Courageous Wordsmith

From Amy:

When Cara Pacific Campbell first inquired about working with me as a 1:1 Book Writing Mentor, she was reluctant, but not because she was my first book writing client per se. She was reluctant because she'd never written a book, especially about such tender topics, but she was determined to write her book because it wouldn't leave her alone. As in, she was still living the experience she was writing about. A lot of people who end up working with me are like that. They have something to say, and it's tender and personal and ongoing. I can teach them to write in their own language while they bear witness to what's going on.

Cara's trust in me meant a lot because I too was starting over, at least wearing the hat of a developmental editor. People had started to approach me for writing guidance even before I retired from teaching high school languages, and I'd been coaching writers since then, and edited some. But Cara was the first person to hire me for a longitudinal book development project.

And I got to recapture what I love best about teaching languages: seeing fluency, awareness, and pride build over time.

People come to me at all different stages of writing. In Cara's case, she couldn't even get started. So that's what we worked on. Time passed while Cara lived into the rest of the story, and now she's nearing publication of her memoir. So I asked her to reminisce with me about what it's like writing a book when you've never been a writer before. 

I know that many people out there are wondering how you get started, and if it's all worth it. This is how, and in Cara's opinion: Yes. Yes it is.

Cara Pacific Campbell is an award-winning sales leader, consultant, and author of an upcoming memoir about her battle with Lyme disease and the path to deeper healing. Known for coaching leaders to create thriving, high-performing teams, Cara blends strategy with heart to help people achieve more—without the burnout. Whether she’s teaching reps how to close million-dollar deals or sharing hard-earned life lessons, Cara inspires growth from the inside out. 
 

www.linkedin.com/in/carapacificcampbell
 

https://www.instagram.com/carapacificcampbell/
 

https://www.facebook.com/carapacific

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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Bridgette Boudreau is a Master-Certified Coach and Advisor for business owners. Bridgette's coaching philosophy is rooted in compassion and finding one's intrinsic motivation versus pushing or hustling. She acts as a strategic thought partner, providing a confidential and supportive environment for her clients to grow their businesses and themselves. With over 15 years of coaching experience, she has developed the Mosaic Framework which is designed to help people create a fulfilling third act of life. Bridgette’s coaching style is like the love child of Bob Ross and Mary Poppins: She's going to love and encourage the hell out of you to do it your way, and you're going to get it done.

You can find Bridgette and learn more about her offerings at https://www.bridgetteboudreau.com.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bboudreau/

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

From Amy:

I met Nicole Diaz in the life-coaching world around the time that I was first envisioning my online community for real-life writers. She demonstrated a brilliant understanding of the creative process, and I had this idea of hosting Idea Parties as the centerpiece of my work with writing groups, with Parker Palmer's work as my model. Nicole was a Parker Palmer fan too. So for a few years, we collaborated to host once-a-month calls on Saturday mornings where we let beautiful words draw us into our writing.

Afterwards, people spoke their voices into the room, and nobody corrected or coached or edited each other. Instead, we let you be at the heart of your story and reflected your words back. And books began to be written and friendships began to be made.

Together, Nicole and I developed a flexible and potent Idea Party format that works to this day, even after she has moved on.

There were other experiments Nicole and I tried, among them this little series of three podcasts. It was going to be available in the community library only, as one of many exclusive features. Since then I've streamlined my online Writing Circle space to center on writing calls and there's no reason to house a three-part podcast series with a leader who's no longer there.

On the other hand, Nicole and I agree that these three episodes would make a beautiful Winter Solstice gift to YOU, my podcast listeners, at a time when creativity could bring us all comfort if we could just calm down about the creative process itself.

These are shorter than my other episodes, and I find talking with Nicole delightful. I hope you enjoy.

Happy holiday season.

Love, Amy

PS–Nicole sends her love too.

