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Sunday, February 27, 2022

Getting Lost and Trying to Get Home


 Here we are, February 2022 (and believe it or not, tomorrow it'll be March!). It's been a long time friends. This post may not be as inspirational as my usual banter - it may even be a bit sad. I'll try to make the sad part quick so we can get to the happy ending. Everyone loves a happy ending, right?


I haven't put pen to paper this year. Until now...


I have been so incredibly lost and I'm trying to get home. You know that feeling when you're driving and realize you've somehow managed to get off course? Your heart rate increases. Your palms get sweaty as you grip the wheel tighter. You turn off the radio in hopes concentration alone will help the situation. That's how I felt in 2020. I felt like the entire year is nothing but a blur. We were in survival mode on so many levels. Cash flow was non-existent, the children were falling behind academically, and we didn't smile because no one could see our faces anyway. Life was full of uncertainty, turmoil, disgust, and fear. No matter where we went or who we spoke to, the unhappiness and heaviness seemed to surround us. Home became our sanctuary.


2021 was the opportunity for a new start - or so we hoped! Didn't we all hope for that? Things improved, but "normal" seemed so far away. Our youngest children didn't even remember a time when we would eat at restaurants or leisurely walk through stores in search of good deals. What they were familiar with was conversations and controversy surrounding mask wearing, vaccination status, politics, and they knew the adults around them weren't in agreement on oh so many things. Sometime during 2021 I got lost. I stopped talking to people. I stopped sharing ideas. I stopped inviting friends to do things for fear of making them uncomfortable. I started doing grocery pick up or Amazon delivery for absolutely everything. I didn't want to go out, talk to people, or engage in any activities I didn't "have to" for the sake of my family.


During 2021 I became so comfortable with my ever shrinking village that I considered hanging up any type of writing at all. After all, I couldn't possibly have anything worth sharing. I missed deadlines. Lots and lots of deadlines. Then it happened - I got a Christmas card saying the following:


Dear Crystal,

You are such an inspiration! 

I know it's been another rough year, 

but your posts are always so uplifting. 

Thank you for all your hard work. 

I am so grateful to have you as a friend and coworker...


I sat back and tears flooded my eyes and ran down my face. How could I possibly uplift others when just going to the grocery store or putting on pants was something I avoided? I was a fraud. Couldn't she see I was a fraud? Why would one of the smartest and most talented people I know think I was anything but a depressed hermit? 


It took a few days, but I went back and read many of my old posts. She was right - the stuff I had written wasn't half bad (I could definitely be better about editing, but that's not really my bag, but I digress). I made a vow to myself to get back to the person who wrote about positive self-talk. The person who encouraged herself and others. I vowed to get home. I promised myself I wasn't going to just throw in the towel. I wasn't going to be some washed up 'has been' sitting on my couch waiting to die surrounded by Amazon packages filled with books about people who were actually living. 


So - here I am... my compass is working and I'm on my way home! Please be patient - I didn't get lost quickly; it was a slow process and I expect the road home will take even longer. And now for the uplifting part - here's the takeaway: Had I not gotten that note, I really was ready to quit writing and sharing. The quick note of appreciation and encouragement from a friend was all I needed to get back on track. Just like someone driving in a strange city - some quick directions written on the back of a napkin can get them back to the freeway so they can continue journeying to their destination. I may still be lost, but I am going to be more mindful about sharing encouragement with others. It just takes a few moments to tell an author now touching their stories are. An email or a phone call can be life changing - we can all help someone get home!


As our time together comes to an end, let me ask you:


Do you have a funny story about getting lost on a road trip? Share it as a comment on this post!

Can you recall a time when someone's encouragement helped you? Share it as a comment on this post!

How are you weathering life? Tell us a little bit about your journey and where you are at? What's going on with you friend? Share it as a comment on this post!


Hugs,

~Crystal



About Today's Author:

Crystal is a foodie, farmer, and friend! She has 6 children and lots of special young people who call her "mom" even if she isn't 'their' mom! She starts each day sipping coffee and milking cows with the love of her life and occasionally ends the day with a glass of wine.  Crystal is raising kids and cattle while juggling cleaning jobs, bartending shifts, music gigs, her job as office manger and she escapes reality a few hours each week riding horses and reading books (not simultaneously)! And who knows, she may start blogging again sometime soon: http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/


In the meantime, you can find her posting pics of food, cattle, and more on Instagram and Facebook



Interview with Tiffany Doerr Guerzon, Runner Up in the WOW! Q1 2022 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

Tiffany Doerr Guerzon is a freelance writer, essayist, and mixed media artist. Her work has been featured in This Land Press, CNN, The Christian Science Monitor, Parents.com, Submittable, ParentMap, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. She lives near Seattle, Washington with her husband and three children, where she teaches creative nonfiction at a local college. She loves to hike and make art. 


----------Interview by Renee Roberson


WOW: Hi Tiffany, welcome! I loved your essay and am excited to talk to you about the process of developing it. In “Red Dirt” you explore your Oklahoma heritage with the storied past of the land that once belonged to Native Americans. How did you first get the idea for this piece? 

Tiffany: It came out of a prompt from one of Kandace Chappelle’s nature writing classes that I took through WOW. My family has always talked about both our Land Run and Native American heritage and I enjoyed exploring the concept of home and place through the metaphor of the ground itself. Red Dirt is so iconic for Oklahoma, the tourist shops sell “Red Dirt Shirts” which are T-shirts dyed with red dirt and Rose rocks which are rose-shaped crystals that are pink because of the red dirt. I have a fellow Okie friend living near me who keeps a jar of red dirt in her house because it means “home” to her. Due to the word count limit, not the entire essay made it into the entry. As I researched the properties of red soil, I found more and more parallels between the facts and the people, such as the fact that red dirt sticks or clumps together when tread upon, which reminded me of the way the community came together after the Oklahoma City bombing. 

WOW: I love hearing our WOW! classes are helping to inspire published and award-winning works of writing! You have articles that have been featured in both regional and national publications such as Parents and The Christian Science Monitor. What was the first piece you had accepted and what was the writing/revision process for it like? 

