Genevieve Clovis is a self-proclaimed story gremlin. She is a speculative fiction author, editor, writing coach, and owner of second-hand bookstore, Cliffside Village Books. Genevieve’s debut novel, Tea and the Transcendent, is an urban fantasy that blends ghosts and demons with cozy, tea-guzzling vibes.

In her editing life, Genevieve specializes in developmental editing for indie authors and publishers. She takes great joy in ensuring her clients’ novels are as monstrous and diabolical as intended. True to her story-gremlin nature, Genevieve runs a variety of online writer’s groups and can often be found lurking in her bookstore, doling out books that are definitely not cursed.

On today’s episode, Genevieve shares how she balances her roles and her passions in the book industry.

We talk about her process of working with writers and how to choose the best editor for your book. Then, we dive into tips on what to think about for world-building and how much time you need to spend explaining it in your story.

Find that entry point of familiarity for the reader before you share the intricacies of your fantasy world.

Overall, stay out of your own way and don’t fear the exploration of writing. Do what’s best for you.

Connect with Genevieve on her website cloviseditorial.com, and on Instagram and Facebook @cloviseditorial

Find her books on Amazon, or at her bookstore!

Journal Prompts:

What makes your fantasy world unique from the standard world?

What are you looking for in an editor?

When it comes to world-building, what are your favourite aspects and why?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

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Starting off as a sweet romance writer, Daria branched out in 2020 with books in cozy mystery and Christian fiction. She even has nonfiction titles in the works, reflecting her Christian faith and work in ministry. She currently lives in New York with her husband.

On today’s episode we discuss time management and writing drafts. Daria shares her experiences writing romance and cozy mystery, and how she gets into the mindset for both. Over the years, she’s learned how to have a confident perspective on writing, even when challenges come.

Daria has several strategies for managing time and creating a process that works best for you. Some of those strategies include writing prompts, changing your scenery, and remembering why you love writing in the first place.

Writing for herself first is very important to her. Even though she is passionate about writing, she doesn’t let it consume her entire life. She knows how to limit her writing time and keep herself accountable in reaching her goals.

She reminds us that there is no such thing as a perfect draft. Find the joy in writing, figure out the routine that works best for you, and create an experience that you are passionate about.

Connect with Daria on her Website, in her Facebook group, and learn from her in the No Time Writer Course!

Journal Prompts:

What are your biggest time management struggles in your writing journey?

What strategies will you use to help manage your time?

Create a schedule that works best for you and your energy.

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

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C.H. Carter is a fantasy author with a lifelong love of the genre in all its forms. In middle school, she wrote a fan letter to Tamora Pierce and received the most encouraging reply! That experience cemented her desire to become an author. (She also still holds out the hope they can meet in person one day!)

When not writing, you can find her working on a number of rotating projects (Crochet, anyone?) and obsessing over her two rescue dogs.

On this episode, we discuss C.H. Carter’s publishing journey, and her passion for fairytale retellings. She shares her experiences querying to publishers and agents, then learning about self-publishing.

She has many indie author friends, who helped her make the decision to self-publish To Kiss the Sea. There are misconceptions about self-publishing and it being a “lesser” path. But to us, it’s just one of many options to achieve your goals.

There are many reasons a publisher or agent may reject a book, and it’s a very subjective process. One day, C.H. hopes to be a hybrid author working both traditionally and in self-publishing. This gives her

We end off this episode with her sharing experiences writing and publishing To Kiss the Sea and valuable advice about how to choose between traditional publishing and self-publishing.

C.H. Carter invites you to come play mermaids with her! Connect on Instagram, Threads, and Tiktok @chcarterwrites, and on her Website.

Journal Prompts:

What is your ideal publishing path?

What are all the ways you can market your book?

Pick 2-3 of our favourite ways to market. Start working to implement one.

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

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Jen Anderson is a freelance writer and recovering perfectionist. She has improved her mental and physical health by letting go of perfectionism. She started Accomplist to help other people do the same, and to stop beating themselves up over unattainable standards.

On today’s episode, we discuss goal setting, perfectionism, and embracing the imperfect to give others permission to do the same.

Jen has had many fabulous experiences writing novellas, screenplays, and blog posts. She created a productivity app called Accomplist to help you organize your tasks and do your best as you’re working on your novel.

It can be difficult to achieve your goals when you feel like you’re constantly falling behind, but in your writing journey most deadlines are self-imposed. You don’t have to write every day to make your word count matter. Find the schedule that works best for you. That may evolve over time and you may change your mind on what you enjoy writing, and that’s okay! Enjoy the journey!

We also discuss how to keep your momentum going so you don’t lose your motivation to write. Jen shares how she organizes herself, as well as tips for creating your routine. Breaks and not putting too much pressure on the novel writing experience are important to her.

