Have you ever been to an online writing retreat before? They can really make a difference in your writing career, and I’m excited to tell you about one that’s affordable with fantastic instructors. On May 16 and 17, 2023, my friends, Kat Caldwell and Marci Renée, are launching the first Write With Us! Online Retreat, and it is going to be EPIC!
There will be 7 workshops to attend (recordings are included for those who sign up). The workshops range from finding your next book idea, to outlining your current book, to developing characters, to finding a better hook.
I’ll be leading an interactive workshop on enriching your story through nonverbal communication and body language. I know most of the other instructors personally and can vouch for them as well.
If you have my Energize Your Writing Toolkit, then you may have heard me discuss nonverbal communication before, but this is a brand new workshop where we’ll study examples from published books, zero in on what many writers do wrong, and you’ll get a chance to put your creative skills to the test with some guided prompts. Participants will have the chance to share the mini excerpts they wrote during the workshop.
This is not a summit where you listen to writers talk about writing. Those are awesome (I’ve spoken at and attended several myself), but this is a writing retreat. What makes it different?
There will be:
Introductions and sharing time to hear from each other about your writing.
Live workshops with implementable writing tips.
This gives you a chance to be up close and personal with some of the best writing teachers and time to ASK QUESTIONS!
Writing sprints after each workshop
In between the workshops, the Zoom room will be open for sprints.
Giveaways each day! We’re giving away courses, print books and more!
Your ticket includes all seven workshops live, the recordings, access to the sprinting room, your name automatically entered in the giveaways, and these bonus offers:
Write Your Hero ebook by Lewis Jorstad
Author Life Fix ebook by Tracee Garner
Push a Pencil: 40 Prompts to Develop Your Creativity ebook by Kat Caldwell
Plan Your Novel Like A Pro ebookby Beth Barany
Adding Nonverbal Communication and Body Language To Enrich Your Story Workbookby Stacy Juba
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
Recently, I was featured on three podcasts for writers and book lovers, and wanted to tell you a little bit about each appearance. As you may know, I LOVE talking about books and writing. I’m grateful to have had the chance to do both during these interviews.
Between the Covers
First, host Stephanie Larkin of Red Penguin Books interviewed a few contributing writers to the new release, Launch Pad: The Countdown To Writing Your Book. This craft book is designed to help writers navigate the emotional ups and downs of finishing a novel, and was led by Emma Dhesi and Grace Sammon.
The episode features interviews with Susanne Dunlap, author of The Courtesan’s Daughter and a certified book coach; Meredith Stoddard, author of The River Maiden: Once & Future Series; Carol Van Den Hende, author of Goodbye, Orchid; and myself.
We discussed our writing processes, what’s inside the Launch Pad book, and valuable tips for writers.
I also had a lively discussion with Liz Bullard on the eReads Podcast. We discussed things like the perfect desk chair and how my chiropractor reprimanded me for working on my recliner. ☹️
Last year, when I was having neck and upper back soreness, he advised me to buy an ergonomic desk chair with a headrest. Some of you know my obsession with office supplies.
I mean, it takes me 45 minutes to pick out pens. Imagine how long it took for me to pick out a $300 chair.
I felt like Goldilocks, sitting on all the office chairs at Staples.
Too hard.
Too soft.
Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything just right, but I found one that was comfortable enough . . .
Well, after I bought a special cushion on Amazon.
I still occasionally use my Chromebook on my recliner, but I’m much more aware of my posture!
Anyway, Liz and I talked about a lot more than desk chairs and chiropractors.
During the episode, Liz also asked me to share a writing prompt. I gave her one that I used to use a lot: I remember. All you do is free write starting with the words, I remember . . . and see what comes out.
Last but not least, my good friend Kat Caldwell interviewed me on her Pencils & Lipstick podcast. This was the third or fourth time I’ve been on the show, and Kat and I always have a good time. The topic of the day was body language and nonverbal communication.
We delved into what those terms mean for writers, why it’s important, common mistakes that writers make, how to freshen up your characters’ emotions, and how to write creative emotional descriptions. You can listen to the episode here or watch it on YouTube below.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
If you’re an author seeking inspiration, skill-building, and a toolbox of writing craft tips, then I have what you need. The new guide for authors, LAUNCH PAD: The Countdown to Writing Your Book, is scheduled for release on Feb. 28, 2023 and this eagerly anticipated book is a literal Launch Pad for your writing career.
I have a chapter included on the most common grammar and punctuation mistakes I see as a freelance developmental editor. This chapter covers everything from the proper use of the Oxford Comma, colons, and semicolons to ellipses and beyond.
But that’s not all. As a special bonus, you can download a handy, free, pdf that offers my ten grammar tips for cleaning up your novel. And to celebrate the book’s imminent release, one of the book’s editors, Emma Dhesi, has hosted a panel discussion featuring contributors.
In the discussion, we shared why we contributed to the book, the subject of our chapters, and what we hope readers will gain from our insights.
Watch the replay of this panel discussion with Kat Caldwell, Lewis Jorstad, Samantha Skal, Janyre Tromp, Grace Sammon, and myself – you’ll get tons of tips about outlining, creating characters, grammar, and much more!
You can also watch Emma interview contributing authors Susanne Dunlap, Linda Rosen, Joe Bunting, Meredith R. Stoddard, Carol Van Den Hende, and Heather Davis in a second panel discussion below.