Tiffany: The first piece I had accepted by a local regional parenting magazine was an essay I’d sent in two years before. The editor emailed me one day saying “I’ll bet you thought we forgot about this!” I don’t think that piece was edited at all. The editor was very kind in answering all my novice questions and walked me through the publication process. The national magazines were a different story. Not as far as the kindness of the editors I worked with, all of them have been wonderful, just in the case of editing. In my piece for CNN, “Why I Didn’t Become a Gymnastics Mom,” first the editor responded by asking me to include some research to back up my opinion. Even though it wasn’t a guarantee that she would accept the revised piece, I took her advice, both because I was so excited that she responded and because I agreed that research could only improve the essay. It took me a couple of weeks to do that and when I resubmitted it, it landed in her inbox on the day the news broke that Simone Biles was stepping away from Olympic competition for mental health reasons. Suddenly, my little story of how I tried not to pressure my gymnast daughter in the hope of preserving her mental health was of interest. CNN wanted a quick turnaround and it was edited by two different editors seven times in the space of a few days. And that was after many revisions by my critique partners before submitting the piece in the first place. 

WOW: Tell us about your fiction writing. You’ve written three picture books and an award-winning middle-grade novel called “Adeline’s Mirror,” which is a ghost story set in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. How do you get your ideas for your books? Do you have any new fiction works on the horizon? 

Tiffany: Most of my picture book ideas came from things one of my three children did or said. For example, “Loud Lani” is about a little girl who has no volume control and my middle child was never quiet. My middle grade novel, “Adeline’s Mirror,” began as a NaNoWriMo project over ten years ago. I’ve always loved ghost stories and history, so combining the two created a book that I would’ve wanted to read as a preteen. As for the setting, the Queen Anne neighborhood in Seattle is full of beautiful older mansions, many of which are built in the Queen Anne Victorian style. Plus, houses were built there as early as 1851, making it old enough for a ghost story! I’m currently working with a mentor through SCBWI’s mentorship program to revise the “Adeline’s Mirror” manuscript and will be looking for an agent soon. 

WOW: You belong to The Pacific Northwest Writers Association. What do you find beneficial about belonging to a writing organization? 

Tiffany: I think belonging to a writing organization is essential. Writing is a strange job and a very solitary pursuit. Being with other writers offers the companionship, shop talk, and advice that others might get in office settings. I also belong to the SCBWI which has been wonderful in providing resources and informational conferences. 

WOW: Your website says that you enjoy visual art and teach workshops focusing on creating mixed media art. How did you first discover this art form and what draws you to it? 

Tiffany: Before I became a professional writer, writing was my creative outlet. It still is to a degree, but more of my writing is now “work.” I discovered mixed media when I joined a free creative challenge called Index Card a Day offered by Daisy Yellow. In the challenge, you create tiny art pieces on index cards daily for 61 days. I learned about new art mediums and techniques from the Daisy Yellow Facebook group and enjoyed it so much that I started taking classes in mixed media. What I love about mixed media is that the process is very intuitive. Mixed media is created by adding multiple layers. The form is very forgiving; if you make a mark you don’t like, just cover it with another layer! It’s also very relaxing. I feel like my art practice compliments my writing practice and vice versa.

WOW: Tiffany, thank you again for stopping by today, and we can't wait to read more of your writing!

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Avoid Litigation: Mentioning Songs, Quoting Lyrics, Quoting People


By Bobbie Christmas 
 
 
Q: If I mention a song in my book, could I get in trouble? Here’s a sample sentence: Evanescence’s “Good Enough” was playing on the radio. I have quoted nothing from the lyrics. If I just mention that Evanescence is the character’s favorite band, do I need to do any legal things? 
 
A: I am not an attorney, but I do know that titles cannot be copyrighted, so you can certainly quote a title. Using even a few words from the lyrics of a song not in the public domain, however, can open you up for trouble if you haven’t received permission. 
 
Q: Please be so kind as to define the rules and regulations for quoting song titles and lyrics in published works. I have always assumed that quotation marks covered the legalities, but I was just informed that if you quote lyrics in a published work, you need a mechanical license to do so. Have you encountered this situation before?
 
A: I haven’t encountered it personally, but a close friend of mine did. Granted, it was before we had the internet, so her task took many weeks of research to find the owner of the copyright and learn how to contact that person. Once she had that information and leaned how to contact him, she wrote and requested permission to use his lyrics. He didn’t respond for several agonizing months. After all the delays, in the end she paid a fee based on the number of books that the publisher was printing and was pleased to have a signed contract with a well-known performer. 
 
Before I explain further, let me clarify some terminology. A mechanical license is necessary if you are publishing a songbook of copyrighted lyrics or producing a record using copyrighted lyrics. If you are writing a novel, not a songbook, and want to quote a line or a few lines of a copyrighted song, you need a print license. To get a print license, you first have to find out who owns the copyright. Nowadays you can search the ASCAP and BMI websites to determine the owner of the lyrics, and then you have to contact the owner to get written permission to use the lyrics. You may also have to pay a fee for each book you plan to print. 
 
The process can take a long time, put you through a great deal of trouble, and cost you money. You can see why I advise writers to avoid using lyrics and instead simply refer to the title or titles of songs. You don’t have to get permission to refer to a song title.
 
Q: I plan is to write a book made up of information gathered by interviewing one hundred leaders. After collecting this information I am simply going to use their input and words and craft my book. I plan to write only the intro and conclusion. Are there any industry rules about this? 
 
A: I’m relatively sure that if the people you interview are aware that you are writing a book based on their information and you get them to sign an agreement that allows you to identify them and use their words in your book, you won’t run into any problems. The key is to have their signatures on record and be careful not to misquote them. People don’t remember exactly the words they used, so you can rearrange their words to make sentences clearer, shorter, more to the point, or whatever is necessary to make the interview sparkle. You can also delete information that doesn’t fit and rearrange the order of the information. If you revise their words, though you must be sure to communicate that person’s intent. You can’t change the meanings of their quotes. 
 
Here's an example of an acceptable change. Original quote: “I—um—I’m not certain, but I’m pretty sure the house was white with black shutters.” Improved and acceptable quote: “As I remember the house, it was white with black shutters.” Unacceptable change: “I am certain the house was white with black shutters.” 
 
If you have concerns, you can tell each person you will send a copy of the interview for approval. I promise you, though, that doing so can lead to complications. Everyone will want to add, delete, edit, and change, and you’ll have a ton of changes to make, in your attempts to appease everyone. If you have the time and patience for that step, or if you have major concerns about “getting into trouble,” then getting approval of each interview once you have written it is the one step that will keep you out of trouble. 
 
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Bobbie Christmas is a book editor, author of Write In Style: Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing, and owner of Zebra Communications. Send your questions to Bobbie@ZebraEditor.com or BZebra@aol.com. Read Bobbie’s Zebra Communications blog at ZebraEditor.com/blog/.

Thursday, February 24, 2022

The Right Time To Write


I’ve got a writing predicament over here and I don’t know quite how to fix it. 

