I’m sure you will think this has nothing to do with being a better writer, but I will argue that point. In fact, I will argue that it not only will improve your writing, it will improve your quality of life.
It’s nothing new. You already know it. You’ve heard it before. It’s common sense. The problem is it’s not common practice.
Here it is (my version): get enough sleep for your body.
For years, I strived for at least eight hours of sleep. And even though I often woke up at five or even earlier, I stayed in bed and tried to sleep longer, knowing that I would be healthier, happier if I did. It more or less worked for me, but I was young and adaptable.
Not long ago I read The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday. The premise is based on stoic philosophy, and the author asserts that the obstacle in your way is the way.
I’ve found myself muttering this phrase while out hiking when I encounter a fallen tree on the trail or while driving when I come upon a tractor plugging up the center of the road.
The group on Facebook (you can join too – click here) provides not just encouragement and inspiration, but accountability too.
To recap, in case you missed it: I challenged people to consider getting rid of a set number of things in your life every day for a year. I committed to getting rid of five things, but everyone can pick their number and some in the group chose to pick a number for each week. We’re flexible and friendly, so don’t be intimidated.
Initially, I thought the ‘things’ I would be getting rid of would be tangible items – all the crap cluttering my closets, house, office, barn, car, etc., but the group has definitely expanded that idea. Some people are clearing out their computer files, the pictures on their phones, attitudes that restrict them, rules that bind, even people that drag down their souls.
I just discovered something amazing! It’s changed my life – okay—just my editing habits.
Did you know that Microsoft Word has a ‘read aloud’ feature? You can click on it and a voice reads your work to you. It’s an amazing way to spot silly typos, but also really helps when it comes to writing dialogue. There’s no going back.
One added bonus is that my foster dog Marley, who is prone to overreacting at anything she hears outside, and tends to whine at me if I’m still for too long. (“You don’t seem to be doing anything hooman, so you could easily be petting me.”)
This past week I started the Lighten Your Load, Lighten Your Life Challenge. It’s a personal challenge to remove 5 things from my life every day of 2024.
I’ve invited others to join me (and pick their own number). Together in a private Facebook group we are sharing ideas, support, and a few laughs, plus offering accountability with optional daily reports of how we’ve lightened our loads.
When I set out to do this, I expected maybe a handful of my friends might join me, and even made two friends to promise they would join, so I wouldn’t look pathetic if someone I didn’t know decided to join.
To my happy surprise, lots of people have joined the group and the number grows every day (you can join us too! Click here to read the original post and to find the link to our group). It’s been fun and inspiring to see what everyone’s unloading, plus I’ve already gotten a ton of great tips (did you know that Smartwool has a sock recycling program?).
I was a whiz at the five-paragraph essay in my day. It made so much sense.
Paragraph one: tell them what you’re going to tell them
Paragraphs twothru four: tell them
Paragraph five: tell them what you told them
At least that’s how it was explained to us by Mr. Mountain, the honors English teacher who let us play Trivial Pursuit on Fridays.
I could knock out an A+ five-paragraph essay after 48 hours with no sleep and WAY too much alcohol (I proved that fact in college composition class more often than I’d care to admit).
But here’s the thing about five-paragraph essays: That’s not how to write fiction, or anything anymore (unless you’re in fourth grade and taking a standardized test).
I’ve often said that as a writer, I wish I had a boss. Or maybe a coach. Someone to give me a little direction, listen to my dreams and guide me toward them, and offer accountability.
Because here’s the thing—accountability is an energy source. It can be the motivation you need to follow through on that big idea and move forward with your dreams. It’s pretty easy to let your goals languish if you’re the only person paying attention to those goals.
One of my superpowers is encouraging others. I thrive on the opportunity to teach, inspire, and help other writers. Between the pandemic and our move to a new state, I haven’t had many opportunities to work with others and I miss it.
My new program is called Write Together, and my goal is to help you move toward your goals with practical ideas and tools you can put into action, helpful (compassionate) critique, and the encouragement you need to believe in your writing and send it out into the world. I’ll offer practical, personalized advice and resources from my two decades of publishing experience in multiple formats.