Finally, she shares writing exercises to help get you into the writing mode. Not everything has to be published and not everything will be a gem, but you have to start somewhere.

Align with your purpose and understand your current writing goals so you can have fun with your writing life. We hope you enjoy this episode!

Download Jen’s app Accomplist and connect with her on Facebook and Instagram @teamaccomplist

Journal Prompts:

What current goals do you want to achieve in your writing journey?

What makes writing fun for you?

How can you balance writing with other areas of your life in a way that feels the best for you?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

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Madeline Nixon has been a dog walker, a nanny, a baker, a shoe saleswoman, a chocolatier, and an editor, but the title she’s most fond of is author. She has published Feathers, a nonfiction short story collection about her paranormal experiences, and several educational children’s books.

Her debut romance novel Emergency Lullabies was released Fall 2023. When she’s not writing, you can find her hunting ghosts, planning elaborate theme parties, and baking new recipes. She lives in a suburb outside of Toronto.

Writing multiple genres is a passion of Madeline’s.

If she wasn’t a writer, she doesn’t know what she would do instead, as writing is when she feels her best. Though her children’s, paranormal, and romance stories are published, she keeps the thrillers and mysteries to herself.

Madeline shares her process for switching between genres and knowing how to choose what project to focus on when it comes to marketing. When you have multiple projects published and un-published, it’s good to have a plan on when to work on what and how to talk about them!

We also discuss the burnout she feels after she’s been “go go go!” for so long, then suddenly she’s done and wondering what she should do next.

The biggest piece of advice she offers our writing community is to keep going. You’ll learn what you need to as you go along. No matter how famous of an author you become, you will always experience ups and downs. That’s just part of the human experience!

We hope you enjoy this episode. Discover her books on Amazon and in most major bookstores. Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok by searching her username MarkedWithAnM!

Journal Prompts:

What are your favourite genres to write? Which genres do you want to publish?

How do you take care of yourself while feeling burned out?

What is the best publishing path for your unique journey?

What advice would you give your past self about your writing life?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

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Meet Sarah – some know her as a money coach, others as an award-winning author, or InvestHER. She sees herself as a girl who dreamed of a life filled with books, slow country living, and spiritual freedom... then went ahead and made it happen.

She always admired her dad as a successful business owner. He owned a fire/water damage cleanup business, and she used to carry those heavy machines and keep hoses out of his way as he worked.

He taught her to respect herself, be unafraid of hard work, and never accept the glass ceiling that holds so many women back.

In this episode, we discuss creating a budget and knowing where to invest your money on your writing journey. Do you consider yourself a bookpreneur or more of a hobbyist? How do you track where you’re making sales and where your attention and money needs to shift?

Sarah shares answers to these questions, along with stories about how her brother helped her publish her first book, learning the best ways to spend her money, and giving every dollar a job.

She then talks about:

Collaboration is also a key part of being a bookpreneur, whether it be with other industry professionals or your reader community.

We hope you enjoy this episode! Connect with Sarah through her Main Website and Fierce Feminine Finance. Download the Book Funnel Bundle too!

Journal Prompts:

Do you consider yourself a bookpreneur? What are your goals for your book business?

What strategies in passive income and collaboration will work best for you?

What is most important for you to invest your money in when creating and marketing your book?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

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Beth Barany is an award-winning novelist, master neurolinguistic programming practitioner, and certified creativity coach for writers. She’s also an experienced international speaker and podcaster.

Beth specializes in helping writers experience clarity, so they can write, revise, and proudly publish their novels to the delight of their readers. Her courses are packed with useful hands-on information that you can implement right away.

She runs a 12-month group coaching program to help science fiction and fantasy writers edit their manuscripts and get published. She also offers bespoke one-on-one coaching and consulting programs for science fiction and fantasy authors and other adventurous thinkers.

When she’s not helping writers, Beth writes magical tales of romance, mystery, and adventure that empower women and girls to be the heroes of their own lives. And she makes short films and TV shows.

In this episode, we discuss honouring your creative process and being an entrepreneur in a way that works best for you and your goals.

There is freedom in being a business owner as a self-published author and creative individual.

Beth shares her experiences in writing for herself and when it’s time to think more deeply about your ideal audience. As a creative entrepreneur, there’s a lot of pressure that comes with wearing all of the hats, but with the right team and community around you, everything is easier.

Finally, we discuss how NLP helps us understand our creativity and why we write. Your journey may take some trial and error, and that’s okay. Don’t be afraid to explore and discover the right path for you.

Connect with Beth by subscribing to her Newsletter, listening to her Podcast, and buying her books on Amazon. She also suggests reading Transformational NLP by Carl Buchheit.

Journal Prompts

What is your favourite part of being a creative entrepreneur?

