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Rachel Giesel Grimm

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Rachel Giesel Grimm

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write here in cincinnati: a monthly newsletter of literary and writing events

January 26, 2025 Rachel Giesel

I’m always looking for ways to connect with my local literary community because I truly value friendship and camaraderie in the writing process. Whether I’m attending a reading to hear beautiful words from an author I admire or workshopping my prose in the company of those willing to help me strengthen my words, I always feel reinvigorated with joy and commitment to return to the page after connecting with others. There’s just something so magical about joining in community with other writers!

At first, I wasn’t sure how to find these special writing communities, but I’ve discovered there are SO MANY wonderful writerly things in my city of Cincinnati. I wanted to share that list with other creative writers so we find the places that feel like “writerly homes” to us and so I started a newsletter just for that!

Each month I share all the literary happenings I can find in the Greater Cincinnati area: reading series, workshops, used book sales, writer’s groups, festivals, open mic nights, and more. This monthly newsletter of literary events is curated with love to help writers connect with the local literary communities that matter to them.

If you’re a fellow writer in Cincinnati, please consider joining the newsletter! You can get each month’s list of literary festivities directly in your inbox by subscribing here: write here in cincinnati.

Tags cincinnati writers, write here in cincinnati, cincinnati writing events, cincinnati creative writers, cincinnati literary events, literary community, events for writers
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Out with the old, in with the new

February 29, 2020 Rachel Giesel

From 2016-2018 I ran this site as a creative writing pedagogy resource hub for writers called The Real+Good Writer. This project allowed me to document my creative writing process and share the lessons I’d learned with other writers. Through this, I’ve written over 60 articles, created two classes, a planner, and many workbooks and worksheets to help creative writers.

I loved this project. It allowed me to learn, to teach, and to connect with writers all around the world. It was a project full of love, learning, and so much fun.

But now, my priorities have shifted. I am realigning my focus and attention to my creative work more directly. I’m currently working towards my master’s degree in creative writing at Miami University, teaching undergraduate writing, and pursuing big creative projects of my own.

I have not updated this blog in quite a long time, and I do not plan to update it regularly moving forward.

The Real+Good Writer blog project has come to the end. That means, at least for now, no new digital resources, no regularly scheduled posts, no email newsletters, no Facebook group, no maintenance of previous projects.

Yet the articles and resources created during the lifetime of The Real+Good Writer blog are preserved. I’ve loved reading emails from writers who have found something valuable in this project through the years, and so I am keeping this material active in case others find something in it too. Some of the material may be outdated or imperfect, some links may be broken, but perhaps what is there can still help writers who need it. All previous information from The Real+Good Writer’s blog can be found in the archive.

While I’m sad to officially end this era, I’m very excited about what it allows instead. This new blog/news feed/journal will focus more on sharing what’s happening with me and my work. There may be some reflections on life and the writing process. There may be some announcements of exciting things. There may be some lessons and strategies to apply to your own writing life still. There may be some creative writing and composition pedagogy. There may be happy quotes and pictures.

I want this new space to be personal and organic, free and flexible, so I’m purposefully keeping the intentions of this new space vague. I’m not sure what I’ll be writing or when new posts will come. It’s just a space for documenting my writing life and work as needed.

If you’ve loved this blog in the past, thank you for your support and kindness. I hope you’ll understand this pivot and continue to support my work as a writer and a teacher in the years to come.

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The Archive

February 29, 2020 Rachel Giesel

The Archive

From The Real+Good Writer blog, 2016-2018

Featured
Oct 5, 2018
The Real+Good Writer's Guide to Preptober
Oct 5, 2018

Fall brings cozy sweaters and yummy coffee, the perfect combination to cuddle up with words. It also brings NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, where writers from all around the world compete with themselves to write 50,000 new words on their novel in 30 short days. It's a writing marathon that requires commitment, energy, and dedication to your story. To successfully prepare for NaNoWriMo, the writing community has also created Preptober. A portmanteau of prepare and October, this month-long retreat gives you the time to plan your story, create your characters, write an outline, and manage your obligations outside of writing so you can focus and succeed during your writing marathon. Learn all about Preptober and get the resources you need to successfully plan and prep your novel!