It’s not the usual problem, like a muddled middle, a runaway plot, or a flat character. It’s a bit more complicated and a lot more embarrassing. On the other hand, I feel like my writing friends will understand. 

Because I need a little validation, a smidgen of compassion. But then again, I might get a swift kick in the laptop instead. Anyway, here goes:

I can only write under certain circumstances and that’s about to change! 

Whew. It’s a relief to finally say it out loud. 

Except I sense you might be confused, struggling as it were to get on board the Cathy C. Hall Support Train. So let me explain further. 

As you may recall, I’m working on an adult mystery. I started the serious writing in the fall, and then NaNo came along (in November) when I set a goal that would require a certain amount of discipline. Fortunately, my discipline paid off with a writing routine that has taken me through this very day. But now I’ve got a big problem looming. 

Hmmm. Maybe you need to understand the routine a little better to fully grasp the enormity of the situation. Picture this: Every day around 6:00 PM in my corner of the world, dusk is settling in and I turn on one lamp where the glow spreads across my desk, casting a dappled shadow. The temperature has started to drop so I fire up my space heater to take off the chill and more often than not, a hot cup of tea sits next to the keyboard. As the sun sets, I’m typing away; the room grows darker, colder, a hush falls with nothing but the steady buzz of a heater to keep me company. But then a snap, a crack! What was that outside? Did someone just pass by my window? A shiver runs down my spine as I glance behind my chair. 

Could it be any more obvious? Six o’clock is perfect for cozy mystery writing! And after a solid hour, sometimes two, I have another five hundred words written and/or edited (more or less). 

For four months, it’s been the absolute right time to write. And I’ve got just a few chapters left. But now, when I sit down to write at 6:00 PM, the dadburn sun is still kinda shining. Birds are chirping. Happy little kids are playing outside. How am I supposed to write a mystery with all that going on? 

I need my shadows, a hint of intrigue in the air. I crave secrets, the darker, the better. I WANT THAT HAUNTED FEELING. 

It’s a huge challenge, y’all. And here’s the embarrassing part: I don’t think I can switch it up. 

Am I to suddenly start writing at 8:00 PM? My brain is winding down then; I’m deciding whether to watch a Friends episode or something on Netflix. Not to mention that I’d have to eat around 6:00 and that leads to digestive torpor, right? 

There’s always the afternoon, you say. But that’s for business writing and such. Am I to change my entire writing schedule at this advanced stage of my career? There’s mornings, though. Bright and early, greeting the day!

Please. 

It’s a predicament that only other writers can appreciate. To wit, I finally find the right time to write and the universe comes along and ruins it.

(Tell me I’m not the only crazy one! Do you have a right time to write? And why?)

Monday, February 21, 2022

Be Open to the Unexpected

We took advantage of an unusually warm day by strolling through Central park.


This past weekend, my family took one of those trips that we will remember for a lifetime. My son recently turned 16, and since his older sister still drives them to school and sports and we don’t need a fourth car, I suggested we take a trip to a place he’s never been before in place of a gift. Now, he was hesitant at first because he’s a homebody and he felt like that would be “too much.” My daughter is 18 and she was all on board. We took advantage of them being out of school last Thursday and Friday for teacher workdays and booked our flight and a modest hotel in the Garment District. 

As I’m sure you can guess, not everything went as planned. My husband and I have never traveled together to NYC and we’d never ridden the subway. But my son is a huge NBA fan and we bought tickets to see a Brooklyn Nets game the night we arrived. This meant we had to navigate the subway to and from the game. Don’t laugh, but I’d watched a few YouTube videos on how to purchase a metro card and use it for our family of four, and we used Apple Maps to tell us which stop to get on and off. It made for a long night, but we did it. We were proud of ourselves but then accidentally boarded the subway going in the wrong direction the next day trying to get to the World Trade Center. We quickly hopped off once we realized it, the attendant let us pass back through to get to the train going in the right direction without paying again. 

The trip took us out of our normal comfort zone, but through trial and error, we learned how to balance the inexpensive meals with the expensive. We saw how magical a Broadway show was (and my son kept joking he would probably nap through it. Spoiler: he didn’t). We stumbled across an experiential "Stranger Things" store and had a blast taking photographs. We marveled at the architecture in the New York Public Library. We shopped in Soho and Times Square and visited all eight floors of Macy’s just to say we did. My daughter, who also loves to write, said she can now realistically write what it’s like to ride on a subway. Because I’ve read so many books set in New York over the years, I was able to share factoids with everyone else about the different districts and history. 

The whole trip made me think about how our writing projects sometimes take us to unexpected places. The very first book I ever wrote was an 80,000-word novel that featured adult characters and chapters detailing their teen years. I eventually cut it in half, deleted all the adult scenes, and focused in on the teen storylines. A trip to the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida one summer inspired me to sit down and write a short story about a famous circus fire in one sitting. It can be easy to develop tunnel vision with our projects, but I encourage everyone, including myself, to stay flexible and follow your heart. You never know where it might lead you. 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer and editor who also produces the true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas. Learn more at www.FinishedPages.com.

Sunday, February 20, 2022

Interview with Carol Ovenburg: Q1 2022 CNF Contest Third Place Winner

Carol’s Bio:
Carol Ovenburg has been a visual artist for over 40 years, a writer for over 20 years. She loves writing creative non-fiction essays, was recently published by WOW-Women on Writing as a 4th quarter, 2021 2nd place winner. She is currently finishing her first memoir titled, Pearls about her struggle growing up the daughter of an alcoholic mother with borderline personality disorder. She reads and screens and scores plays for the Ashland New Plays Festival. Carol is in two local writing groups with timed writing exercises a la Natalie Goldberg. On occasion she finds the time to sit down with a good book, usually a memoir or something of historical interest. She and her partner watch good foreign films and foreign detective series. Once a month they travel to Argentine tango dance festivals held in different cities around the US for social, not competitive dancing. She is temporarily living and working in the hills of Ashland, Oregon with her partner awaiting the re-build of their home consumed by the Almeda fire in Talent, Oregon, September 8, 2020. She and her partner hope to be moved in by the end of January, 2022. 

If you haven't done so already, check out Carol's award-winning essay "Marcia" and then return here for a chat with the author. 

WOW: Congratulations on placing third in the Q1 2022 Creative Nonfiction Contest! How did you begin writing your essay and how did it and your writing processes evolve as you wrote? 