Nicole Diaz is a creativity coach and business strategist. She works with business professionals to access their creative flow, and with creatives to build the structure they need to stay on track without losing inspiration. Through private coaching and workshops, she helps people balance strategy and creativity so they can bring their ideas to life. 

www.nicolemdiaz.com

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

From Amy:

I met Nicole Diaz in the life-coaching world around the time that I was first envisioning my online community for real-life writers. She demonstrated a brilliant understanding of the creative process, and I had this idea of hosting Idea Parties as the centerpiece of my work with writing groups, with Parker Palmer's work as my model. Nicole was a Parker Palmer fan too. So for a few years, we collaborated to host once-a-month calls on Saturday mornings where we let beautiful words draw us into our writing.

Afterwards, people spoke their voices into the room, and nobody corrected or coached or edited each other. Instead, we let you be at the heart of your story and reflected your words back. And books began to be written and friendships began to be made.

Together, Nicole and I developed a flexible and potent Idea Party format that works to this day, even after she has moved on.

There were other experiments Nicole and I tried, among them this little series of three podcasts. It was going to be available in the community library only, as one of many exclusive features. Since then I've streamlined my online Writing Circle space to center on writing calls and there's no reason to house a three-part podcast series with a leader who's no longer there.

On the other hand, Nicole and I agree that these three episodes would make a beautiful Winter Solstice gift to YOU, my podcast listeners, at a time when creativity could bring us all comfort if we could just calm down about the creative process itself.

These are shorter than my other episodes, and I find talking with Nicole delightful. I hope you enjoy.

Happy holiday season.

Love, Amy

PS–Nicole sends her love too.

Nicole Diaz is a creativity coach and business strategist. She works with business professionals to access their creative flow, and with creatives to build the structure they need to stay on track without losing inspiration. Through private coaching and workshops, she helps people balance strategy and creativity so they can bring their ideas to life. 

www.nicolemdiaz.com

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

From Amy:

I met Nicole Diaz in the life-coaching world around the time that I was first envisioning my online community for real-life writers. She demonstrated a brilliant understanding of the creative process, and I had this idea of hosting Idea Parties as the centerpiece of my work with writing groups, with Parker Palmer's work as my model. Nicole was a Parker Palmer fan too. So for a few years, we collaborated to host once-a-month calls on Saturday mornings where we let beautiful words draw us into our writing.

Afterwards, people spoke their voices into the room, and nobody corrected or coached or edited each other. Instead, we let you be at the heart of your story and reflected your words back. And books began to be written and friendships began to be made.

Together, Nicole and I developed a flexible and potent Idea Party format that works to this day, even after she has moved on.

There were other experiments Nicole and I tried, among them this little series of three podcasts. It was going to be available in the community library only, as one of many exclusive features. Since then I've streamlined my online Writing Circle space to center on writing calls and there's no reason to house a three-part podcast series with a leader who's no longer there.

On the other hand, Nicole and I agree that these three episodes would make a beautiful Winter Solstice gift to YOU, my podcast listeners, at a time when creativity could bring us all comfort if we could just calm down about the creative process itself.

These are shorter than my other episodes, and I find talking with Nicole delightful. I hope you enjoy.

Happy holiday season.

Love, Amy

PS–Nicole sends her love too.

Nicole Diaz is a creativity coach and business strategist. She works with business professionals to access their creative flow, and with creatives to build the structure they need to stay on track without losing inspiration. Through private coaching and workshops, she helps people balance strategy and creativity so they can bring their ideas to life. 

www.nicolemdiaz.com

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

From Amy:

In the early days of my podcast, I hired Molly Darling and her now husband, Christian Rivera, to help me understand what it was to be a working creative with a business (as opposed to a dedicated real-life creative). I thought I was hiring them to help make my Instagram design more visually appealing, but I ended up rethinking my Courageous Wordsmith brand in significant ways. This includes renaming my podcast from Frau Amy's World to today's Courageous Wordsmith. (Good name for a business, equally good name for a podcast. Frau Amy was the remnants of a teaching identity that I loved, that planted enduring seeds, that didn't end well and I still hadn't processed. I'm not even German. Or barely. Parts of this story appear in both books.)

Much of what I learned from Molly back then have provided foundations for my business that endure to this day.

Fast forward to this time last year. I was looking at my online community space that I had built way too large for what I really wanted. I thought I wanted a bustling hub for real-life writers to follow up between calls, where the real connection happened. What I had created instead was more like "sprawling-but-dead shopping center." I was ready to throw in the towel. Molly was moving on from a longtime facilitator position and asked if I could use her help again. I thought she could build engagement.

Instead Molly helped me start to distill the online community down to the library that I truly want. Because, as I said, the calls are the center of our work. Everything else stems from there. One year later, I have the right-sized creative space I actually wanted.

When Molly posted about downsizing her own art spaces, I knew it was time to reminisce. This episode was a fun one.

Molly Darling is a mixed media artist, storyteller, and creative guide with a passion for uncovering the beauty in life’s messiest moments. Rooted in the philosophy that “it’s all compost,” Molly’s work transforms the highs and lows of existence—love, shame, resilience, and struggle—into layered, thought-provoking pieces that invite viewers to explore their own stories. In addition to her art, Molly is the creator of Compost & Creation, a Substack where she shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of her creative process, reflections, and poetry. She also co-hosts the podcast Behind the Studio Door, where she interviews fellow creatives about their journeys and the human side of making art. Through her work, Molly inspires others to embrace vulnerability and creativity as tools for self-discovery and connection, whether through her courses, community projects, or mentorship. She believes that every layer of life has something to teach us—and that art has the power to hold it all.

thedarlingrevolution.org

compostandcreation.substack.com

instagram.com/thedarlingrevolution

thedarlingrevolution.org/podcast

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

From Amy:

From the beginning of my work as a "real" writer (which I had tried to be on my own for a very long time, but I couldn't move past the journaling stage... no matter how "gifted" anyone said I was at wordsmithing...) I have found that I cannot succeed without the support of collaborative partners whose gifts and vision complement mine. That's true of this podcast, and it's definitely true of an audiobook. So when my long-time podcast editor moved on to brighter things (he's a gifted musician who graduated from college and spends his time performing on stage), and I couldn't get traction recording and editing my second audiobook (surprise, surprise), I reached out to K.O. Myers, whose work I had long admired from Natalie Miller's Mindwitchery podcast.

I could not have been more pleased with the results, and I have to let you in on a secret. This was an experiment I was conducting not just for my own audiobook, but because I refer my writing clients to professionals I know firsthand.

So let this be my ringing endorsement: I love the audiobook that K.O. produced for me. He's got skills and profound wisdom. Beyond that, I felt supported and seen—or should I say, heard. If you're wondering what the process looked and felt like, for curiosity sake or even because you're considering if audio work is for you, this episode lets you in behind the scenes.

K.O. Myers is the founder an lead editor of Particulate Media, a full-service audio production company that helps podcasters and audiobook presenters sound more professional without sacrificing their authenticity.

https://particulatemedia.com

K.O.'s Podcast is https://roll-factory.captivate.fm

https://www.facebook.com/particulatemedia

https://genvexed.bsky.social

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

From Amy:

We were originally hoping for a November 22 release of my Tiny Altars audiobook on Audible, but that date came and went while it awaited its turn in Quality Assurance for over two weeks. Now it's December 3, and the audiobook has arrived, which reminds me that books, like children, arrive in their own time and way, no matter how we try to control it.

Fun fact: From my first callings to write my personal narrative, I kept seeing the number 123 in association with my writing. This book always knew and was telling me what it wanted to be, even if I didn't see it.

The part of me that likes to watch such things notes that it's arriving nearly one year to the day that I first met K.O. Myers at Particulate Media, who created this audiobook with me. The meeting was an unexpected development, but a fortuitous one.

There's what we think we're doing, and there's what wants to happen. Then we start wrap our head around what's really there. Especially in narrative craft.

In this episode, I talk about the surprise of mothering twins. This book, Tiny Altars, was like that. Unexpected. I didn't want to write about the dollhouse on the cover that represents something much bigger than me. I thought I was writing a different book when this dollhouse origin story snuck into my manuscript. I tried to fit it into my German-themed book. The dollhouse image took over. It had its own story it wanted to tell. Not about Germany, but a story much closer to home. I'm so glad I let it.