Oct 5, 2018
Jun 30, 2018
Immigration Writes
Jun 30, 2018

Because of policies in government, children are being separated from families at the border as they seek a new life in America. Today, June 30, is the official day of action for Families Belong Together, a movement to end family separation and detention and reunite loved ones. Talking about politics is hard. Thinking about the broken lives, the cries of these children, the unknown outcomes of these families is even harder. However, as a writer, it's important to stand up for what I believe in and use the power words (the skill I know) to use my voice for good. This post contains resources for action, education, and writing to empower you to use your own voice for good on the issue of immigration.

Jun 30, 2018
Jun 20, 2018
3 Reasons Why You Should Write In Other Genres
Jun 20, 2018

Our job as writers is not to churn out novel after novel or short story after short story, but to tell each story as it wants to be told, whether it's the form we think we know or something new entirely. You should always be seeking to tell your stories in the way they deserve to be told, strengthening your writing skills, and exploring new worlds and forms you haven't considered before. This is how you become the writer you want to be. Denying your muse the opportunity to play with other genres is just going to make inspiration disappear. And if you force your story to be something it's not, it's not going to turn out well. Let’s dive into 3 reasons why you should be playing with a variety of genres (and some helpful links for how to do it!).

Jun 20, 2018
Feb 11, 2018
Novel Notes: Update #1
Feb 11, 2018

For a long time I've been in the dark of what actually writing a whole novel looks like. I believed it was straightforward: writing chapter one, then chapter two, all the way to "the end". But in reality, at least for me, the process doesn't really look like that. I'm sharing my process–the good, the bad, the epically messy–to document the novel-writing reality that's true to me. Hopefully, if you're writing a novel and struggling with questions of "Am I doing it right?", sharing my process will give you the confidence and calm that no matter how messy and crazy your draft is, you can get through it. So, here's what this novel has been through so far and what's yet to come! This is Novel Notes Update #1!

Feb 11, 2018
Dec 30, 2017
2017 Reflection
Dec 30, 2017

2017 is nearly finished. This has been a year of trials and errors, heartbreak and growth, change and curiosity. It has been full of good times and shitty ones. 2017 hasn't been the perfect year in the history of years–writing-wise, life-wise, or politically. But it was a year, and it deserves some attention and reflection so we can enter 2018 consciously, intentionally, and powerfully. Here's what's happened in my literary world this year, what lessons I learned, and how you can apply these to your own writing life.

Dec 30, 2017
Jun 21, 2017
Say hello to The WriteLife Planner!
Jun 21, 2017

To live your best writing life, you need to set goals to accomplish your big dreams and tackle them one step at a time. You have to be intentional with your approach, making the time and space for life and the time and space for writing. You have to take consistent baby-steps to actually accomplish your writing goals, experiment with your writing process to perfect your best writing routine, show writing the love and attention it deserves to thrive, and balance writing with your life, so you can be both the human and the writer you hope to be. And I created an AWESOME tool to help you do it. Say hello to The WriteLife Planner – your 3-month guide to conquering one major writing project, strengthening your writing practice, and loving your writing life while you do it.

Jun 21, 2017
Jun 16, 2017
The 6 Things Always on Your Writer's To-Do List
Jun 16, 2017

You don't have to be writing 24/7 to be involved in your writing life, and you shouldn't try to. As writers, we engage in other literary activities for our writing to become the best writers we can be. We work to balance out our writing, to refuel our creative wells, to know our stories intimately, and to share our stories with the world. We've got to infuse these kind of activities into your writer's practice so you can become the holistic, well-rounded, wholehearted writer you hope to be. I've found that there are six major categories of things that should always be on your writer's to-do list to balance out your writing practice: Reading, Experimentation, Wholehearted Writing Sessions, Intimate WIP Discovery, Engagement with the Literary Community, and Writerpreneurship Building. Let's talk about how you can infuse them into your writing life, put them on your writer's to-do list, and work to become the best writer you can be. (Plus, I've got 94 activities to accomplish these things and show your writing life some love!). 

Jun 16, 2017
Jun 15, 2017
How to Find Your Best Writing Routine
Jun 15, 2017

Your writing routine is composed of four ingredients: your when, your where, your how, and your how much. You may already have an idea of how these ingredients are functioning (or not functioning) in your writing life, but we don't want to just pick some aimlessly and assume its perfect for us, because there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to your writing life. You've got to figure out the best routine for you, which is different from me and every other writer. Plus, I've got 86 ways you can experiment with your writing life to discover your own best writing routine.