Carol: This essay began as the front chapter of my memoir, Pearls. But the idea or notion of my being a weed in my mother’s garden surfaced a few years ago in conversation with other women about entitlement and privilege and I made the comment that I feel about as deserving as a weed in my mother’s garden. In writing this first chapter, I used that as a metaphor to dive into the complicated relationship I have had with my mother, and it seemed to work. I used the chapter to develop an essay for one of Chelsey Clammer’s classes, and her critique was instrumental in my taking the thread of that metaphor through to the end of the piece. I was so pleased with the way it ended that I added my changes into the memoir. I have Chelsey to thank for that. She’s very good at finding what’s missing. 

WOW: Thank you for sharing that bit of your writing journey. It’s so wonderful to find a writing teacher who can critique in a way that’s so meaningful for you and your piece. What did you learn about yourself or your writing by creating this essay? 

Carol: I’m still learning about structure and the creative elements of structure. I’ve always considered myself a structuralist, but visually, as an artist. Writing needs to be more specific structurally and contextually to feel the more universal quality of the piece. Learning this specificity has helped me develop my writing voice. I’m learning what that voice sounds like. Learning to make the vowels sing. To make the writing sing. Learning to hear the cadences and rhythms in my writing. 

WOW: Please tell us more about the memoir you’re writing. Is “Marcia” related to your memoir? 

Carol: My memoir is about the dysfunctional relationship I had with my mother, Marcia. Her passive aggressive cruelty, her narcissism, her addictions, left a hole in me that I sought to fill through relationships, spiritual groups, dissociations, love addictions. My journey moves to self-forgiveness and healing from a labyrinth of self-hatred and a debilitating inability to stand up for myself. I think a common theme for women of my generation. I asked Chelsey to edit the memoir. I just received her brilliant notes on how to improve it. 

WOW: What a journey – both your lived experience and your process of writing about it to share with others who can relate to or learn from it. Enjoy and good luck with the revision process! Which creative nonfiction essays or writers have inspired you most, and in what ways did they inspire you? 

Carol: I’m new to writing creative non-fiction essays. Chelsey’s classes along with other creative non-fiction writers from Women on Writing – reading them and observing the many possibilities for structure and content has been my biggest inspiration. Before Chelsey’s essay classes, I had no idea of how to write and develop a piece of writing into a good essay. I love reading and learning from authors and writers who know how to use words effectively, writers who draw me into the story and keep me there because their writing isn’t lazy. Their choice of words is specific. Their craft is tight. And I feel honored to be among the pantheon of top ten winners of Women on Writing twice. 

WOW: We’re so honored to have you as a part of the WOW community! If you could tell your younger self anything about writing, what would it be? 

Carol: I would tell my younger self to keep writing. Let yourself be bad at writing. But keep writing and grow from your mistakes. The more you write the better you’ll get. Follow the example of other good writers. It’s not what you write but how you write it. Don’t feel bad about rejection – all writing is subjective. Break the rules – don’t be afraid to try something new. Be dangerous. Go deep. Let it hurt. 

WOW: I love that advice! Thank you for that, and for all of your thoughtful responses. Happy writing! 


Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt, who keeps a blog of journal entries, memoir snippets, interviews, training logs, book reviews, and profiles of writers and competitive sportswomen. Tweets @dr_greenawalt.

Saturday, February 19, 2022

Inside and Outside of Books: Bios, Blurbs, Happy Endings, Titles, and More

 
By Bobbie Christmas 
 
Q: Are author photos and biographies essential to have on your books? Would I be making a mistake if my back cover had only my blurb?
 
A: The back cover is the strongest sales piece for a book. Everything on the back cover should make people want to buy the book. The back cover should contain a powerful, interesting blurb regarding the content of the book or novel. Your bio, however, is important only if your book is nonfiction and you are an expert in your subject. Your bio may be insignificant on novels unless you become famous and people want to know more about you. 
 
A snapshot, however, may have significance in a few cases. For example if the book is about living with a handicap, a photograph may reveal the author’s physical handicap. Otherwise, the author’s picture isn’t essential, but be aware that the human eye is naturally drawn to photographs, especially pictures of people, and anything that draws the eye of a potential buyer is a good thing. If you prefer not to use your photograph, though, I doubt anyone would even notice that it was missing. 
 
Q: What’s the best way to avoid getting sued for something I put into my book? 
 
A: Ask your questions of an attorney familiar with intellectual property. A good place to start looking for such an attorney is through the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, which has chapters in many states. 
 
Q: Should novels have a happy ending? I'm writing teen fiction and can't decide if my main character should end up with someone or not. 
 
A: While specific genres may have requirements regarding how a story should end, it’s my opinion that if every novel had a happy ending, we would have no reason to read books. I prefer to be surprised by the ending, happy or not. 
 
Without reading your book I can’t tell if the ending works. Teen fiction, however, focuses more on feelings, inner struggles, and relationships than on plot. The guidelines don’t have a requirement of how the novel should end. 
 
All novels do have to have some things, though. They must have believable characters, natural dialogue, a plot that carries from beginning to end, and resolution—whether happy or not. It also must be edited and devoid of errors in grammar, punctuation, word choice, noncompliance with Chicago style, and more. 
 
Q: When should I name my novel? 
 
A: The answer to this question varies. I recommend giving the book a working title, but recognize that the title might change. One-word titles aren’t usually as strong as titles that have allure or intrigue, but a one-word label at least gives your file a name while you wait to determine the final title. 
 
Years ago I worked with a client whose novel had a one-word title—a label, rather than a title—but while editing the manuscript I saw a line that intrigued me, something a child said. I recommended using a portion of that child’s chant, and it made a captivating title. 
 
My own nonfiction book about creative writing had the working title of Rev Up Your Writing and Win. I thought the title was fine, but when I sold the book to a publisher, the publisher explained that it also had an imprint that specialized in gaming books and didn’t want a book that wasn’t a gaming book to have the word “win” in the title. We settled on the new name, Write In Style. While I didn’t love the new title, I loved that a traditional publisher bought the book, paid me an advance against royalties, and paid all the costs of publishing and distribution. The publisher got my book into libraries and bookstores across America and Australia, something I could not have done on my own, so I was willing to compromise on the title. 
 
After you finish your book perhaps your editor, beta readers, or publisher will make suggestions for the title, if you can’t come up with one that hooks readers. You never know when that title will appear or where may come from it. The working title is unimportant as long as you pick a strong title before the book goes to press. 
 
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Bobbie Christmas is a book editor, author of Write In Style: Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing, and owner of Zebra Communications. She will answer your questions too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or BZebra@aol.com. Read Bobbie’s Zebra Communications blog at https://www.zebraeditor.com/blog/.

Friday, February 18, 2022

Jump Start Your Creativity With a Pre-Writing Routine

By Kelly L. Stone

Time to write is sparse, so you need to sit down and get going quickly. Even if you only have 15 or 20 minutes to get words on the page, springing into a creative state of mind is as simple as one-two-three when you establish a pre-writing routine.

A routine, or doing the same tasks in the same order before you sit down and write, establishes a habit and engages the subconscious mind; you can train your brain to shift into an alpha mode just by creating a routine. It helps you make the transition from day-to-day life (work, kids, chores) to your creative project quickly and easily.

The use of a pre-writing routine is a common tool among successful authors. For instance, Ernest Hemingway is said to have sharpened 12 pencils before he looked at his work-in-progress.

Pre-Writing Routine Examples

Use some of these ideas to create your own pre-writing routine. The key here is to limit it to three tasks, do it the same way every day, and take no more than 20 minutes to complete:

1. Get Your Work Space Ready: Make your tea, organize your research materials, check your e-mail (and then close your browser!), gather all your writing materials, put on your writing music, shut the door to your office and sit down to write!

2. Meditate: Relaxation and creativity go hand in hand. Set aside a few minutes before you write to do some deep breathing and meditation (exercise also works).

3. Light Candles: Pick a few scents you enjoy and fire them up!

4. Journal: Get your internal editor out of the way first.

5. Write With Your Eyes Closed: This is a trick bestselling author CJ Lyons recommends, especially if you feel blocked. Sit at your computer and write with your eyes closed until your mind loosens up.

6. Re-read the Previous Day's Work: Review what you wrote the day before to regain focus on the work at hand and stimulate the creative process. Some writers call this "getting back into the story." (You can also try another Hemingway trick: stop writing in the middle of a sentence so that you have a jumping off point the next day.)

A pre-writing routine focuses your mind and helps you gain access quickly and easily to your subconscious creativity. Just remember: no more than three tasks, do it the same way every time, and take no more than 20 minutes to complete it.

***

Kelly L Stone (http://authorkellylstone.com/) holds a master’s degree in counseling and is a licensed therapist. She started a successful writing career while holding down a full time job. She then wrote TIME TO WRITE (Adams Media, Jan '08) to show other aspiring writers how to do it, too. Her novel, GRAVE SECRET (Mundania Press, Sept '07) was called “powerful” and “well written” by Romantic Times Book Reviews. Her third book, THINKING WRITE: The Secret to Freeing Your Creative Mind (Adams Media, Oct '09) demonstrates how to use the power of your subconscious mind for maximum writing creativity. Kelly’s work has also appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul and Cup of Comfort anthologies, as well as Family Circle magazine, Writer’s Digest, Cat Fancy, and others.

Kelly is also a WOW! Women on Writing instructor. Check out her upcoming workshops, No Matter How Busy You Are, You Can Still Find Time to Write!Empower Your Muse, Empower Your Writing Self, and Life’s a Bitch and Then You Write: A Three-Step Technique to Strengthen Your Work-In-Progress. More information about our classes can be found on our classroom page

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Thursday, February 17, 2022

Interview With Jeanne Cavelos, Founder of Odyssey Writing Workshops

 


Today I'm so excited to be interviewing Jeanne Cavelos, the founder of Odyssey Writing Workshops. We'll be chatting about her new program, Your Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop.

Jeanne Cavelos is the director of the Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust. She was a senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell, where she worked for eight years, editing the fantasy/science fiction program, the Abyss horror line, and other fiction and nonfiction. Jeanne is also the bestselling author of seven books and numerous short stories and articles. She has won the World Fantasy Award and twice been nominated for the Stoker Award.

Jeanne has run the Odyssey Writing Workshop for the last 26 years, and this year announced the breakthrough new program Your Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop.

You can find out more about Jeanne here and more about the Your Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop here.

--- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us today! Tell us about how you came to start Odyssey Writing Workshops.

Jeanne: After eight years in publishing, I left my position as senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell to have more time for my own writing.  I’d gone into publishing with the plan that would be my day job while I wrote at night.  But editing gradually took over my life and I ended up with no time to write.  So I realized that I needed to make a change and moved to New Hampshire. 
 
The part of editing that I enjoyed most was working with authors and helping them strengthen their books.  That’s actually only a small part of the job of being a senior editor, sadly.  But as I left publishing, I wanted to be able to continue working with writers and to work with them in a deeper, more meaningful way, so I wouldn’t just be helping an author with one book, but I would be helping an author improve her skills and all her future writing.

As I started to think about how I could work with writers, I remembered my earlier experience earning my MFA in creative writing.  I was the weird girl who wrote science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and none of the teachers in the program knew much about science fiction, fantasy, or horror.  I thought how great it would be to have a program at an MFA level that focused on those genres, with teachers who were experts in those genres and believed in their value as art, and with students who all knew and loved those genres.  Those were the thoughts that led me, in 1996, to create the Odyssey Writing Workshop, an advanced, intensive, six-week, in-person program held each summer in New Hampshire. 

WOW: I love that you started a program based on your own experiences and need in an MFA! What is the Your Personal Odyssey workshop like and who is it for?

Jeanne: Let me first explain why I decided to transform Odyssey into this new program, Your Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop.  Holding Odyssey online for the last two summers due to the pandemic revealed to me that a huge number of talented writers want an in-depth, challenging program to build their skills but can't attend a six-week, in-person workshop.  More than that, the last 26 years have taught me that a six-week program is not the best format for all students. All writers do not write or learn at the same pace. While Odyssey students step up and make their deadlines, all-nighters don't always produce work that best reflects the student's progress. I've also learned the great value of one-on-one sessions with students to generate goals and plans, discuss concepts, suggest techniques, brainstorm solutions to story problems, answer questions, and get to know each student so I can do my best to help them move ahead in their writing journey.  And I've learned that Odyssey's structure doesn't allow me enough time with each student to do all that.

All of this led me to create Your Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop.  Your Personal Odyssey is a one-on-one, personalized, online program that combines the intensive, advanced Odyssey lectures with expert feedback and deep mentoring in an experience designed to maximize your learning and improvement.

For each writing topic, you watch the lecture recordings; do readings, writing exercises, and critiques; work with me to create and complete an individualized assignment; and write a story or novel excerpt. Penetrating, detailed feedback by myself and guest critiquers will be provided, and I'll work closely with you in mentoring sessions to provide guidance and to help you follow the unique path that is most helpful for you.  You can study topics in whatever order you feel will be most helpful and can spend extra time on a topic and go deeper into the content to work on a particular problem area.