So whether you’re working on a book, a blog, an essay, an article, or your own journal, I want to help. If you’re still sorting out what kind of writer you want to be when you grow up (no matter your age), you want to start a blog or a freelancing career or find a home for your essay, or you just need a fresh pair of eyes on something you’ve been working on for years, consider joining me for this inauguralWrite Together session.
Write Together(beta) is a flexible 4-week coaching program that begins with an initial call to talk about what you want to accomplish over your four weeks. After that, for four (flexible) weeks, you’ll get:
Critique/feedback on 5 pages of your writing (could be pages of a work-in-progress, an essay, a synopsis, query letter, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, pretty much anything except poetry and children’s books of which I have no experience)
A 30-minute call in to talk about your week’s writing, your progress toward your goals, questions you have about any aspect of writing (craft, publishing, etc.), plus the piece of writing I critiqued, and then we assign the work you’ll do before our next call.
Access to a private Facebook group with other people also in my Write Together coaching group where you can share your questions, fears, and ideas, and encourage each other. I’ll pop in occasionally with my two cents, plus share links to resources you can use to improve your craft or discover places to submit your work.
You can choose any four weeks between 10/29 and 12/22, and they don’t have to be consecutive. If you’ve got a conflict, we can work around it. I’m all about flexibility.
Cost is just $100 for the entire program.
If you need a jump start, I’d love to be that for you. If you need help clarifying goals, finding a market for your writing, fine-tuning, or even ugly editing, I’m your girl. And if what you really need is some encouragement and inspiration, I’m all in – that’s my brand and I’m excited to apply it one-on-one.
If you have questions about any of this, please fire away in the comments. If you’re asking, so are others. You can also email me at carasueachterberg@gmail.com or message me on Facebook (@CaraSueAchterberg).
But please don’t wait. I’m only offering Write Together at this price for my beta launch. In 2024, I hope to expand on this and be able to help more people reach their writing goals.
Hey, thanks for reading. I know you’ve got lots of options, so thanks for sharing a few of your minutes with me.
Honored,
Cara
My latest novel, Blind Turn is a mother-daughter story of forgiveness in the aftermath of a fatal texting and driving accident. Learn more about it and find out how to get your copy here.
If you’re curious about what else I’m up to, check out my website, CaraWrites.com.
If you’d like to subscribe to my occasional e-newsletter, click here.
And If you’re a dog lover, check out my other blog, Another Good Dog. And if you want to know what is really happening in the animal shelters in this country, visit, Who Will Let the Dogs Out.
My book, 100 Dogs & Counting: One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey Into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues is available anywhere books are sold, but if you’d like some help finding it (or want to read some lovely reviews), click here.
I listen to podcasts or audiobooks pretty much every day – while walking, doing puzzles, or driving (three activities I seem to spend a lot of time doing).
I’ve gotten addicted to a podcast called Primal Potential. I found it because I was trying to figure out how to lose the menopause/COVID/drinking-too-much-wine-weight that is not going away even though two out of those three causes have.
Are you wasting all your time with all these words? #areyoustillwriting #amwriting #writerswrite
I have gotten out of the habit of writing.
And serious writing depends on just that—habit. Not waiting for inspiration or time or a good night’s sleep or a better outline or the dog to shut up or until you take some class/webinar/retreat.
Writing requires that you sit down and do it. No matter what. As often as possible, every day if you can. You start where you are and spill your jumbled thoughts, wandering storylines, and vast emotions on the page. Your fingers tap along as your heart and mind try to make sense of it. (or maybe that’s just how it works for me.)
If you keep going, pressing past the doubt and frustration and discouragement and that little nagging bird fluttering all around you chirping that you’re wasting so much time, if you wave her away and type on, I promise something will come of it.
Once again, my bad boy horse has outworn his welcome. This is the fourth time, I’ve sent him to a new home, with great hopes that this would be the one, but like a furry boomerang he is coming back. Only this time, I don’t have a pasture to put him in.
My Life in Paragraphs 