who claims a modicum of success has a story to tell of a buried manuscript, or an early endeavor no longer worthy of association with the advancements in their craft. Salmon during spawning season have nothing on artists who swim upstream against a tide of competition, all yearning for the attention and affection of readers.

Publishing Far and Wide to Sharpen Your Skills, Thicken Your Skin

By Aly Brown, @AlyConnerBrown

Part of The Writer’s Life Series

JH: Being a writer encompasses many forms, and not all of them include fiction. Aly Brown shares her story about how a wider career path improved her writing--and saved her sanity. 

Aly Brown is a newspaper editor and author represented by BookEnds LLC. She recently inked a deal with Feiwel & Friends / Macmillan for a nonfiction middle grade book on Alvin Submersible called The Last Unexplored Place on Earth. Release date 2023.

Website | Twitter | Grammar Chicken

Take it away Aly...

The Daily Mindset Practice That Will Help You Achieve Your Writing Goals

By Jennifer Blanchard

Part of The Writer's Life Series

JH: Sometimes the things standing in the way of our writing dreams is our own doubts and fears. Jennifer Blanchard visits the lecture hall today to share tips on how to get our of our heads and back into our writing.

Jennifer Blanchard is a best-selling author, screenwriter, Developmental Book Editor, and the founder of The Feel-Good Life Center. Grab her FREE Story Secrets audio series here and start writing better stories.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook |

Take it away Jennifer...

Why the Ending of Galaxy Quest Always Makes Me Cry

By David Mack, @DavidAlanMack

Part of The Writer's Life Series

JH: Stories have the power to inspire us, move us, and profoundly change us. Please help me welcome David Mack to the lecture hall today, to share a story that moves him, and explain why we should never take what we do for granted.

David Mack is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty novels of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure.Mack’s writing credits span several media, including television (for episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), short fiction, and comic books. His new novel The Iron Codex is available now from Tor Books.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Tor

Take it away David...

How to Write When the Last Thing You Want to Do is Write

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Writing is an activity that requires of a lot of brainpower. We tap into our intellect, or emotions, or sense of empathy, and draw from within to create a story. When life throws us a curve and sends all our brainpower in one “this sucks” direction, writing screeches to a halt.

Last week was a bad week for me. It started out great with the last days of a fantastic conference in Alabama, seeing old friends and making some new ones, then a lot of bad news crashed down on me at once. Just trying to write a post for today was difficult, and I stared at my list of topic ideas knowing I wasn’t going to be able to write a single one.

Hence, this post.

Life gets hard for lots of folks every day, and there’s a good chance many of you are having a rough time right now, too. I’m on deadlines, I have things I need to do, so curling into a ball and ignoring the world for a week or two isn’t an option. It’s even less of an option for writers with kids and jobs and many more obligations than I have.

Who Are Your Role Models? On Art Informing Life

By Bonnie Randall

Part of the How They Do It Series (Monthly Contributor) 

As a clinical social worker for over 20 years, I can attest to having had many times when my practice has informed my fiction. My experiences in the counseling room, for example, have helped me understand human nature—and, thereby, character development—in a way that few other practices would. Every day I spend counseling is the equivalent of many long and intense conversations—which in turn have allowed a learning about the rhythm, pace, and the natural cadence of dialogue that perhaps I would not know otherwise.

Confessions Of A NaNoWriMo Non-Starter

By Bonnie Randall

Part of the How They Do It Series (Monthly Contributor)

I always have the best intentions. While not optimistic enough to believe I can blast out an entire novel within one (albeit boring and dreary) month, I do always think I’ll be able to attach a sizeable chunk of text to whatever work I have in progress.

But…then life happens. Projects get off-track. Sometimes lose their luster. Or maybe it’s just some sort of unconscious Oppositional Defiance Disorder that turns me mostly mute in the month of November, and I squirm with unproductive guilt as I look at friends’ Facebook posts and watch their word-count climb before my very eyes.

When Writing, It's the Journey That Matters

By Benjamin Thomas

Part of the How They Do It series

Benjamin Thomas is a husband, father, poet, writer. He's also a book nut, blogger, interviewer, and reviewer. Eternally curious. Still trying to figure out how to bridge the stories in his head onto the page.

Website | Blog | Facebook |

Take it away Benjamin...

Why Writers Could Give Up… And Why They Shouldn't

By Scott Reintgen, @Scott_Thought

Part of the How They Do It Series (Monthly Contributor)

This morning I spent some time reflecting on this bizarre, dream world I’ve stumbled into as a professional author. I’ve always imagined that, one day, I’d be published. It was always a back pocket thought. A maybe if I’m lucky kind of dream.

So now that my book is set to launch into the world on September 12th, I want to glance back at all the reasons I had to give up on doing the thing that I love the most. Maybe, just maybe, these will resonate with you. And maybe this post will have you pushing on to reach whatever dream you’ve always wanted to chase.