You can choose how long they want to complete Your Personal Odyssey. Those who want to fit their learning into six weeks can apply for the first session, starting June 6. Those who feel they could learn and improve more with an experience spread over more time can apply for the second session, starting August 8 and lasting three months; or the third session, starting November 14 and lasting six months.

The program includes great guest lectures by bestselling authors Brandon Sanderson, Meagan Spooner, and more, and guest critiques by award-winning authors R. F. Kuang, Elizabeth Hand, and more. 

WOW: I love the in-depth teaching and mentoring this provides! Who would you say this program for?

Jeanne: If you want a program customized for you, that focuses on your writing strengths and weaknesses and what you want to achieve as a writer, this is it.

To succeed in Your Personal Odyssey, you need to be highly motivated, eager to try new writing tools and techniques, open to feedback, and willing to work intensely and move outside your comfort zone. You need to be ready to hear about the weaknesses in your writing and ready to work to overcome them.

If you are, then Your Personal Odyssey will teach you the skills you need to become the writer you want to be.

WOW: I think that must be the biggest hurdle: an eagerness to overcome your own weaknesses. So, what are some of the common problems you see in writers who join your workshop?

Jeanne: The biggest weakness of most writers is plot.  Most developing writers don’t have their protagonist struggling to achieve a goal.  The protagonist often starts the story by waking up, thinking about her life, and then going about her day.  If things get worse for the protagonist, it’s often due to outside forces that act randomly on the protagonist rather than other characters doing something in response to the protagonist’s attempt to achieve a goal.  That creates a weak protagonist and a weak causal chain, and it makes it difficult to create a powerful climax that feels both surprising and inevitable. 

Another common problem is weak characters. Many characters feel inconsistent, or overly familiar, or are simply not very interesting. Usually authors imagine their characters are much richer and more developed than they are on the page.  Or they provide extensive exposition—background information—about the character in the story, but that background is irrelevant to the story or never affects the character’s actions in the story.  The character should be mainly defined by what they do in the story, not by their background.  And we should feel that the character’s struggles really challenge the character, leading the character to change.  Too many protagonists remain static, unchanging, which makes us feel like the events of the story didn’t matter much.

A related problem is excessive exposition.  The writer has planned out an extensive background and history for the characters, some of the plot elements, and in the case of fantasy or science fiction, the world, along with its technology or magic.  The writer often feels compelled to put all of this exposition into the story, often in large chunks we call infodumps.  Usually, most of the exposition doesn’t need to be put in the story.  The way to incorporate the pieces that are necessary is seldom to simply have the narrator explain them or the viewpoint character think about them.  There are many techniques an author can use to convey exposition while moving the story ahead, so writers need to learn those.

WOW: I see a lot of my own weaknesses in this list! What are some of the transformations you've seen from people who have joined your workshops?

Jeanne: That’s one of the reasons I love working with writers and have devoted so much of my life to it.  I love to see writers have those lightbulb moments, and it’s wonderful to read an author’s latest submission and see the breakthroughs they’ve made.  Each writer comes with their own writing strengths and weaknesses, so all different kinds of improvements and transformations have happened at Odyssey.  As I mentioned, many writers struggle with plot, so I see many students who start out writing stories with vivid descriptions and strong voices in which the protagonist wanders around and thinks a lot but doesn’t do much, and the situation doesn’t really change—or if it changes, it’s due to another character taking some action.  By the end of the workshop, these students are writing protagonists who are struggling against obstacles to achieve goals, and those struggles lead to crisis points and turns, and through a strong causal chain the conflict escalates, leading to a surprising but inevitable climax.  It’s wonderful to see! 

One student, a fantasy writer, struggled to get emotion into his stories.  His plots were strong and his characters were interesting, but he told his stories from such a distant point of view that it was hard for readers to feel much about what was happening.  Once he understood the different ways in which he was making his point of view distant, the point of view started getting closer and closer.  He started to describe settings, situations, and other characters the way the point of view character would experience them.  And suddenly his stories became so much more involving and emotional! 

One science fiction writer came to the workshop able to come up with innovative premises, create fascinating worlds, and build some nice rising action, but she was unable to make characters that felt well developed, believable, or compelling, and any attempts at a character arc felt forced.  She tried in several submissions to use different techniques we discussed, but the characters still felt flat and unbelievable.  But we kept talking these issues out in one-on-one meetings, discussing what her characters needed and how the characters in her previous stories could be improved, and in her final submission she had a great breakthrough, writing a story with an extremely engaging and compelling character who changed in a completely believable and tragic way.  I was blinking back tears at the end of that story.  All the techniques and elements we’d discussed had come together in the most beautiful way.

WOW: These transformations are inspiring! What would you say to a writer who is uncertain about taking an online writing course?

Jeanne: An online course is definitely different than an in-person course.  If you’d like the group experience of an in-person class, there are many good programs you can seek out. 

 If you’re considering an online program, be aware that there are huge differences between online writing courses.  Many of them simply provide video lectures and leave you to apply the content.  A few provide feedback on a couple of your pieces in addition to providing lectures.  I think many people find online courses not as helpful as they might be because simply learning concepts or techniques from a lecture doesn’t have much effect on someone’s writing.  It’s the same as reading a book on writing.  The content of that lecture or book goes into one part of your brain, the rational part, but your writing generally comes out of another part of your brain, the irrational, instinctive part.  So one of the important tasks any writing program needs to accomplish is to help students make connections between these two parts of the brain, so the concepts learned in lecture actually become incorporated into the writing process.  That only happens through extensive practice of the techniques, both in writing exercises and in writing stories or novel excerpts, and receiving in-depth feedback on a series of pieces that lets you know how you’re doing.  Most online courses don’t do that.  Maximizing your progress also involves addressing your personal needs, which most online courses don’t do.

Your Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop is held online, but it’s a unique program unlike any other online program.  You’ll not only do that extensive deep practice and receive expert feedback, but you’ll also have extensive one-on-one deep mentoring sessions to help you overcome your personal writing weaknesses, struggles, and challenges.  Maybe a helpful way to think about it is you're going into the wilderness to discover your writing powers with wizard mentors teaching you and guiding you along the way.

Online classes definitely pose several challenges, such as working out of your home with whatever distractions are there, and working independently.  If you aren’t able to carve out significant hours to work, and if you aren’t able to motivate yourself to put in the work, then it will be hard to get much out of an online program.  But those are also skills you need to be a writer, so developing those can also help you in your writing career.