Find out more about this essential guide for authors here.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
Kat Caldwell, the author of Write Your Life: More Than Just A Journal, will present a short workshop on the benefits of journaling April 2 at 7 p.m. EST in the Shortcuts for Writers Facebook group. She will discuss her path down the road of journaling, why she became so ardent about it, and why she thinks you should journal as well. For those who listen to the video, there are some goodies at the end.
It’s not necessary to attend live as the replay wil be available to group members in Unit 8. If you’d like to chat with Kat in the comments live, she will be there from 7-7:30 p.m. EST to answer questions. You need to be a member of the Shortcuts for Writers Facebook group to attend. If you’re not a member, you can request to join the group here. Be sure to answer the membership questions.
Kat is a writer of historical fiction and fantasy fiction. She is not only passionate about writing the stories that come into her head, but also that other people write the story of their lives. She hosts a podcast for creatives and their businesses called Pencils & Lipstick and hopes to come out with her contemporary novel in the fall of 2020.
On Kat’s website, there is a Free Quarantine journaling bundle right at the top menu. You can also sign up for her journaling prompt newsletter here. If you are interested in more journaling prompts, be sure to follow her on Instagram as she posts different ones there.
Podcast
Kat also interviewed me recently on the Pencils & Lipstick podcast. The first 40 minutes discuss the ups and downs of my writing journey and what led me to this point in my career, and then for the rest of the podcast we talk about my online course Book Editing Blueprint and the common mistakes that writers make.
Pencils&Lipstick is for anyone who is a writer, reader, or looking for encouragement to develop their creativity. Kat interviews writers, entrepreneurs, artists, and many others. You’ll get audio samples of new books coming out, and she tackles life issues that plague us all. You can also join her Pencils&Lipstick Facebook group, a growing community where creatives come together to encourage and connect.
Journaling Books
Here are a couple of Kat’s journaling books.
Write Your Life: More Than Just A Journal – Sometimes we can get into a rut when chronicling our lives. That’s why Kat wanted to make something where you could fill in some fun details about yourself without interrupting your personal journaling flow. This journal contains lined pages with prompts scattered throughout. Prompts like: what are your favorite foods now? What music are you into? Has the genre changed over the years?
Push a Pencil: 40 Prompts to Further Develop Your Creative Writing – This isn’t just a book of writing prompts; this is a writing journal. With fun, descriptive ideas, space to write, and examples, this is a book you can take and use anywhere. The prompts range from a character waking up in a trench in WWI to a spell causing your character to speak as they write on social media. Cultivate Your Writing Craft is great for any writer, no matter what the experience, to get their creative juices flowing. Cultivate your craft using characters you already created or make up new ones. Use this book in a writing group and compare with your writing friends. Your imagination is endless, but sometimes you need a new idea to grow a story from. Use these prompts as a way to start a new story or add to one you already have.
Remember to check out the Shortcuts for Writers group so you can watch Kat’s workshop on journaling benefits and tips.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
I had such a fun time chatting with fellow writer Kat Caldwell, host of the podcast Pencils&Lipstick, and giving advice for writers including my number one tip: NEVER SEND YOUR FIRST DRAFT TO AN EDITOR.
Even your second and third drafts may not be strong enough, as let’s face it, editors are expensive. You should only send your best work so that you’re not paying someone big bucks to catch flaws you could’ve caught yourself.
Unfortunately, many writers don’t know how to self-edit their early drafts. Kat and I discussed why I created my new course Book Editing Blueprint: A Step-By-Step Plan To Making Your Novels Publishable, a class geared toward beginner and intermediate fiction and creative nonfiction authors. It’s the course that I wish was available when I started writing as it would have saved me a lot of time, money, and aggravation.
Blood, Sweat, And Tears!
Speaking of aggravation, Kat and I also discussed our “blood, sweat, and tears years.” We were aspiring writers in the 1990s, before indie publishing took off, before Kindle, and before the INTERNET! We talked about how new authors today have so many more options than Kat and I did when we were starting out, and how wonderful it is to have writing groups and classes available online so you don’t have to drive to them.
It was fun talking with someone who remembered trudging to the post office to mail a thick yellow envelope with a self-addressed stamped envelope inside, and then the mixed feelings when your SASE eventually wound up in your mailbox. It was probably a rejection, but. . .maybe there was a slim possibility it was a publishing offer with some editing notes???
Rejections From Editors You Want To Pay?
We also fast-forwarded to the present and discussed how as a freelance editor, I’ve worked with beginner authors on 3-4 drafts of their novels, and even then the manuscripts weren’t ready for publication. They wished they could have afforded more rounds of developmental editing, but needed to save money for copyediting and cover design. That was before I created Book Editing Blueprint, which would have saved them money on those early drafts. Kat was telling me about freelance editors she’d come across who wouldn’t even accept beginner writers as clients. These editors tell writers that the manuscript needs a lot of work before they can take on the author as a client, leaving the writer confused. Wasn’t that the point of trying to hire an editor? To make the manuscript better?
Even though there are more oppportunities for authors nowadays, learning the craft is just as important as it was in the 1990s. I hope you enjoy our candid conversation about the writing life, sprinkled with lots of advice for writers. The first 40 minutes discuss the ups and downs of my writing journey and what led me to this point in my career, and then for the rest of the podcast we talk about Book Editing Blueprint and the common mistakes that writers make.
Pencils&Lipstick is for anyone who is a writer, reader or looking for encouragement to develop their creativity. Kat interviews writers, entrepreneurs, artists, and many others. You’ll get audio samples of new books coming out, and she tackles life issues that plague us all.
You can also join her Pencils&Lipstick Facebook group, a growing community where creatives come together to encourage and connect.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:
