#013  This is where we get real and honest with the circumstances and feelings that are getting you stuck. Whether you're like me in this moment (spoiler alert!) not writing consistently, or are just having a challenge moving forward with a project, I have a vulnerable but powerful exercise to try to get to the root of it and help you take the next step forward. For show notes and links, visit https://stephaniedethlefs.com/13

#012  Have you ever read or heard a story that left you uninterested or unengaged or just plain bored? A trap that novelists can easily fall into is that of not knowing (or not sharing) what the story is really about. In this episode we are exploring what questions to ask yourself - and when to ask them - in the process of creating a story that will leave your readers with something to think about.

Links:
Take the quick quiz and find out your best next step toward writing your novel: https://hellowriters.net/quiz

Schedule a FREE discovery session! https://hellowriters.net/discovery

About:
Stephanie Dethlefs is a writer, certified book coach, teacher, and lifelong avid reader. She is the author of the middle grade novel Unspoken and numerous essays and articles. She lives in Pacific NW Washington with her family, two cats and a spunky pup.

Follow Stephanie on Instagram for more writing-related (and, sometimes dog-related) stories! https://instagram.com/hellowriters

#011   We all have something we wish could be different, that we think will somehow make our circumstances better for our writing. Maybe it's more time, a better space, brilliant ideas... If we wait for these things (or anything else), if we keep thinking that "some day" we will get to it, we might miss our chance. Today, we talk about how to stop waiting and start writing.

For more like this or to learn more about working with a book coach, visit https://hellowriters.net.

Stephanie Dethlefs is a writer, certified book coach, teacher, and lifelong avid reader. She is the author of the middle grade novel Unspoken and numerous essays and articles. She lives in Pacific NW Washington with her family, two cats and a spunky pup.

Follow Stephanie on Instagram for more writing-related (and, sometimes dog-related) stories! https://instagram.com/hellowriters

#010  (Part 3 of 3) This is the final episode of the three-part series about The 60-Day Plan, and it's where we get into the nuts and bolts! How do you schedule and plan for writing sessions that will get you to the goal you set for 60 days from now? Let's dive in! For show notes and links, visit https://stephaniedethlefs.com/10.

#009   (Part 2 of 3) The 60-Day Plan is more than just writing. It also includes setting a goal that produces a specific result, as well as zeroing in on a specific craft skill we'd like to further refine. Today we talk about both of these things, and I give you the four steps to develop your next 60-day plan right now! For show notes and links, visit https://stephaniedethlefs.com/9

#008  (Part 1 of 3) The 60-Day Plan is a tool that has changed my writing practice and upleveled my productivity. This is the first of three episodes where we dive into the 60-Day Plan and implement it to move toward YOUR writing goals. Today we are talking about why 60 days is the perfect length of time, and why setting short-term goals is the way to make your dreams come true!  For links and show notes, visit https://stephaniedethlefs.com/8

#007:  What does it even mean to "practice" writing? What else is there to do besides, well, write? This is the question we explore in today's short episode. We look at some examples of practice activities, consider which skills we want to practice, and decide how to fit it into our already busy lives. For show notes and more, visit https://stephaniedethlefs.com/7

#006   To compare ourselves to others is a completely normal and human instinct. But, when it comes to writing and writers, comparison can mean a quick death to our motivation. In this short episode we talk about why comparison happens, why it can be problematic, and how to use other writers' experiences and writing to actually inspire ourselves. For show notes and links, visit https://stephaniedethlefs.com/6. 

#005   There are a million opportunities for writers to learn craft skills, but one often overlooked one is right on your bookshelf. Yep; writers write, but writers also read. This is the first of our "craft" episodes, and it's all about the importance of reading in a writer's life. Today we discuss why reading is important and, more specifically, why reading in the genre in which you write is critical. At the end, I offer you a quick way to dive in to this crucial practice. For show notes and links, visit https://stephaniedethlefs.com/5  Please subscribe! 

#004   We all wish we had more time to dedicate to our writing practice, but the reality is that we have the time we have. So how do we fit writing into our already busy lives? In this episode, we consider what "enough" time means. (Spoiler alert: there is no such thing as "enough.")  I also give you a simple four-step process to find and schedule intentional time in your life each week dedicated to moving you forward in your writing.
This episode is originally airing during the COVID-19 pandemic, so the special circumstances we are living in at this time are also acknowledged. For show notes and links visit https://stephaniedethlefs.com/4