WOW: Your workshop sounds incredible! Thank you so much for interviewing with us today. Writers, if you want to sign up for Your Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop, be sure to sign up today. You have until April 1st to apply!

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Interview with Dr. Jo Skinner, Summer 2021 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

 


Today I'm excited to interview Dr. Jo Skinner, runner up in the Summer 2021 Flash Fiction contest. Make sure you read her story Black Man Running then come on back for our interview.

First, a bit about Dr. Jo Skinner:

Jo is a Brisbane based general practitioner who has worked in urban and rural Australia as well as Ireland. She is married with three teenagers.

Her stories have been long listed, short listed, won competitions and been published. Last year, she coedited an anthology about people’s experiences of COVID which was published by the Queensland Writer’s Centre and can be also found at The State Library Queensland. She is currently writing a novel, A World of Silence, dealing with the theme of secrecy around domestic abuse.

When Jo is not working or writing she is running. She has completed forty-eight marathons and counting.

Visit her website at www.johannaskinner.com, and connect with her on Instagram @running.writing.

---- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: First congratulations on winning runner-up! Your story roped me in immediately - it was both heartbreaking and riveting at the same time. What inspired you to write this story?

Dr. Jo: This story is based on a true incident. My husband, a social worker, was participating in a cultural awareness training programme. His colleague, a woman of European descent began to weep. She explained that her husband, an Indigenous Australian man, missed the birth of their first child. When the midwife called, he started running down the street and was arrested for behaving suspiciously.

WOW: How shocking! It's incredible how well you captured that moment too. So, how does being a practitioner shape and influence your writing? 

Dr. Jo: My work has an enormous influence on my writing. As a general practitioner, I am in the privileged position that people present and tell me their stories. It has taken me years to not direct the consultation but to just let patients talk and tell me about themselves before I ask questions about their symptoms or what they have come in for. Particularly during this pandemic, people have an urge to share, to spill their hearts. This is so illuminating and often helps me to form a diagnosis. I am still surprised how much people reveal in a fifteen-minute consultation, often confiding things they have not shared with anyone.

In March 2020, it prompted me to contact a friend of mine, Jane Connolly who is an editor and writer and together we collected stories from people in all walks of life and created an anthology about the early days of lockdown. It was published by the Queensland Writer’s Centre and is a great snapshot of those first months where the world as we knew it ceased.

So many of my stories have their origin in something a patient has said or experienced. In the past eighteen months I have written several essays and short stories prompted by the enormous impact of the pandemic on people’s lives. My work is a central part of my writing, helps me not only to decompress but to make sense of things that are otherwise too traumatic, too difficult to deal with. I think since writing regularly, I have become a better practitioner.

WOW: I think that's so profound you find that through writing you have become a better practitioner. I'm so impressed you have done 48 marathons! How does being a runner inspire you?

Dr. Jo: I completed my marathon number 49 last weekend, the final one for the year. I never set out to run marathons. In 2014, I set myself a challenge to run a marathon a month and raise money for twelve different charities. It was a crazy, tough year, but my husband and kids were so supportive, and I learnt so much. Distance running is a wonderful analogy for life, for overcoming difficulties, learning about yourself and what you are capable of. When you run a marathon, you spend an awful lot of time in your head. It is a rare opportunity to let your mind free range, to sort things out, escape a bad mood, muddle through writer’s block, reflect on the day ahead or just daydream. Starting is often hard, but I have never returned from a run and regretted it.

WOW: That type of free range thinking is so therapeutic. How do you know when a story is done?

Dr. Jo: That is such a challenging question. I am starting to wonder if a piece is ever finished. Everything you write has so many possibilities and I often use one story in lots of ways. Many of my stories start as flash fiction written in response to the prompts sent out by Furious Fiction each month, a competition organised by the Australian Writer’s Centre. Mostly, they don’t place but I use the kernel of the idea to write a longer story or reshape it for other competitions. Other times I will use a scene from a novel I am writing and play around with it, then submit it to a short story or flash fiction competition. Even when a story is ‘done,’ it can potentially be reshaped or reused. If a piece does place in a competition or is published, I will generally leave it and consider it ‘done.’

WOW: It's such a challenge to let a story go until we see it published, and even then, I'm sure we can find things to change. What are you currently working on that you can tell us a bit about?

Dr. Jo: I am currently doing the final edits to a novel, A World of Silence which explores the impacts of domestic abuse on women and how it is often invisible even to those closest to the victim. The book is told through the dual points of view of two women. The two main characters have secrets that are gradually unearthed as the story unfolds. I am hoping to submit it to a manuscript competition that closes in December.

WOW: I can't wait to see what you come out with next. Best of luck to you and congratulations again!
 

Monday, February 14, 2022

Mindset Medicine Blog Tour and Giveaway

We're so excited to announce the launch of our next blog tour, Mindset Medicine by Mari L. McCarthy. This book is perfect for health-conscious, action-taking writers who want to manifest everlasting self-love write now.

Want the cure for culture chaos?
 
Grab your pen and pad and prescribe yourself, Mindset Medicine: A Journaling Power Self-Love Book

The news, the fear, the media, the texts, the constant bombardment of electronic sludge. It can all tear you down and rip you away from being YOU! 

You can choose to give into this madness and be manipulated into submission. Or you can join the Journaling Power Revolution, reconnect with your higher self, and love yourself without conditions.

In her third book, award-winning international bestseller author Mari L. McCarthy reveals a journaling power path that leads to an awareness of how vibrant your life will be when you… 

• Understand why you absolutely have to love yourself first 
• Tap into your hidden gifts and talents 
• Declare why others must ALWAYS respect you 
• Establish rock-solid unbreakable boundaries 
• Promise to be YOUR own superhero! 

Most importantly, Mindset Medicine explains in rich detail why the most empowering and loving relationship you can ever have – is with YOU!

Purchase a copy of Mindset Medicine at AmazonBarnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add this book to your GoodReads reading list.

About the Author, Mari L. McCarthy


Mari L. McCarthy, Founder and CEO - Chief Empowerment Officer of CreateWriteNow.com, teaches curious health-conscious action-takers how to use Journaling For The Health Of It®️ to heal the emotional, creative, physical, and spiritual issues in their tissues. She also shows them how to use this powerful personal transformation tool to know, grow and share their True Self. Mari is the multi award-winning author of Journaling Power: How To Create The Happy, Healthy Life You Want To LiveHeal Your Self With Journaling Power and Mindset Medicine: A Journaling Power Self-Love Book. She’s also created 20+ Journaling For The Health Of It® Self-Management 101 Workbooks including Who Am I?, Take Control Of Your Health! and Start Journaling For The Health Of It® Write Now.