Jun 15, 2017
Jun 13, 2017
5 Ways to Balance Writing with the Rest of Life
Jun 13, 2017

In theory, we would get more writing done if we had a perfect world where the stars aligned and everything worked in our writing's favor. But we could sit around waiting for this "right" reality for the rest of our lives. The truth is, you're a writer and a human. You do have a day-job and responsibilities and a life. But you can't let the fact that you're human get in the way of the fact that you're a writer. Instead of thinking about your writing and life as an "us" versus "them" war, we have to help them work together. Here are my 5 tips on how to balance writing with the rest of your life.

Jun 13, 2017
May 1, 2017
Dive into the 30-Day Short Story Challenge: Why You Should Write Short Stories + How to Do It
May 1, 2017

If you want to learn to write fiction, there are a LOT of things you need to know about. But trying to learn them all while writing a novel can be time-consuming and frustrating. Learn to write fiction the quick and easy way by focusing on the short story. The short form is the standard vehicle for teaching fiction in schools around the world, but it's time to learn the short story form on your time from the comfort of your own home. In the 30-day short story challenge, we'll read stories and we'll write stories. I've got your plan to get started (and a bunch of stories you should read right now)!

May 1, 2017
Apr 14, 2017
Why You Need to Self-Edit AND Hire an Editor (8 Steps to Your Revised Story) – Guest Post by Jacquelyn Eubanks!
Apr 14, 2017

GUEST POST BY JACQUELYN EUBANKS | When you finish drafting your story, you may ask: “Should I get an editor to look over my story? Or should I just edit it myself?” The answer is both. Jacquelyn takes you through 8 necessary steps of self-edits and hiring an external editor to get you to the revised story you desire.

Apr 14, 2017
Mar 25, 2017
How to Invest in your Writing Life: Don't Delay Your Writing Growth Any Longer!
Mar 25, 2017

If you want to grow as a writer, you have to put in some work. You have to learn about craft, you have to lay the proper mental foundation, you have to get the writing done consistently, again and again. There are TONS of avenues to help you grow as a writer, and many of them are free. But when you're ready to take your writing to the next level, you're going to have to invest. And this is where a LOT of writers get unnecessarily held back. One of the biggest myths I see from writers all the time goes something like this: "I need to make money from writing before I invest money into writing," or "The writing has to prove its worth before I spend any money on it." And this is SUCH a big myth. So let's debunk the myth and look at some quality avenues of where to invest your writing. You'll stop stunting your growth as a writer, and be on your way to becoming the writer you've always wanted to be in no time. Your writing life will thank you for it.

Mar 25, 2017
Mar 18, 2017
How to Create Your Writer's Business Plan
Mar 18, 2017

When you're ready to take writing seriously, you create Your Writer's Business Plan: a detailed action-plan to set your goals, earnings, investments, intentions, and mission in one organized place! In 6 important sections, we're going to figure out what your Writer's Business Plan looks like. We're going to dive into your mission, vision, and goals, your brand personality, style, and how you portray yourself, your products (aka the stories) and the production process to get them done, the earnings and investments you'll make for your writing, and your ongoing education and personal growth strategies to be an even better writer than before. Let's take writing seriously, and create your Writer's Business Plan! +I made you a workbook to get started!

Mar 18, 2017
Mar 5, 2017
Why You Need to Discover Your Writer's DNA (+12-Day Course!)
Mar 5, 2017

You want to be a writer. You want to be a real, and good writer. And so you work your butt off trying to absorb EVERYTHING you can about storytelling in order to be the best writer you can be. But there's one area of research missing in this curriculum: YOURSELF. You can be SO well-versed in storytelling techniques and practices, and that is great and necessary. But it means NOTHING if you don't apply it in a way that makes sense for you. You need to know your Real+Good Writer's DNA. And fortunately, I've got a FREE 12-Day course to help you discover yours.

Mar 5, 2017
Feb 26, 2017
What I Learned From My DIY Writing Retreat
Feb 26, 2017

I decided to realign my energy on my writing with a DIY at-home writing retreat. Lucky for me, I had a four-day weekend from my day-job, and I packed those days with literary happiness. I read, I wrote, I lived the writing life I wanted. And I emerged energized, motivated, and passionate. Take a peek at what my DIY writing retreat looked like, what I learned, and how you can infuse these lessons into your life too. 

Feb 26, 2017
Feb 12, 2017
3 Quick Ways to Fall In Love With Writing Today
Feb 12, 2017

You love writing, but how often do you show it? Often, we just get so busy, and then you and your writing life hit a rough patch. But you can turn that around and strengthen your love simply by choosing to invest the time. You're the only one that can strengthen your relationship with writing. It starts by taking small, consistent actions each day. Here's three ways you can get started right now, today. These aren't new ideas you've never heard before. But they are tested and true ideas that work. It's up to you to choose to love writing. Will you do it? 

Feb 12, 2017
Feb 5, 2017
How to Discover Your Writing Voice in 5 Simple Steps
Feb 5, 2017

Your voice is necessary and important, and it deserves to be heard. But what if you don't know your voice? What if you don't know how you should say what you're trying to say? What if you're not sure if you even have a voice at all? I'm with you, my friend. Learn how to discover your unique writing voice in 5 simple steps so you can write the stories that sound like you.

Feb 5, 2017
Jan 22, 2017
Why Your Voice Matters NOW + 6 Steps to Use Your Voice as a Literary Citizen
Jan 22, 2017

Your voice matters. Your voice mattered yesterday. Your voice matters today. And your voice matters tomorrow. Your voice is important. It deserves to be heard. Your stories deserve to be told. You and this whole writing thing are necessary. Especially in a world full of controversial political conversations. Especially in a divided country. Especially when others are spouting out hate. We're getting a little political, but it's necessary in order for you to share your unique and beautiful truths with your unique and beautiful voice. 

Jan 22, 2017
Jan 14, 2017
How Create Your BEST Reading Life in 3 Steps
Jan 14, 2017

A well-read writer is a well-fed writer. We all know that by this point. If you want to write Real+Good Writing, you've got to read Real+Good Books. But how do you choose what to read next? How do you make a plan for your reading so that your writing can flourish? And how the heck do you read more? Let's talk about create your BEST reading life, so you can continue your best writing life.

Jan 14, 2017
Jan 1, 2017
How to Have Your BEST Writing Year Yet!
Jan 1, 2017

Its’s time to live your BEST writing life! Whether you’re celebrating the New Year or knee-deep into June, you can ALWAYS take the time to set some strong intentions for the amazing writing life you deserve. I am determined to help you make this your best writing year yet and I've got 17 tips to help you plan your writing year, transform your writing dreams into your reality, and become the writer you were always meant to be. Are you ready?!

Jan 1, 2017
Oct 14, 2016
3 Mistakes You Make When Writing Setting + How to Fix Them
Oct 14, 2016

Setting does NOT simply equate to drawing maps and designing house floor-plans and planting trees all around your world. It isn't just about the weather or the town where the story takes place. It isn't just world-building from scratch. Setting certainly can be these things, but it also goes a lot deeper than that. Setting grounds you in place and time, but it also sets the mood and tone, provides a lens to understand the world through, and works in conversation with your other elements (characters, plot, and theme). Setting does A LOT more work (even if it is subtle, background work) than we often give it credit for. So, how do you get your setting to do its work – productive, necessary, hard work – without going overboard? We're going to look at the 3 mistakes writers often make when designing their setting or world-building and how to fix it.

Oct 14, 2016
Sep 11, 2016
How to Become a Happy + Productive Writer (1 Simple Formula)
Sep 11, 2016

I used to be a Procrastiwriter; you know, a writer who wants to write, but has a lot of trouble actually getting words onto the page. I've had some real low writing slumps throughout my life. But then I got sick of them. I wanted to become a happy AND productive writer, and so I set out on a quest to discover just how to do it. And I emerged successful. Now, I've distilled my super secret, life-transforming process into a simple formula so you can become a happy + productive writer too.

Sep 11, 2016
Aug 28, 2016
True Life: I've Been Rejected
Aug 28, 2016

Do you fear failure? Do you hate being rejected? Has rejection derailed your writing life before? In sixth grade, it paralyzed my writing life so bad that I quit writing for nearly four years. But rejection is a normal part of the writing process, and it's never going away. In fact, it's probably going to happen to you a lot (do you know really how hard it is to get published? I've got stats that will scare you). Learn all about my traumatizing experience with rejection, how I solved it, and what you can do when (not if) it happens to you!

