Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

[Please listen for the full message. The following is only a glimpse of the topic … not a transcription] It’s about progress, not perfection. A friend of mine said that to me and I thought, wow, what a great concept for the writing life. I found out it’s a phrase used in 12 step programs, Read More... The original version of this article can be found here: The Writing Life Podcast – Progress, Not Perfection

In this short podcast, I encourage writers to introduce at least three senses into their writing, whether they are working on fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Don't rely completely on the way things look. There's also the way things sound, smell, taste and feel. Pick three. Bring your writing to life. One, two, three ... and you're done. [If you received this as an email, please click over to the website to listen.] The workshop leader I mentioned referenced Flannery O'Connor, paraphrasing a section of "The Nature and Aim of Fiction" from Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose: A lady who writes, and whom I admire very much, wrote me that she had learned from Flaubert that it takes at least three activated sensuous strokes to make an object real; and she believes that this is connected with our having five senses. If you're deprived of any of them, you're in a bad way, but if you're deprived of more than two at once, you almost aren't present. (Emphasis mine.) For a scene to really come alive, include at lea

In this 5:40 podcast, I talk about the paradox of rest leading to increased productivity. If you're reading this in an email, click through to the website to hear the podcast. Here's a glimpse of what we'll cover: It seems like a contradiction. A paradox. It seems impossible that more rest would result in greater productivity, but so we’re being told by study after study. Regular rest and renewal gives us the focus and energy we need to get our work done more efficiently and effectively. ... One answer is the formula for the perfect balance of rest and productivity. A 2014 Atlantic article by Derek Thompson says the numbers are precise: Work for 52 minutes, break for 17. ... I doubt there’s a perfect number for everyone—there may not even be a perfect number for you yourself. I mean, you could try a Pomodoro 25/5 cycle, Pomodoro Plus at 52/17, and then attempt a 90-minute chunk followed by a break, just to see. But in the end, as my friend Jenne Fromm would say, it’s about managing our energy more than i

  In this 4:16 podcast, I talk about importance of learning the vocabulary—the lingo—of the writing world. The following is not exactly a transcript, but gives an idea of what's recorded. Every industry has its own lingo—insider words that leaves outsiders feeling ignorant when they simply haven’t learned the terms and acronyms and phrases associated with that particular business. The publishing world is like that, too. Whether we’re talking about traditional publishing or the online writing world, lingo abounds. And writers are expected to navigate both arenas and understand the accompanying lingo. A lot of the writers I work with as a writing coach feel frustrated because they’ve got writing talent, skills, and experience, they’re trying to sell a book or start a blog or submit to an online magazine and end up confused and frustrated, lost in the lingo. Don’t be afraid. Learn the lingo. Type a new word into Google or Bing and read articles about it. Subscribe to relevant blogs. Watch YouTube tutori

A writer—well, just about anyone—needs a focused, alert mind operating at its highest cognitive potential. Writers need to tap into their memory to make connections as they work. Writers need maximum brainpower. Listen for more about brain food for writers.

It's been a while since my last Writing Life podcast. Day after day I kept looking at that item on my to-do list and finally resolved, even in the midst of life's complications, to start up again. Because I've learned that no matter how far you fall behind, you can get back in the game. Simply start where you are. * * * On Being a Writer “a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out.” — from “10 Great Books for a Writer’s Wish List” on Huffington Post PURCHASE TODAY “A genial marriage of practice and theory. For writers new and seasoned. This book is a winner.” —Philip Gulley, author of Front Porch Tales

In this week’s podcast (3:36) I explain the impact of my dad's health crisis on my writing life, and how I adjusted my work. It looked like I’d have to give up on my writing life. And I did have to step back from some responsibilities for a while until we figured out what this was going to look like. I stayed flexible and worked late and was able to continue with several commitments as we rode the roller coaster of my dad’s crisis. Eventually, it appeared I’d be able to continue with most of my existing work if I learned to stay calm and get creative. We never know what a day will bring, so keep calm and, as much as possible, carry on. Learn more: A Prison of His Own Fears and Rediscovering Community: With a Little Help from My Friends Keep Calm image by Stefany via Flickr through Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0.   * * * Online Workshop On Being a Writer: 12 Simple Habits for a Writing Life That Lasts March 2 - May 22, 2015 8 Weeks or 12 Weeks Limit 10 participants Are you waiting for your writi