Find out more about Mari by visiting her website CreateWriteNow.com, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or YouTube.

--- Book Blurbs 

If you’re feeling pressured by societal expectations of what you “should” do, Mindset Medicine by Mari L. McCarthy will help deprogram those negative beliefs and allow you to connect with your true authentic self. Through empowering journaling exercises that encourage unconditional self-love, you’ll discover your passions and uncover what’s been holding you back. As women, many of us have been conditioned to put everyone’s needs before our own; but like the airline flight attendant reminds us, we must secure our own oxygen mask first before we attempt to help others. This message of nurturing yourself first is paramount in Mindset Medicine. I relished Mari’s journaling prompts for providing me with the space to meditate, reflect, dream, play, and breathe. As an online entrepreneur, I found myself nodding to the sections on “shiny object syndrome” and “establishing boundaries.” The forward momentum of each chapter, from rediscovering your talents and reversing your thinking to focusing on joy and laughter and gratitude, buoyed me along my self-love mindset mission. I love the idea of marrying yourself! You’ll feel a powerful surge of energy and excitement while establishing a rock-solid platform of positivity as you rediscover your hidden gifts. Grab a pen and paper and prepare to get sweet on yourself, realize your life’s purpose, and share your gifts with the world! 

— Angela Mackintosh, editor-in-chief, WOW! Women on Writing

Mindset Medicine is a healthy dose of positivity and can-do journaling tips to apply to your life this very minute. Written in a conversational and engaging style, this book is the remedy to the overwhelming overflow of online information and a roadmap to renewal, restoration, and unconditional self-love. Be sure to keep Mindset Medicine handy for a booster of confidence and cheer.”

– Melanie Faith, Author of In a Flash!, Poetry Power, and Photography for Writers, and WOW! Women on Writing instructor (melaniedfaith.com)




--- Blog Tour Calendar

February 14 @ The Muffin
What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than discovering a book that helps you love yourself. Find out more about Mindset Medicine, read an interview with the author, and enter to win a copy of the book too.

February 14th @ Frugal France
Join Laura as she reviews Mari L. McCarthy's Mindset Medicine. You also have the chance to win a copy of the book too.
https://frugalfrance.com

February 15th @ Golden Spiral Journey
Visit Carol's blog where she shares her review of Mari L. McCarthy's Mindset Medicine.
https://goldenspiraljourney.com/

February 16th @ Journaling to Heal
Billie Wade will be sharing her experience with reading Mari L. McCarthy's Mindset Medicine.
https://www.journalingtoheal.com/

February 18th @ Fiona Ingram's Blog
Join Fiona as she features Mari L. McCarthy's book Mindset Medicine.

February 18th @ The Bohemian Princess
Visit Rebecca's blog today and read her review of Mari L. McCarthy's book Mindset Medicine.

February 20th @ Linda Schueler's Blog
Visit Linda's blog and read her review of Mari L. McCarthy's book Mindset Medicine.
https://lschuelerca.wordpress.com/

February 20th @ Melanie Faith's blog
Join Melanie as she features Mari L. McCarthy's book Mindset Medicine.

February 21st @ The Bohemian Princess Podcast
Visit Rebecca's podcast and enter a giveaway for Mari L. McCarthy's book Mindset Medicine.

February 23rd @ Look to the Western Sky
Margo will be reviewing Mari L. McCarthy's book and you can also win a copy too.

February 25th @ A Storybook World
Deirdra will be showcasing Mari L. McCarthy's book Mindset Medicine. Don't miss this life-changing book!
https://www.astorybookworld.com/

February 27th @ Freeing the Butterfly
Embrace a renewed mindset and read Michelle's review of Mari L. McCarthy's book Mindset Medicine. 

March 2nd @ Beverley A. Baird's Blog
Join Bev as she reviews Mari L. McCarthy's Mindset Medicine. A must-read to get your mind and health back on track!

March 4th @ One Sister's Journey
Visit Lisa's blog and read her thoughts about Mari L. McCarthy's powerful book Mindset Medicine.

March 5th @ Anne Greenawalt's Blog
Join Anne as she reviews Mari L. McCarthy's powerful book Mindset Medicine.

March 7th @ World of My Imagination
Join Wendy as she guest reviews on Nicole's blog and shares her thoughts about Mari L. McCarthy's powerful book Mindset Medicine.

March 8th @ Bella Rose Healing Hands
Join Isabella as she interviews Mari L. McCarthy and reviews her book Mindset Medicine.

March 10th @ Deborah Adam's Blog
Join Deborah as she interviews author Mari L. McCarthy and gives away a copy of the inspiring Mindset Medicine.

March 10th @ Choices
Madeline Sharples will be featuring Mari L. McCarthy's book Mindset Medicine.

March 11th @ The Journal Well Project
Join Tara and read her review of Mindset Medicine by Mari L. McCarthy

March 12th @ Liberate and Lather
Visit Angela's blog where she reviews Mari L. McCarthy's book Mindset Medicine. You also have the chance to win a copy for yourself too.

March 13th @ Joan Porte's Blog
Stop by Joan's blog where she features Mari L. McCarthy's book Mindset Medicine

March 14th @ Jessica Liebe's Blog
Jessica reviews Mari L. McCarthy's powerful book Mindset Medicine.

March 15th @ Because of Words
Join Cassie and read her review of Mindset Medicine by Mari L. McCarthy

March 16th @ My Question Life
Join Kara as she shares her thoughts of Mindset Medicine by Mari L. McCarthy

March 17th @ Knotty Needle
Don't miss Judy's review of Mari L. McCarthy's powerful book Mindset Medicine.
March 18th @ Alanna Jean's Blog
Make sure to stop by Alanna's blog and read her review of Mari L. McCarthy's book Mindset Medicine.

March 19th @ Leslie's Voice
Leslie shares her thoughts of Mari L. McCarthy's book Mindset Medicine.

March 20th @ Jill Sheets' Blog
Visit Jill's blog and find out more about author Mari L. McCarthy and her new book Mindset Medicine.

March 20th @ Wildwood Reads
Join Megan and read her thoughts about Mari L. McCarthy's book Mindset Medicine.




***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

Enter to win a copy of Mindset Medicine by Mari L. McCarthy by filling out the Rafflecopter form below. The giveaway ends March 2nd at 11:59 pm CT. We will announce the winner the next day in the Rafflecopter widget and follow up via email. Good luck!



a Rafflecopter giveaway