7 Things Every Writer Wants for Christmas

Writers are a persnickety bunch. Easy to annoy. Quietly correcting your grammar during every conversation. Unable to read something as trivial as a Facebook status without mentioning your shitty spelling. We know we do this. We can’t help it.

But we’re great to have around for an epic Scrabble match, or to prep for your son’s spelling bee, OR to compose a Dear John diatribe that undercuts everything your soon-to-be ex stands for. Bonuses.

If you’re lucky enough to have a writer in your life – because she hasn’t yet driven you away with unending sarcasm, laced with big words meant to make you feel inferior – here’s a handy gift guide for Christmas, complete with affordable items we starving artists can buy ourselves. <– Longest sentence ever? Don’t care.

5128josephWhat writers REALLY want

  • How about a leather journal? You can’t have that one because I already bought it. Writers love leather and moleskin. I recommend Etsy because most items are handmade and one of a kind.
  • Pens. We never have enough. And we need them for the leather journals. We especially love them with witty phrases – and swearing. (Or maybe that’s just me.)
  • Homemade vouchers or coupons for distraction-free writing time. One of the best gifts I ever received from my little darlings was a book of coupons for hours – plural – to do what I love undisturbed. I used every last one long before the year was up.
  • A sign for his office when he’s writing. Mine looks like this. I recommend every writer have one and explain to each family member what it means when the sign is up: “Don’t bother me unless it’s an emergency.” You will also have to explain what can and cannot be deemed an emergency.
  • A thesaurus with a knife through it, so when she goes to grab it to find that “perfect” word, she will remember that the perfect word is in her head and nowhere else. See?
  • I have stuff for writers, too. The POSTER has been popular (now in its sixth printing). Check that out here.
  • And I have books. Find ’em on Amazon if you’re so inclined. For a change, this isn’t about me, so I’m not including the link.

That’s it. Useful, direct, kinda sexy. Now go finish your shopping.

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If you’d like to learn more about writing like YOU, killing writer’s block and penning your best words, I’m polishing a new product that will teach you exactly that. Subscribe in the upper right hand corner to hear more about it – and get a discount when it’s released. (I’m thinking before spring.)

Fear has killed more writers than anything else. Don’t be one of them.

In January, I asked myself some hard questions about life and business – and where I wanted both to go this year. I made a short list and a rough outline of what this place was going to look like in 12 months. (I didn’t plan on orange. It just happened.) By March, I was elbow-deep.

Since then, I’ve edited 21 novels, 18 short stories, one non-fiction book, a script, and a slew of random blog posts, query letters and synopses. I also worked with almost two dozen writers in my private coaching, “Write Raw.” (More about that in a minute.) Oh, and I wrote my own #1 Amazon Bestseller, THE Guide.

On top of that, from May to August, 18 writers came here to complete or jump-start works in progress in our 4-week summer classes. In the fall, five more authors finished new books inside 10 weeks – from Page One to The End – in our Writing Mastermind. (I haven’t even mentioned the amazing writers Ranee Dillon worked with on plot and structure.)

Not bad for a chick whose anxiety was so off-the-charts a couple years ago, she couldn’t go to the grocery store without a panic attack.

I didn’t plan on this kind of success when I launched. All I knew was I had my own story to share – journalist, editor, author, mother and wife with PTSD and panic disorder – and because of it, I could help people ditch their fear and write.

Now, I’m plotting for 2014. It’s diabolical.

Anyway, back to you.

Here’s my question: what are you doing – right now, today – to make sure your writing goals will be met?

Cause if you don’t have a plan, all you have is a dream. Do you really want to let another year go by without finishing the book you’ve been talking about forever?

The world is overloaded with people who have a story to tell. And each of those stories is as finite and unique as the person who thought it up. They are rich with detail, delicate and dark in all the right places. They are meaningful, full of power and conviction. These stories inspire people to do great things.

YOUR story, the one you’ve been dreaming about telling for years, is inside you – waiting to change someone’s life.

How do I know? Because my own story changed the lives of hundreds of writers and readers this year. No one could be more surprised than me.

Every time you crack open your chest a little wider and reveal another piece of yourself, someone somewhere else nods her head or breathes the deepest sigh of relief. You’re telling her she’s not alone.

I believe that’s all any of us want.

So here’s what I’ve got. That private writer coaching? It’s a 4-week shindig to get your words flowing like never before. I help you take the shit in your head, put it on the page and rearrange it until it’s blindingly awesome. I have five (5) slots available for $299. Sorry. Sold out. Note: That fee is $400 less than my normal rate and, therefore, trés, TRÉS temporary.

Why? Because it’s Christmas. Because you have a fucking story to tell. Because you and your story are important, and you owe it to the world to share your gift. Because fear has no place in writing.

And I’m going to prove it to you – and help you prove it to yourself.

Go here to see what you can do inside a month.

The first five (5) people who signup get the discount. After that, we go back to our regularly scheduled rate.

I can’t wait to show you what’s coming in 2014. Just remember . . .

fear_pink_button

Don’t be one of them.

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