Aug 28, 2016
Aug 19, 2016
How to Command the Muse to Come On Your Time (3 Steps to Discipline Your Writing Life)
Aug 19, 2016

Do you have trouble making real progress with your writing life? Do you have big writing dreams, but struggle to make them come true? Do you have good intentions to write, but suck at putting them into practice? Do you finally get all the stars aligned, sit down to write, and stare at the blank page uninspired? You need a healthy dose of discipline. The only way to actually get the writing done is by doing the writing; but making it a habitual practice will make it easier to write every time, you'll write more often, and you'll train your muse to show up with you. Learn the 3 steps to discipline your writing life and command the muse to show up on your time.

Aug 19, 2016
Aug 12, 2016
Why Do You Write? Discovering the BFF of Your Writing Motivation + Perseverance
Aug 12, 2016

If you're ready to take writing seriously, you have to know what you're doing; and, more importantly, you have to know why you're doing it. Your why will be there to give you energy to start, it will comfort you and keep you going when you slog through the middle, and it will pull you up and dust you off when you crash. Your why is basically your BFF as a writer. Have you ever stopped to consider why you write? There's a history of writer's exploring their reasons and motifs. Learn all about it and discover your own why in this post! (+ There's a FREE pretty printable for you!)

Aug 12, 2016
Jul 22, 2016
How to Write + Revise Your Story in 5 Draft Phases
Jul 22, 2016

The way I go from BIG IDEA to finished story is kind of weird. I always thought it would be this linear, very defined approach, but I don't function like that. My draft phases follow building the anatomy of a story through specific, key craft elements. My phases aren't defined by "The End" or "Draft 4", but by mindset and attention to certain story pieces. If you're curious what a "skeleton draft" is (or what a "freckle draft" is), click through to read how I write, revise, and edit my stories to completion in five distinct phases. 

Jul 22, 2016
Jul 15, 2016
What I Learned from Studying Writing in Greece (+5 Things You Need for Magical Literary Productivity)
Jul 15, 2016

The most productive time of my writing life was spent on a rural island in Greece called Thassos. It was literary magic. But when I returned home, my writing suffered. I needed to find a way to recreate the amazing writing productivity in my own backyard. I thought I needed the island, but I really needed a structured freedom to write, a life inspiring enough to write about, time to let my brain be free, good books to study, and a community to guide and inspire me. These are the necessary ingredients to a productive writing life. And these are what YOU need if you want to make a productive writing life for yourself.

Jul 15, 2016
Jul 8, 2016
How to Find Your Story's Heart: 5 AWESOME Revision Techniques
Jul 8, 2016

You may use a revising checklist or an editing checklist to bring your story to fruition, but sometimes that's just not enough. Perhaps this particular story DOESN'T call for setting overload, or this particular story DOES call for characterization development. Every story is unique in its needs. The following five techniques will get you working with your story in the way revision was intended to be: a literal re-vision-ing of what your story is intended to be. They will get you thinking about your story in different ways. They'll ask you to pay attention to the specific, unique elements that THIS particular story needs. They'll ask you to remember the heart of the story, and bring that to the surface in a meaningful way. This isn't focusing on word choice, but intention. Ready to get revising?

Jul 8, 2016
Jun 30, 2016
Everything You'd Ever Need to Write a Novel: The ULTIMATE Novel Packing List
Jun 30, 2016

Perhaps you're ready to attack Camp NaNoWriMo next month or classic NaNoWriMo in November. Perhaps you're just embarking on your own personal writing quest on your own schedule. The truth is, you want to write a novel, and that's awesome! You're about to do an amazing thing. It's going to be difficult. It's going to be a challenge. But it's going to be well worth it. Before you get started with your novel, you have to be prepared. There's a lot of time, effort, and energy that go into writing a novel, so you want to make sure you're well-equipped for whatever's going to happen. This is the ultimate packing list of everything you'll need to write your novel.

Jun 30, 2016
Jun 24, 2016
What to Do When You're in a Funky Creative Rut with Writing
Jun 24, 2016

Sometimes your writing life is not productive. Sometimes you get yourself into a funky creative rut, a state of "un", where things are just not going your way. It's easy to get frustrated and depressed when this happens, and it sucks. But you're not alone. These low-points are normal in life, and they're only temporary. Learn how to deal with your creative rut appropriately and get out of it so you can get back to accomplishing your wildest writing dreams. 