In this week’s podcast (3:25) I share insight from a speaker who encouraged me to eliminate filler words from formal talks I give as well as from everyday conversation. I'm encouraging writers to do the same with their written work: search and destroy the filler words that distract from the meat of the message. Examples of filler words that show up in our speaking: um and uh like you know so… Examples of filler words in our writing: but and so and so very really that In the podcast, I mention the "search" function in Word or Google docs, which is more accurately the "find" feature. Learn more about how this works in Word and Google docs.   * * * On Being a Writer "This brand-new book is a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out." — from "10 Great Books for a Writer's Wish List" on Huffington Post NOW AVAILABLE “A genial marriage of practice and theory. For writers new and seasoned. This book is a winner.” —Philip Gulley, author of Front Porch Tales

  (If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to the website to use the audio player.) In this week’s four-ish minute podcast, you'll learn how I use one tip from the GTD productivity approach to break big writing projects into manageable chunks, prioritizing and ordering them as I go.   Resources mentioned in the podcast: Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (story told in the podcast found on pages 18-19 in the Anchor Books, Doubleday, edition) Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen   * * * On Being a Writer "This brand-new book is a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out." — from "10 Great Books for a Writer's Wish List" on Huffington Post NOW AVAILABLE “A genial marriage of practice and theory. For writers new and seasoned. This book is a winner.” —Philip Gulley, author of Front Porch Tales

(If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to website to use the audio player.) In this week’s three-and-a-half minute podcast, you'll hear about the conditions and circumstances under which E. B. White wrote—and those under which Glynn Young and Ann Kroeker continue to write. I allude to a passage from Stephen King's memoir On Writing that I read years ago. It awoke in me a jealous and obsessive craving for an office door: The [writing] space can be humble (probably should be, as I think I have already suggested), and it really needs only one thing: a door which you are willing to shut. The closed door is your way of telling the world and yourself that you mean business; you have made a serious commitment to write and intend to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. (King 151, Pocket Books - a div. of Simon & Schuster, NY, copyright 2000, personal copy) I longed for a door. A door, I thought, would help me become a productive, efficient writer. I had a writing space. I just needed a d

(If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to website to use the audio player.) In this week’s three-minute podcast, I share a few thoughts in response to an article by Jeff Haden in Inc. about the difference between goals and systems. After you listen, I'd love to hear some of your own responses both to the podcast and to the questions below. Do you tend to set goals and resolutions at the turn of the new year? How effective are they?  Do you have goals for this year? Would systems work better for you than goals alone? What systems might you incorporate into your writing life this year to help you make steady progress toward your goal(s)?   * * * On Being a Writer "This brand-new book is a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out." — from "10 Great Books for a Writer's Wish List" on Huffington Post NOW AVAILABLE “A genial marriage of practice and theory. For writers new and seasoned. This book is a winner.” —Philip Gulley, author of Front Porch Tales

(If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to website to use the audio player.) In this week's three-minute podcast, I interview my coauthor and friend Charity Singleton Craig about our collaboration, asking about some of the challenges and joys associated with our work together writing On Being a Writer. Her responses make me wonder about the collaboration experiences of my readers and listeners. After you listen to Charity's response, I'd love to hear your answers to these questions: What challenges did you face when you collaborated on a creative project and how did you work through them? Have your collaboration projects been filled with enough joy to balance out the challenges? Would you collaborate again? If so, what would you do differently? If not...why not?   * * * On Being a Writer "This brand-new book is a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out." — from "10 Great Books for a Writer's Wish List" on Huffington Post NOW AVAILABLE “A genial marri

Listen to The Writing Life with Ann Kroeker Episode 2: Rescue Lost Time (If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to website to use the audio player.)   http://annkroeker.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/The-Writing-Life-Episode-2-Rescue-Lost-Time.mp3 When over the past week might you have rescued lost time to work toward a writing deadline? What tool or tools might you use to start rescuing lost time? Learn more about: Google docs Voice-to-text feature on phones (some people use dragon, but I just use the dictation feature on my Android phone — enter your phone in the search engine to find out what dictation or voice-to-text features it offers). Learn more about using your phone as a mobile hotspot and contact your cell phone provider for pricing.  * * * On Being a Writer “This brand-new book is a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out.” — from “10 Great Books for a Writer’s Wish List” on Huffington Po

Listen to The Writing Life with Ann Kroeker Episode 1: Just Get Started http://annkroeker.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Ann-Kroeker-Podcast-1-just-get-started.mp3 What have you been putting off because you’re afraid, uncertain, or intimidated by everything involved? What project could you start today?  * * * On Being a Writer “This brand-new book is a must-have for career writers, whether seasoned or just starting out.” — from “10 Great Books for a Writer’s Wish List” on Huffington Post NOW AVAILABLE “A genial marriage of practice and theory. For writers new and seasoned. This book is a winner.” —Philip Gulley, author of Front Porch Tales   The original version of this article can be found here: The Writing Life – Episode 1: Just Get Started