What type of support are you looking for on your journey and where can you find it?

How do you honour your creative process?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

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Leigh Lincoln is an author whose narratives resonate deeply with the human experience.

With a passion for storytelling that touches hearts and provokes thoughtful reflection, she has carved a path that intertwines her love for writing with her dedication to advocating for the homeless and impoverished communities.

Her journey as an author is a testament to her commitment to making people ponder the choices they make, how they treat others, and the importance of empathy.

For over three decades, she has dedicated herself to making a difference in the lives of those in need. Her first novel, “Road Home,” was born from this tireless work. It serves as a thought-provoking mirror to society. Readers are challenged to consider how they live, treat others, and desire to be treated.

On this episode we find out how Leigh accidentally became a writer and strengthened her voice. In a community meeting, her voice wasn't valued. She was “just a mom” with no experience or education to contribute to the conversation.

She returned home to journal out her frustrations and opinions. This journaling habit transformed into a novel writing habit.

There are many emotional challenges that come from writing fiction based on real life situations. Leigh has interviewed adoptees and army veterans to bring more realism into her stories. She is so invested in her writing that certain readers believe her stories are not based in fiction, but her real life.

Leigh used to see herself as a little mouse in the corner, but now she is loud, proud, and out there with her storytelling and as a person in general.

When it comes to finding your voice, Leigh believes journaling with the classic pen on paper and travelling to new places is key. It serves a purpose in the pursuit of self-discovery and quality storytelling abilities.

Connect with Leigh on her website leighlincolnauthor.com

Journal Prompts

How has writing helped your self-discovery process?

What real life experiences inspires your writing?

What are your favourite ways to connect with your ideal readers?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

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As a Heart-Guided Clarity & Alignment Mentor, Author, Speaker, Spiritual Teacher, and Pilates Instructor, Nanci supports successful, empathic, and mission-driven women to embrace their perfectly imperfect self with curiosity and gentleness, so they learn to trust the wisdom of their soul, live from their dreams–not their perceived limitations, and live their happily ever NOW–not after everything else is perfect.

In this episode, Nanci talks about how we can be gentler with ourselves. It’s so easy to offer grace to others, and we forget about our own self-worth. Shifting your mindset creates room for greater transformation and leaves behind judgement and comparison.

Nanci has wanted to be a writer for her whole life, but perfectionism talked her out of a big opportunity because she was afraid of not succeeding. Instead of saying yes to a contract, she decided to do nothing and that led to a lot of self-loathing within her.

Years went by, and after struggling through her pregnancy (nearly dying), and learning about her new role as a mom, her perspective shifted. She learned that no one can be perfect.

A vision came to her that inspired her to pick up writing again. Seeing her book so clearly and in a complete form took off pressure from the experience. She realized then how much choice and control she has over her journey.

Nanci discusses how important language is when speaking to ourselves and others. You can choose to be deliberately kind to yourself and switch into more gentle language to help you forward.

We hope you enjoy this episode learning about gentle kindness and working through perfectionism. Connect with Nanci on her Website, Facebook, and in her Facebook Group, Sparkle Circle. At happilyevernowbook.com you will find her book Happily Ever Now, and a free offer called Align With Love Self-Healing Gift Set.

Journal Prompts:

How will you take action to bring more gentleness into your life?

What strategies will help you work through perfectionism?

What mindset blocks are holding you back from reaching your goals and what can you do to work through them?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

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Meet Amira Sookram, the creator of a realm for emotional wellness.

As the author of ‘Guilt Free Goals,’ she wove the wisdom from her degree in Health Psychology with her defiance of societal norms. Her infectious smile, enchanting dancing to Caribbean beats, and voyage to become a yoga teacher captivated many.

On our episode today, Amira talks about her multi-passionate journey for writing self-developmental books and fiction. We discuss her Feelings Wheel resource and how that can help you build more defined characters and name your own emotions.

Creatives typically feel the most joy while they’re writing compared to when they finish the project. You may find yourself looking for what’s next instead of celebrating the current accomplishment.

It’s important to honour however you feel and be aware of it so you can understand yourself better. Everyone is different when finding their flow and creating the best writing schedule. If you know your routines and energy cycles well, this will be easy for you to understand.

Amira and I also discuss guilt and how to understand it to help your creativity. She believes as long as you honour who you are uniquely and forget what everyone else is doing, you’ll figure out what works best for you.

We hope you enjoy this episode! Find Amira’s books on Amazon and stay connected on her Website, Instagram, and TikTok. She’ll be more present on YouTube and her Podcast soon!

Journal Prompts:

What is your writing process? What helps you be most productive?

Do you know how to name your emotions and honour them as you’re feeling them? What resources can help you understand your emotions more deeply?

How does guilt affect your writing process? What can you do to work through this?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

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