Blog & Pod
Here’s what’s on our mind, for better or worse! Enjoy the pontification mixed in with some great resources for writers.
Millstones or milestones
Birthdays can be millstones or milestones. It depends on our perspective and on where and how we see ourselves in this life. My seventy-fifth birthday passed recently. OK, it’s more like it flew by—a blur of the calendar pages spinning. More and more, birthdays are
Maintaining Motivation in Writing: Practical Tips
In this episode of the Writing Momentum podcast, hosts Gena and Christopher Maselli explore different ways to stay motivated in writing. They discuss tracking your writing successes, identifying your ‘why’, immersing oneself in the writing world through books, podcasts, and conferences, and the benefits of co-writing and surrounding yourself with writing friends. Chris also describes the benefits of maintaining a ‘to done’ list. The hosts invite audiences to join their writing group, Writing Moments, to further promote a supportive writing community. The episode is designed to help writers find the motivation they need to stay committed to their craft.
Finding Time to Write in a Busy World
In the Writing Momentum Podcast, Christopher Maselli and his wife, Gena, share practical tips for finding time to write in a busy world. With over 30 years of writing experience, they tackle the challenge many writers face – finding time to pursue their passion amid various life commitments. They suggest keeping a reminder of your writing vision in front of you, scheduling your writing time, employing the Pomodoro technique, using deadlines, and adopting habit stacking where writing is added to an existing routine. They elaborate that consistency is key and even short bursts of writing can lead to a complete manuscript over time. They also encourage listeners to share and subscribe to their podcast for more insightful content.
Avoid These 3 Writing Mistakes in Non-Profit Communications – Part 2
In this podcast transcript, hosts Chris and Gena highlight common mistakes that writers make when crafting content for nonprofit organizations. They discuss the importance of focusing on the benefits to the reader, creating clear calls to action, telling impactful stories of individual beneficiaries, and maintaining consistent branding across all communication channels. The hosts emphasize that these principles can also prove beneficial in other forms of writing, providing examples from their own experiences and from the realm of political speechmaking.
Avoid These 3 Writing Mistakes in Non-Profit Communications – Part 1
After 30 years of working with nonprofits, hosts Gena and Chris discuss three common mistakes that writers often make when writing for non-profit organizations. These include the excessive focus on asking for help without celebrating the wins, constantly changing branding messages, and overuse of organization-specific jargon. Insights are also shared on how to execute effective communication strategies for non-profit organizations. This video is beneficial for anyone aiming to optimize their written communication for non-profit fundraising and awareness campaigns.
make your hero choose
This month I want to share on a topic I first heard Randy Ingermanson teach several years ago. It’s a simple yet powerful tool to improve our stories. Simply stated—force your hero to make a choice. Not just any choice like which burger to order
Publishing on Amazon is Easy!
Self-publishing on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is accessible and easy. Professional editing and formatting are essential. Use PDF and EPUB formats for both print and ebook versions. Consider specialized software or hiring a professional formatter. Design an eye-catching book cover. Create a KDP account and connect your bank account. Write a compelling book description, choose relevant categories, select keywords, and set a competitive price. Develop a marketing strategy. Join a writing community for support. Your book will go through a review process before being published on Amazon.
Why Authors Use Pen Names
Join us in this episode as we delve into the fascinating world of pen names. We discuss the definition of pen names and explore the various reasons why authors choose to use them, such as protecting their identity, exploring different genres, and maintaining privacy. We also highlight how pen names can help separate writing styles and target specific audiences, while overcoming bias and stereotypes. Tune in to hear the intriguing story of Stephen King’s pen name, Richard Bachman, and be inspired to share your thoughts and funny pen names with us. Don’t forget to rate, review, subscribe, and share this podcast!
Researching is a Part of the Historical Fiction Journey with Henry McLaughlin
Henry McLaughlin shares his research process for historical fiction novels, focusing on his latest book, “Emily’s Trials.” He emphasizes the significance of thorough research to create an accurate and authentic historical setting. McLaughlin’s writing process involves “pantsing” and allowing the characters to shape the story. He encourages writers to revise and rewrite their work fearlessly. McLaughlin believes in the importance of supporting local bookstores and highlights the relevance of his stories of hope and reconciliation in today’s world.