Jun 24, 2016
Featured
Jun 20, 2016
3 Big Things You MUST Know About Your Characters
Jun 20, 2016

You've probably seen a million bajillion character questionnaires. Most of the time they ask you about basic physical facts: birthdays, height, favorite colors. But these aren't the details that create an interesting, authentic, believable character that will stick with readers. These details won't allow your readers to be intimate with your characters. Learn the REAL questions you should be asking your characters. Get to the heart, the core, the DNA of their self in order to bring them to life. By going through your character's psyche, influences, and behavior, we'll discover who your character really is. It’s time to get character planning, my friend!

Jun 20, 2016
Jun 3, 2016
How to Transform Your Writing Dreams Your Reality
Jun 3, 2016

Every month I like to do a reflection on my achievements and a little bit of planning my goals and dreams for the coming weeks. June is the half-way mark of the year, and it's the perfect time to evaluate where you're at and where you're going. It's also important to set goals that you actually can and want to accomplish. Learn how to set the right kind of goals so you'll actually get shit done and transform your writing dreams into your reality. Plus, there's a FREE 10-page workbook to get you started on your own goal setting.

Jun 3, 2016
May 27, 2016
Women Writers Have it Harder: Do You Know What You're Up Against?
May 27, 2016

Did you know that men get published more than women? They also win more awards and get more reviews. Did you know that women's literature gets categorized differently than men's? This is a problem. Now, I'm not going on a feminist rant, don't worry. But there are some facts you should know, and you should know how to deal with being a "female writer" in today's publishing world.

May 27, 2016
May 20, 2016
Does Your Novel's Genre Matter? How to Fuse Genre and Literary Fiction to Create a Strong Story
May 20, 2016

There's an ongoing war between literary fiction and genre. They're placed at odds with each other, a black or white fight to who's better. But in fact, there's a BIG gray area. In order to write a Real+Good Story, you need to know the actual differences between the two, how they're made up of the same stuff with different levels of emphasis, and how you can cater to that in your novel so your reader is satisfied. Plus, I made you a workbook that asks you the right questions about your novel so you can fuse genre conventions and literary conventions to write the best story possible.

May 20, 2016
May 4, 2016
5 Ways to Find Your Character's Authentic Voice (+What George Saunders Can Teach You About Voice)
May 4, 2016

George Saunders is a freaking genius writer, which is why he's one of my FAVORITE masters. What he does especially well is creating realistic, believable, authentic voices for his characters. Let's look at some Saunders stories in action to see what he's doing well, and then explore 5 techniques that you can get started with TODAY to make your characters speak authentically too. 

May 4, 2016
Apr 25, 2016
How to Approach Your Novel: Thinking about YOUR Process for Big Things
Apr 25, 2016

With so many resources out there telling you how to write your novel and how to write at all, it's easy to feel like you HAVE to do things a certain way. But the only person who knows what's best for you is you. So what SHOULD you do? Step #1: Figure out what you know about how you approach big things. I tried considering what I do in two separate case-studies of "big things" I've tackled in the past, and it illuminated a process that I didn't know I had. Here's what I learned, how you can figure out your own process, and apply it to your current work-in-progress. 

Apr 25, 2016
Apr 13, 2016
5 Ways to Stick with Your Novel When You Feel Like Giving Up
Apr 13, 2016

You started your novel with Motivation! Excitement! Power! And now you're feeling... anything besides that. You believed in this project at one point, and you don't want to quit on it now, but you've got to find a way to reignite your passion. Here's 5 quick tips that will get you refocused on your novel, recommitted to it, and ready to write, so you can make your writing dreams a reality.

Apr 13, 2016
Mar 30, 2016
8 Steps to Mentally Prepare to Write Your Novel
Mar 30, 2016

Let's assume for now that you've already got that hard stuff figured out. This isn't about planning the intricacies of your novel. This isn't a craft lecture. Rather, this is figuring out how to get your mind in the right place so that when it comes down to doing it, YOU ACTUALLY DO IT. This is about mental preparation to set your goals and achieve them in the time period you allowed. Learn how to get your mind ready so that when you're ready to write, you write.

Mar 30, 2016
Mar 10, 2016
How to Write a Character-Driven Plot in 4 Steps
Mar 10, 2016

Literary fiction writers tend to avoid plot. We’re trained to be plot snobs, focused only on character development and description and point-of-view amongst other things. But your story can’t be plotless. Plot is tension, plot is drama, plot IS story. So we must learn to fuse plot and character seamlessly. Learn how in 4 steps to get started with your story.

Mar 10, 2016
Mar 5, 2016
The Frankenstein Technique: How to Use Juxtaposition + Causality to Discover Deep Themes
Mar 5, 2016

When your story is falling flat and you're wondering if you should abandon it, DON'T! Learn how to use The Frankenstein Technique (juxtaposition, causality, and subtext) to bring deeper themes to your story and reinvigorate it with new life. 

Mar 5, 2016
Feb 29, 2016
The Relationship Between Truth and Fiction: Does it Matter if You Write Autobiographical Fiction?
Feb 29, 2016

Was your story inspired by real events, real people, real life? This can often make your story seem authentic, but how much "you" is too much "you" in your story? Where do you draw the line? Fiction and truth are not mutually exclusive. Learn how they can work together to make your story truly shine.

Feb 29, 2016
Feb 28, 2016
The 2 Rules of Writing (The Only 2 You'll Ever Need)
Feb 28, 2016

There are a MILLION different rules of writing you could follow. But there's really only two you need to absolutely succeed. Find out what they are and follow them. Ideally, now. 

Feb 28, 2016
Feb 15, 2016
How Write About Big Themes Without Being Too Sentimental or Cliche
Feb 15, 2016

We write “about” the world. We write to document the human experience: the beauty, the chaos, the pain, the sentiment. We want to write something real. But how do we evoke it without falling into cliche? Poet Joy Katz shows us how to defeat that pesky cloud of "aboutness" when it comes to big themes once and for all. Here’s how she got me to think about common, but big themes in a whole new way.

Feb 15, 2016
Feb 9, 2016
How to Beat Impostor Syndrome and Get Writing Again
Feb 9, 2016

Do you ever feel like you're not good enough? Like you're not a real writer? It's a paralyzing fear caused by your evil internal editor, and it can make you stop writing. Learn what the imposter syndrome is and how to get rid of it, so you can get back to working on your Real+Good Writing. 

Feb 9, 2016
Feb 1, 2016
The #1 Tip That FREED Me as a Writer: The Writer's DNA
Feb 1, 2016

If you want to get to Real+Good Writing, you first have to know who you are, what you're writing, and why you're writing it. Learn how thinking about the Writer's DNA opened doors for my writing to be what I really wanted it to be. Plus, discover your own Writer's DNA with a FREE 12-Day course!

Feb 1, 2016
Jan 28, 2016
12 Weird Places to Find Story Ideas While in Your PJ's
Jan 28, 2016

I'm sure you've Googled "story prompts" or have a writing prompt book on your desk. But have you ever considered using Facebook, Twitter, or even your email for story ideas? Learn how to get an endless supply of prompts that speak to you. 

Jan 28, 2016
Jan 21, 2016
How to Use Details + Description to Bring Your Story to Life
Jan 21, 2016

You've got the framework of your story: the characters, the plot, the structure. But without details, it's going to be the same story that everybody else wrote. Learn how to make your story your own by using specific details. 

Jan 21, 2016
Jan 13, 2016
Brain Being a Jerk? Beat Writer's Block by Eliminating Your Excuses (This is Your Pep-Talk)
Jan 13, 2016

Are you making excuses to put off your writing? Are you saying things like, "I'm too tired / too busy / too hungover / don't know what to write?" Well, quit it. Excuses like that are not doing anybody any good. Beat those negative thoughts and beat writer's block once and for all.

Jan 13, 2016
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May’s ✨write here in cincinnati✨edition is now live! Nearly 60 writerly events around the city this month. Plus a celebration of short story month. Check it out and share with your literary friends! https://open.substack.com/pub/writehereincinc
April things 🌷✨💕
So proud of this girl and loved celebrating her at the annual preschool art show! She’s been working so hard on her canvas since January, and it was wonderful to celebrate her work. She had 3 pieces in the show! 🎨🖼️❤️✨
COSI over spring break a few weeks ago!

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