Which is how it ended up on the cover. The origin story of the dollhouse wraps up this episode. I hope you enjoy.

Let me also introduce you to K.O. Myers, the producer of this episode and my Tiny Altars audiobook.

K.O. Myers is the founder an lead editor of Particulate Media, a full-service audio production company that helps podcasters and audiobook presenters sound more professional without sacrificing their authenticity.

https://particulatemedia.com

K.O.'s Podcast is https://roll-factory.captivate.fm

https://www.facebook.com/particulatemedia

https://genvexed.bsky.social

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

From Amy: I had hopes of my audiobook being one thing, and instead it's another. It's my memoir on coming to deeper awareness of the role I play in my homeland, inside institutions, and how I couldn't stay there, and how I let myself wander and grieve. Anyway, I've said it before and I'll say it again. A book comes into the world in exactly the timing it wants to. The paperback came out on April 21, 2023.

This audiobook wanted to come into the world on November 22, 2024.

Listening to it in this light, I've thanked my former self for writing her story. It contains many things perfectly timed for this time, in ways that I could not have anticipated them landing so fully.

And so although I had already agreed with K.O. Myers that I would share this Foreword and another chapter coming out as podcast episodes to celebrate the release of Tiny Altars, the audiobook, I had no idea how to introduce them until Election Day had come and gone. There are many takeaways and many ways to proceed, too many to list here, especially since my book is not about politics but the context of one woman's life, specifically mine. The takeaway I unpack in this introduction is the one that Tiny Altars has been pointing me to for several years now, as a white Minnesota woman born into a mainstream Christian Protestant tradition. It's the message contained in this Foreword:

It's time to tell your story and stop counting on others (more interesting or worthy) to give you permission.

This Foreword is the frame for my book. Every story has one. Don't forget it. Thanks for listening.

Let me also introduce you to K.O. Myers, the producer of this episode and my Tiny Altars audiobook.

K.O. Myers is the founder an lead editor of Particulate Media, a full-service audio production company that helps podcasters and audiobook presenters sound more professional without sacrificing their authenticity.

https://particulatemedia.com

K.O.'s Podcast is https://roll-factory.captivate.fm

https://www.facebook.com/particulatemedia

https://genvexed.bsky.social

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

From Amy: I have been a fan of Linda's gorgeous imagery ever since I met her in an online writing forum. At the time, we were both publishing our books with birds on the cover. The thing about poetry is, sometimes, especially at a moment like now—one week out from pivotal presidential elections in the United States—where the rhetoric has gotten QUITE LOUD, and it's already been a LOUD nearly-decade, our nervous systems need a break. We need soothing words that speak to our humanity. And so this episode is intentionally timed for right now... Beyond that, I love talking with Linda about how she works her magic, and I suspect you will love to hear what she says too.

Linda Flaherty Haltmaier is an award-winning author and the Poet Laureate Emeritus of Andover, MA. Named the winner of the Robert Frost Poetry Prize, she is known for her “sensational imagery, her deft ear for the music of language, and her emotional sonar for sounding the depths of love (and anger).” Her new collection, Shadows Set to Burn, was recently honored with the 2024 International Book Award for Narrative Poetry. Her debut collection, Rolling up the Sky, claimed the Homebound Publications Poetry Prize and her follow-up, To the Left of the Sun, was the winner of the American Bookfest Award for Poetry. Additional accolades include winning the JuxtaProse Poetry Prize and the Palm Beach Poetry Festival Competition, as well as Finalist honors for the Princemere Poetry Prize, the New Millennium Award for Poetry, the Joy Bale Boone Poetry Prize, the Tucson Festival of the Book Literary Award, and more. Nominated for four Pushcart Prizes, Linda’s work has been featured widely in journals and anthologies. A graduate of Harvard, Linda leads poetry workshops, gives readings, and promotes poetry on the North Shore of Boston where she lives with her husband and daughter.

https://www.instagram.com/linda.thepoet/

Buy Linda's book here & write a review

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks